Tag Archives: El Shaddai

Personal Holiness, Sin

Worship Above All

Escaping Idolatry’s Grip

Article 7 in the 12-part series on Overcoming Sin

You were made to worship. Not as a duty, but as a delight. From the moment you were formed in your mother’s womb, your soul was wired to gaze, to adore, to exalt. The question has never been if you will worship—but who or what. The heart is an altar, and something always burns upon it.

In this generation, idolatry no longer wears the mask of carved statues and golden calves. It hides behind ambition, screens, relationships, and even religious routine. But the danger is no less real. Idolatry is any affection, pursuit, or priority that competes with your worship of God. It is a thief that dresses like fulfillment but drains your spirit. It whispers, “You need this to be whole,” but it leaves you emptier than before.

“You shall have no other gods before Me,” the Lord commanded (Exodus 20:3, NASB). This is not a suggestion—it is a cry from the jealous heart of a holy God who loves you. Not because He needs your worship, but because He knows your life will be fractured until He is your first love again.

The Hidden Golden Calves

In the days of Moses, Israel traded the glory of El Shaddai for a golden calf they could see, touch, and control. They wanted a god on their terms. And so do we. But anything we worship that we can control is not a god—it’s an idol.

Today, your idol might not be made of gold, but it may be just as polished: a career that defines you, a relationship you refuse to surrender, a reputation you protect more than your prayer life. Some even idolize their own emotions—worshiping comfort above obedience. But the truth stands firm: you become like what you worship. If your heart bows to success, you’ll be driven and restless. If you worship God, you will become like Him—pure, steadfast, and free.

The Altar of the Heart

Let me offer you an image—a simple one, but sacred. Picture a man in an old farmhouse. The wind howls outside as night settles in. He enters a dusty barn where a wood stove sits cold and silent. The man kneels and begins to build a fire: dry kindling first, then logs. Slowly, with patience, he stirs the embers. A small flame catches. He leans close, feeding it with breath, shielding it from the wind until the fire glows strong and steady.

That stove is your heart. The fire is your worship. The world is cold, and your soul cannot survive unless it is kindled with the presence of God. You must return to that altar daily. You must clear out the ashes of yesterday’s distractions and false loves. You must feed the fire with the truth of Scripture, the song of the redeemed, the cry of surrender.

Only One Can Reign

Yeshua did not die so you could have Him plus your idols. He died to set you free from the tyranny of false gods. He called us to love the Lord with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength (Mark 12:30, NASB). There is no room on the throne of your heart for two kings.

And yet, how gentle He is with us. He does not tear down our idols to shame us—He removes them to restore us. He turns over the tables not to humiliate, but to cleanse His temple. You are that temple. He is reclaiming His altar.

How to Escape Idolatry’s Grip

To walk in freedom, begin here:

  1. Identify the idol. What consumes your time, thoughts, or affections more than God?
  2. Tear it down. Confess it. Renounce it. Ask the Holy Spirit to break its power.
  3. Return to true worship. Carve out space to adore God, not for what He gives, but for who He is.
  4. Guard the altar. Keep distractions out. Feed the fire daily.

Your freedom begins when your worship returns.

Prayer

El Shaddai, I repent for every idol I’ve allowed into Your sanctuary. Forgive me for loving created things more than the Creator. Tear down every false god in my heart and take Your rightful place again. Stir up in me a fresh fire of worship. Let me seek You above all, long for You above all, and treasure You above all. Cleanse my heart, set it apart, and make it an altar where only You reign. In the holy name of Yeshua, amen.

⸻

See Also

Worship

Covenant of Worship

Beloved, consider the mystery of worship that draws us into the presence of the Living God. There is a holy place where faith and expectation unite, where the hearts of the people are bound together in covenantal trust before El Shaddai. In that sacred space, worship becomes more than a song—it becomes a covenant of prayer, a holy agreement to seek His face with one heart and one voice. This is the essence of the Covenant of Worship.

