Do You Talk to Yourself? You Should. #Word Wednesday

With wrinkled hands she covered her lips attempting to muffle her giggles.

Her reaction to the angel of the Lord’s declaration that her weary body would give birth to a son was the same as her century old husband, Abraham. He laughed too when God made such a promise. The whole thought was preposterous. Impossible.

But the Lord questioned Abraham, “Is anything to hard for the LORD?”

Nine months after Sarah’s chuckle, she held her long awaited baby boy, a son named Isaac, whose name means, fittingly, laughter. And Abraham got his answer. Nothing is too hard for the Lord.

Our English word, hard, was translated from the Hebrew word, Pala (paw-law). Read the annotated definition from the Key Word:

to be wonderful, do wonderful things, wondrous things, miracles. Used primarily with God as the subject, denoting the fact that He does things which are beyond the bounds of human powers or expectations. . . . . Signifies not merely unusual circumstances, but the exhibition of God’s capable care for the Israelites.”

So, Pala doesn’t just mean “hard” or “difficult.” It means God- miraculous.

Is anything too miraculous for the LORD?

Nope.

Nine hundred years after Abraham’s miracle, David employed this very same word to instruct the priests in praise to God after the Ark of the Covenant returned to Jerusalem. He told them, “Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts” (1 Chron. 16:9).

That word “wonderful’ is Pala in the Hebrew text. The priest were not only to sing and make music, and celebrate God, but to tell about things which were beyond the bounds of human powers or expectations (what God did) and God’s capable care for (his people).

But their telling was much more than going over to their neighbors house and testifying. Look at the meaning of this word.

Siyah (see’akh)-  to consider, meditate (especially on divine things); to declare or speak (aloud or to oneself) . . signifies going over the matter in one’s mind–rehearsing it whether inwardly or outwardly.

David instructed them to meditate over and over on God’s Pala,talking to themselves with their outside voices. It sounds funny. But how powerful is it to remind yourself about all the times God has done miracles in your life and those around you? This is when it’s good to talk to yourself! 

Oh for us to know that Pala power and to meditate on it all day long. If we talk to ourselves about it, I wonder how this will affect our hearts and minds. What is it about intentionally singing, making music, and reminding ourselves (out loud) of what God has done?

Why is this important?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment to encourage this author and those reading.

I sat in a small group of women last night listening to their discussion on trusting God, and their stories were such inspiration and encouragement to me. Your thoughts will be too. We need each other.

Can I pray for us? Grab my hand.

“Dear Jesus, strengthen us with your pala power by the Holy Spirit. Make us brave and bold and unafraid to talk to ourselves and others about your miraculous works. Let us be encouragers, proclaimers, singing, celebrative, fools for you. And may we laugh like Sarah. Nothing is too miraculous for you. Whatever dream seems dead, revive and  renew. Bring new life and hope as only you can do. Amen.”

Leave a comment: 

What is it about intentionally singing, making music, and reminding ourselves (out loud) of what God has done?

Why is this important?

Digging Deep,

Andy