El Shaddai
GOD ALMIGHTY
Genesis 17:1 - When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless.
Devotional
When God appeared to Abram in Genesis 17:1, it had been 25 years since God’s initial promise of a covenant with Abram, and 13 years since He had last appeared to Abram. Yet God’s introduction to Abram is a proclamation of His sufficiency! Can you imagine waiting that many years and then hearing God say “I am enough, the one who has a hand in everything”? I imagine after 13 years of silence that could have been hard to hear. But during that time, Abram was becoming a great man of faith by trusting God in the minuscule and mundane things.
I remember early in my walk with Jesus going to church on an occasional Sunday, but living for me from Sunday night until Saturday night. I was treating God like a buffet, only giving him a small piece of my life and only taking a little bit from Sunday morning service that made me feel good. It was like getting the all-you-can-eat soft-serve at the buffet without anything of real substance that my body actually needed! If I couldn’t commit to consistent church attendance, how could I trust God with my fears, my marriage, my money, my expectations, my dreams?
God wasn’t absent with Abram during that time. He was giving Abram the opportunity to trust and walk in obedience. I too needed to trust God in the little things. When we walk in faith by little steps of obedience, our faith grows and we are able to recognize His sufficiency. When we walk with the Lord, studying His word, spending time in prayer and surrounding ourselves with His people, His character and nature are revealed. We can do what God expects when we know who He is…in a full, personal and real way. There is always revelation and then expectation. As we continue to get to know Jesus, we’re able to give Him more of ourselves. He continues to reveal His sufficiency and then asks for faith in how we live. And in return we get to walk before Him blameless…whole, as God intended! I wasn’t ready all those years ago to partake in the fullness of God. I wasn’t even ready to commit every Sunday morning to Him! And if I’m honest, it’s still difficult to let go and let God. But I continue to get to know God and I’m learning that He is enough and I want the buffet! All of it!
Devotional Prayer Questions
1. What areas do you find it easy to surrender and obey as a result of your growing faith? Praise God for His hand on every area of your life. Reflect on your walk with God and the areas you have seen his sufficiency.
2. In what ways are you not trusting God for his sufficiency? Ask God to reveal any area of your life where you are not surrendering to Him. Pray that God would reveal His character to you and that you would have the courage to give Him all of you.
The Lord's Prayer
Use the Lord's Prayer to guide your prayer time.
“Father”
Thank the Almighty that His power is fatherly—not distant force, but intimate care. Praise Him that His might strengthens you rather than threatens you.
“Hallowed be Your Name”
Speak His sufficiency: You are enough. You are unlimited. You are unmatched in power. Nothing is beyond You.
Worship until confidence displaces anxiety.
“Your Kingdom come / Your will be done”
Surrender outcomes.
Pray: “Let Your Kingdom come in my motivations—purify them.Let Your will be done in my work—guide decisions.Let Your Kingdom come in conflict—replace frustration with grace.”
Pray His Kingdom over your children, students, coworkers, employees.
Pray for His purposes in suffering—trust His timing.
"Give us this day our daily bread”
Bring needs that require Almighty intervention. Pray for healing, provision, breakthrough, reconciliation, or restoration. Bring prodigals before Him. Name impossible situations—and trust His ability.
“Forgive us our sins…”
Let His power bring conviction.
Confess attitudes that grieve the Spirit.
Receive cleansing.
Forgive people who “owe you” emotionally—entrust justice to God Almighty.
“Lead us not into temptation”
Pray the armor with strength:
Ask El Shaddai to empower self-control, purity, resilience, and endurance. Stand in His might, not your own.
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 Shaddai, which means God Almighty.
God has all the power in the universe, and He uses His strength to take care of people who need help.
Because God is so powerful, He can provide for people who don't have enough food or warm clothes.
Pray today for those who are hungry or cold, and ask God to show them His love.
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.