This covenant is a threefold cord, not easily broken.

1. Declaration of Faith:

Those who lead speak boldly, proclaiming their trust in Yeshua’s promise: “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” (Matthew 18:20, NASB). This is more than words; it is a call to believe, an invitation to draw near to the throne of grace with confidence. It aligns perfectly with the Covenant of Worship.

2. Unity of the Congregation:

Here, hearts beat as one, voices rise in unison—not just in song but in faith. It is the gathering of souls who trust that El Shaddai hears their worship and responds to their hunger. “How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity! … For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forevermore.” (Psalm 133:1, 3, NASB). This unity is a covenantal act, fulfilling the ancient promise, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13, NASB). Such unity is central to the Covenant of Worship.

3. Faithful Promise of God:

Yahweh is the covenant-keeping God who dwells in the praises of His people: “Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.” (Psalm 22:3, NASB). When faith unites with expectancy, and hearts are joined in covenantal worship, His presence is not merely felt; it is known. Within the Covenant of Worship, His promises are experienced profoundly.

This is the mystery of the covenant of worship—a holy agreement to come before God with faith, trust, and hunger. It joins heaven and earth as one voice declares His glory, and His Spirit moves among them.

Beloved, let us enter into this covenant of faith. Let us lift our hearts and voices with one accord, trusting that He who promised is faithful. Let us press into His presence, not seeking a formula but seeking the face of Yeshua, the Living God.

Come, let us worship in covenantal faith, for He is faithful to meet those who seek Him with all their heart. And in His presence, we shall be transformed.

May this covenantal prayer rise before Him as incense, and may His glory dwell among us. Amen.

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Effective Prayer

How to Pray Aright: A Call to Earnest Prayer

Beloved, do you truly pray, or do you merely say words? Do the cries of your heart reach the ears of El Shaddai, or do your lips move without meaning? It is not enough to recite words; God listens to the cries of a soul that hungers for Him. To pray aright, one must have a heart fully invested in seeking God.

God hears the prayers of the sincere. If you pray out of duty or habit, without feeling your need for Him, your words are empty. It is as if you were speaking to the wind. The Almighty is moved by a heart that yearns for Him, a heart that recognizes its own need and humbles itself before His throne. As the Psalmist cried, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:17, NASB).

Let your prayers flow from the depths of your soul, not merely from your lips. Words without the heart fall to the ground unheard, but the cries of the humble pierce the heavens. It is written, “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18, NASB). If you pray aright, you will avoid merely echoing words that fade away, never reaching His presence.

Do not approach God with empty phrases or rehearsed lines. Come to Him with honesty, humility, and longing. Pour out your heart before Him, for He knows your thoughts before you speak them. He is not impressed by eloquence but moved by brokenness. He desires truth in the inmost being.

If your heart feels cold or distant, ask Him to teach you to pray. Cry out, “Lord, teach me what I need and show me how to pray! Stir my heart to seek You earnestly. Do not let me speak to You without feeling what I say.” This is the prayer He hears—the prayer of one who longs for Him. To truly seek Him, we must learn to pray aright.

Seek the face of Yeshua with all your heart. Lay your burdens before Him, not just with words but with genuine faith and dependence. Let your prayer be like incense rising before His throne, carried by a heart that loves Him. Remember His promise: “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13, NASB).

Do not be satisfied with shallow prayers. Press in, seek more of Him, and pour out your soul before El Shaddai. He hears the earnest cry. Do not be content with hollow religion or empty rituals. Seek an encounter with the living God, for He is near to those who truly seek Him.

Let this be your prayer:

Father, draw me nearer. I need You more than words can express.
Teach me to pray with a heart that truly seeks You.
Awaken my soul to cry out for Your presence.
Let my prayers be real, my words be true, and my heart be Yours.
I long for more of You and less of me.
In the name of Yeshua, I pray. Amen.

Beloved, Pray Aright. Seek Him earnestly. God is near to those who call on Him in truth.

