“Settling Down in God”

The words “Father in heaven” are intended to help us focus not only on God’s location, but also on His elevation. The Savior (so I believe) encourages us, when we come to God in prayer, to get our perspective right and to look above “the ragged edges of time” to the heights of eternity where God has His royal throne.

The old Welsh preachers and theologians, such as Christmas Evans, Daniel Rowlands, and others, used to call this aspect of prayer “settling down in God.” They taught that when we gain a right perspective of God and heavenly things, then and only then can we have a right perspective of man and earthly things. It was only when Isaiah saw the Lord “high and lofty” that he was able to put into focus the events that were happening around him. Our life here on earth can never be abundant until we realize that we have access to resources which are outside the realm of terrestrial things.

A good working translation of the term El-Shaddai (Gn 17:1) is “God—the Enough.” Actually, of course, He is more than enough, but how comforting it is to know that He is at least that. So, when coming to God in prayer, learn to settle yourself down in God. Remind yourself that His resources so infinitely exceed your requirements; His sufficiency so immeasurably surpasses every demand you may make upon it. Get the divine perspective right, and earthly things will fall into their right and proper focus.

Further Study

Mt 19:13-26; Eph 3:20; 2Co 9:8; Php 4:19

What was the declaration of Jesus?

How did Paul describe “El-Shaddai”?