Prayer & Spirit!

One Lord and One Faith, One Baptism!

Ephesians 4:5

The term prayer is made up of six letters and two syllables, at least in the English language. But have you ever thought about the characters in that word and its meaning? It was Chinese New Year last weekend, and while I was watching a live stream sermon of the New Creation Church of Singapore’s New Year’s celebration service, the preacher expounded on the Chinese character spirit; it’s translated as spirit, spiritual, and spirit-like has influences of heaven! As he spoke about the three boxes, I thought of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. 

Chinese Character spirit  

At the bottom is the image of two shamans, or sham nesses, Wu 巫, and it is suggested in Dr S. L. Wiegert’s translation of the 2nd-century etymological dictionary, the Shuowen Jiezi that they are situated between heaven and earth, providing a link between the two (工) – and possibly dancing. Above the two figures are three mouths (口), suggesting that they are singing or praying. 

Remember the Chinese Character and Its Parts!

At church, between services, I was sitting and thinking and saw the word PRAYER on the giant screen in the pulpit. I thought, what’s in that word? I know what the term means, but I have yet to consider it in parts. Just as the Chinese character has different characteristics with other meanings, so does the English etymology.

Brief Meditation on Prayer!

I started with AYER, defined as yesterday, according to Merriam/Webster. The second part was RAY; now that’s easy; it is defined as a beam of a small cross-section of radiated energy (such as light). When I put the P on RAY, you get to pray. Of course, praying is addressing the Father of lights, James 1:17-18. Invite Him, Father God, into your yesterday to make today, yesterday, and tomorrow fruitful. Time is inconsequential to the One who created it! Prayer is of eternal consequence! I thought, thank you, Father! For that revelation!

God Isn’t Giving a Revelation Not Supported by His Word, 2 Peter1:20-21

Remember Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, Hebrews 13:8. Every time I have these moments of meditation, if Scripture can’t cross-reference them, I discount the thoughts as my erroneous thinking! Because I know and believe all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is of no private interpretation and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16.  

This brings me to the heart of God, His Son, Jesus Christ, who became for us wisdom from Him and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 1 Corinthians 1:30. He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning, and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty, Revelation 1:8.  

Beloved,

Invite the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart and life. He can make everything work together for your good (Romans 8:28), yesterday, today, and tomorrow!