Faith, Spiritual

Light Without Sight: Asking El Shaddai for Wisdom

PREFACE

I am going to start trying to use HEBREW names of God in articles, as IMHO they are richer in meaning than the normal English translations. Below is a key for this article: remember to ask El Shaddai for wisdom when seeking deeper understanding.

  • El Shaddai (God Almighty) emphasizes His power and provision, which fits when speaking of His generosity in giving wisdom.
  • Yeshua (Jesus) is appropriate when discussing salvation, the gospel, or light, as He is the Light of the World.
  • Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) is used when referring to spiritual guidance, illumination, or empowerment.
  • Adonai (Lord) is often used when addressing God’s authority and sovereignty.
  • Elohim (God, Creator) highlights His divine majesty and role as the source of wisdom and truth.
  • Abba (Father) emphasizes the intimate, relational aspect of God, particularly in prayer.

Light Without Sight: Asking El Shaddai for Wisdom

Dear reader, have you ever felt lost, uncertain of what to do, or overwhelmed by the decisions before you? El Shaddai, the Almighty God, invites you to come to Him and ask for wisdom. James 1:5–8 (NASB) speaks directly to you:

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

This is not a passive invitation. El Shaddai desires to generously give wisdom to you—but He asks for faith in return. When you approach Him, you must trust His goodness, power, and faithfulness. Doubt will only rob you of the peace and stability He offers.

Faith Unlocks the Wisdom of Elohim

When you ask Yeshua, the Light of the World, for wisdom, you must approach Him fully convinced of His ability to guide you. James warns against being double-minded, describing doubt as being “like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” Doubt creates instability, leaving your heart torn between trust in Elohim and the distractions of this world.

The truth is, wisdom is not just intellectual knowledge—it is a gift of the Spirit, rooted in a deep relationship with Adonai. Proverbs 9:10 (NASB) reminds us: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” This holy reverence for God leads to wisdom that transforms your decisions and your life.

The Gospel Brings Light and Sight

As you seek wisdom, consider these words from 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NASB):

“The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so that they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

Satan blinds hearts and minds, preventing many from seeing Yeshua’s light and responding to it. This blindness doesn’t just affect unbelievers; it can creep into our hearts as doubt, pride, or distraction. You may know the truth, yet still lack the spiritual sight to walk in it fully.

Even Benjamin Franklin, brilliant as he was, illustrates this tragic reality. Despite hearing the gospel from the evangelist George Whitefield, he admitted he remained unconverted. He had light but lacked sight. Only the Spirit of God can open blinded eyes to see and respond to the truth.

How to Ask for Wisdom

El Shaddai offers wisdom to you freely, but He asks for your faith in return. Here’s how you can receive His wisdom: 1. Ask Boldly in Faith: Trust that Yeshua hears you and is eager to answer. “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive” (Matthew 21:22, NASB). 2. Reject Doubt: Refuse to be tossed around by fear or uncertainty. Instead, anchor yourself in the promises of Elohim. 3. Seek His Presence Daily: True wisdom comes from intimacy with Yeshua. Spend time in prayer and His Word. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105, NASB). 4. Rely on the Spirit: Invite Ruach HaKodesh, the Holy Spirit, to lead and guide you in every decision.

A Prayer for Wisdom and Sight

Beloved, as you seek wisdom, remember that Adonai desires to draw you closer to Him. Pray with confidence:

Abba Father, thank You for Your promise to give wisdom generously to all who ask in faith. I lay my doubts at Your feet and trust You completely. Open my eyes to see Your truth and help me walk in Your light. By Your Spirit, guide my steps and make me a light for others, that they too may see Your glory in Yeshua, the Light of the World. Amen.

Let His Light Guide You

Beloved, don’t live in darkness or confusion. Seek El Shaddai with all your heart, and He will give you wisdom and clarity. Let the light of Yeshua transform your life, for He is the Light of the World, and in Him, there is no darkness at all.

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