Kickstart 2021 with the Top Secret of the Universe

Top Secret: God created the heavens and the earth…

Cruisin’

Hubby and I won a cruise to Alaska that we used as our honeymoon…way back in 1987. To sit on deck as we floated past what looked like untouched islands and icebergs calving and whales swimming by- Oh, my! It was like we’d discovered a top secret paradise.

I’ve always been inspired when I’m out in nature. I feel like I’m closer to God when I experience His creation first-hand.

The beginning

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

There it is: God created the heavens and the earth. It’s the first thing the Bible teaches us, so it’s the perfect place to start. In this glorious book about God, we are only 4 words in before we meet Him.

Elohim

The word used in Gen. 1:1 in the original Hebrew is Elohim [el-oHEEM]. It is a plural form, meaning 3 or more. This tells me that in the beginning Father God, Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit created the heavens and the earth. Together.

Elohim means: Fullness of deity/”All powerful One” or “Creator.” Literally, it means, [God, Very God]. “For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome,” Deut. 10:17a. Think about that for a minute, and excuse me while I slip into English Teacher Mode. Since “very” means [to a high degree or extremely], God’s first name in Scripture is designed to set Him apart from every man-made god.

God – Very God

Elohim is the second most common name for God used in the Bible (over 2500 times). Only YHWH is used more often with more than 4500uses. (We will explore YHWH on March 2nd.)

Elohim is also abbreviated in many other names. For example, the name El Shaddai (My Provider) is actually Elohim Shaddai, or God-Very God My Provider.

Not very Top Secret

Once again, I have selected a Word of the Year. When I first started this practice, I didn’t even know this was thing. I had just seen a particular word show up repeatedly in a cluster of Bible study moments, and I decided to spend time deliberately focusing on that word.

My previous words:

2020 – Wait
2019 – Hope
2018 – Through
2017 – Nestle
2016 – Decrease
2015 – Enough
2014 – Honor

For 2021, I’ve chosen PRAISE for several reasons:

God Got me through 2020, and I have to give Him credit for that! It was a crazy year.
God allowed my experience with COVID-19 to be very mild. With my asthma issues, it could have been a very different story. I only had a light case.
God deserves praise. More than anything, I just need praise to be my daily offering to Him.

Just like Psalm 68:32-35 says, “Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth; Oh, sing praises to the Lord, Selah To Him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which were of old! Indeed, He sends out His voice, a mighty voice. Ascribe strength to God; His excellence is over Israel, And His strength is in the clouds. O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!”

Here’s the Top Secret of the Universe:

I promised you the Top Secret of the Universe, so here it is:

God created you in His image, and He looks at His Creation and describes it as “Good.”

That means YOU. The Bible is a love story, written from the Creator of the Universe. God – Very God wants to connect with you! If you don’t have a personal relationship with Him, check this out.

Prayer – using 4 Aspects of Prayer

Adore – God – Very God, You created all things from nothing! And You created me in Your image. I am humbled.

Admit – There are times when I ignore Your creation or take it for granted. Perhaps even times I harm it in some way. Remind me that I am part of that creation, and You love me.

Ask – Open my eyes to Your divine craftsmanship daily!

Acknowledge – I thank You, Elohim, for Your power in creation that continues to maintain ultimate control throughout the Universe.