Monthly Memory Verse {El Elyon}

Today is the fifth post in the series: 11 Bible Verses to Grow Your Faith in 2017.

In each post, I will introduce one name of God and one Bible verse that will grow your view of God, and in turn grow your faith. If you missed the others, you can find them here and here and here and here.

Last night was eighth grade graduation for my Big, and non-emotional me is feeling a little emotional.

Over the last couple of weeks, all my kids have caught me staring at them in wonder and disbelief. How am I supposed to wrap my head around the fact that we’re already here. Here, with a high schooler, pre-teen and almost 9 year old baby.

I’m not playing around, friends. Where has the time gone?

It doesn’t feel like it was that long ago that the kids were little and all I wanted to do was speed up the clock. I couldn’t wait to get out of the baby stage. I couldn’t wait to get to these years. These years. The ones we’re in right now.

Now all I want to do is slow. it. all. down. I want a real-life pause button. And maybe even rewind.

You’ve felt this too, haven’t you?

There is nothing quite like parenting. There is nothing more wild and fun and challenging and terrifying all at the same time. And there’s also nothing that exposes us more.

I didn’t realize what a control-freak I could be until I became a mom and realized I did’t have any.

No matter how many times I watched my little one’s belly rise and fall while she slept, my ever-watching eyes couldn’t keep her breathing. My ever-steady hand couldn’t keep her from falling. My listening ear couldn’t keep her heart from breaking. As moms, we want to care for, help, teach, correct, and guide. And we like to feel like we have some sort of control. But we don’t.

Life can be scary when we realize how little control we actually have. Because really. If moms can’t be in control, who is?

THE NAME

Since God made everything (Elohim) and He owns everything (Adonai), then He has the right to rule everything (El Elyon). The name El Elyon means, “God Most High”. It speaks of God’s supreme power and sovereignty over all.

Sovereignty is a concept difficult to wrap our finite mind’s around. God’s sovereignty is the way we describe His supreme power and authority – His right to rule. It’s the right of God to do what He wishes with His creation.

“Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.” Psalm 115:3

God does what He wants. He’s the one in control.

This is a terrifying reality if we don’t know how perfectly we can trust Him – if we aren’t settled in the absolute truth that God is only and always right and just and good.

THE VERSE

This verse in Ephesians sums up the sovereignty of God for me, so it will be our memory verse this month:

I love it because it reminds me three very important truths about God.

#1: God rules OVER all.

First of all, this verse reminds me that nothing and no one is beyond God’s sovereign rule. Every power and authority (on earth or in the spiritual realm) is created by Him and for Him, and therefore under His supreme command. (Colossians 1:16) Every nation. Every throne. Every power. Every kingdom. God rules over them all, whether they recognize His authority or not.

#2: God works THROUGH all.

The verse also reminds me that there is no situation or circumstance beyond God’s control. He is working everything out in conformity with the purpose of His good, pleasing and perfect will. (Ephesians 1:11, Romans 12:2) In ways far beyond our understanding, God can take that which is hard, bad and ugly and somehow work it all together for our redemptive good. (Romans 8:28)

#3: God is present IN all.

And lastly, it reminds me that God is present and available in all things. There’s no pit too deep – no darkness too dark – no heart too hard that God’s perfect love can’t break through. His with-ness knows no end.

THE CHALLENGE

#1: Memorize the verse

I have memory verse cards and a cell phone lock screen for you to download. Keep this verse in front of you. Practice it until it’s written on your heart.

Click here to download the memory verse cards and here to download the wallpaper image.

#2: Stay your mind here.

This is the real challenge: to stay your mind (fix your thoughts) on this truth. We learn to do this by paying attention. We pay attention to our tightening nerves, to the situations that trigger our fears, and to all those moments we reach out and try to grab the reigns. And we remind ourselves of this truth – over and over again: God is over all and through all and in all. He really is in control. We can rest assured.