Name of God: El Elyon
THE MOST HIGH GOD
Genesis 14:18-20 - And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Devotional
This name of God is used in the Old Testament only in poetry, and provides one of the most evocative and lyrical descriptions of his nature. While a modern translation is difficult to fully wrap our minds around, “El Elyon” is best understood in English as God the “possessor”. The moniker is designed to communicate the idea that God has not just created the world, but he possesses it as well. He is not a distant deity who has set the world in motion but is interested in the affairs or outcomes of His creation. He is instead the all-knowing, universal and constant king of the universe. As Abraham Kuyper famously said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!”
It is this God that we approach in prayer. A God who is both all-knowing and deeply personal. A God who paradoxically both knows what we need before we ask and who, out of deep intimacy, would like us to ask anyway. There is no point in hiding from a God who knows everything already. The reality of a God who sees us more fully than we see ourselves and still desires to be near to us should annihilate the fear and shame that so often keep us from going boldly into his presence. As the writer of Hebrews suggests, let's be a people who boldly approach the presence of God as we engage with the rhythm of prayer, knowing that the sovereign king of heaven desires the attention of us, his beloved people.
Devotional Prayer Questions
- What areas of your life have fear and shame caused you to withhold from God in prayer? Write down a few of them during 21 days of prayer and make it a habit of addressing those things with God during your times of prayer.
- What comes to your mind when you think of the sovereignty of God? Allow the reality of God’s power to fill you with peace and the assurance that comes from knowing that nothing that happens is outside of His control.
The Lord's Prayer
Use the Lord's Prayer to guide your prayer time.
“Father”
Thank God that the One enthroned above every authority welcomes you as His child.
You approach the Highest King with the confidence of a son or daughter—not a stranger or servant.
“Hallowed be Your Name”
Speak worship aloud:
You reign over nations and governments. You reign over principalities and powers. You reign over history and eternity. Your name sits highest.
Ask God to elevate His holiness above the fear of man, politics, culture, or criticism.
“Your Kingdom come / Your will be done”
Invite His rule in every sphere of influence:
- Your identity — “Reign over how I see myself today.”
- Your emotions — “Reign over anxiety, fear, anger, discouragement.”
- Your schedule — “Reign over my time today.”
- Your relationships — “Reign over words, responses, attitudes.”
- Your decisions — “Reign over every step I take today.”
Pray outward: family, church, city, nation, and nations. Ask God to raise up leaders, silence deception, bring justice, and turn hearts toward Christ.
“Give us this day our daily bread”
Ask the Most High for what only He can supply.
Pray for daily physical strength, emotional resilience, and spiritual alertness.
Pray for the hungry, the homeless, the forgotten, the brokenhearted.
Ask Him to supply needs in your church and community.
“Forgive us our sins…”
Let repentance soften your heart before God.
Confess any pride, comparison, jealousy, control, or fear.
Release anyone you’ve blamed, judged, or resented.
Forgive in the same measure you have been forgiven.
“Lead us not into temptation”
Pray the armor with authority:
Ask the Most High to expose lies, break patterns, and guard your affections.
Pray against temptation toward anger, lust, unbelief, escapism, or self-righteousness.
Prayer Requests
After praying through the Lord's Prayer, please pray openly for those around you, our Church, those that are lost and then if you are joining us in person, please pray over a few prayer requests on the prayer cards located on the front of the stage and return them in the basket at the exit.
With Your Family
Prayer is so important for us to develop especially with our family. Throughout the 21 Days of Prayer we want to provide simple prayer prompts that you and your children can pray through that can break down the name of God into an easily understood manner and how we can pray through that. In addition to the prayer below, prompt your children to pray for family, friends, teachers, others in their life and remember to always lead the prayer with gratitude.
Thank God that He is El Elyon, which means God Most High.
That means God is bigger and stronger than anything in the world. He is always in charge, even when things feel confusing or hard.
Because God is so great, we can trust Him to help our principals, teachers, coaches, and leaders make good choices and care for others well.
Spend time today and pray for one of these people.
Communion
If you are joining us in person, please pick up the communion elements provided and take it to close out your prayer time.
Scripture:
Read the following passage before participating in communion:
Mark 14:22-25: And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Prayer:
Take a moment and ask God to examine your heart and reveal any sin that is hindering your relationship with Him. Confess that sin to the Lord. Then, as you read one of the passages, take a moment to praise and thank God for His body and His blood, and eat the bread and drink the cup.
