I debated for months and months whether or not I wanted to add an additional study to my Bible study routine. After a little over two months of studying only the Net Abide Bible, I decided to add the study Praying the Names of God for 52 Weeks by Ann Spangler.
I wanted to make sure that I wasn't overloading myself before committing to adding another study. I have done this in the past and unfortunately, I lost out by not finishing the studies. I was very excited when I found this study while searching out my studies for the new year. So excited in fact that I asked for it as an anniversary present.
Once I developed my new Bible study habits for the new year, a short morning devotion and a study of three chapters in the Old Testament and three chapters in the New Testament in the evenings with the Abide Bible, I was ready to add this weekly study to my routine. I do my new study once a week on the Sabbath. I am learning a new name every week and I pray that name throughout the week.
In the back of this 52-week study are colorful tear out cards for each week. Each card helps me to memorize the name and the meaning of the name throughout the week. They also help to remind me to pray using the name that I am studying.
I place a new card each week it in a highly visible area. I place my cards on the cabinet above my tea station. This way I see the card first thing every morning. My morning routine is the same most every morning. I start the hot water for my tea before I do anything else. I prepare my teacup with honey and select my tea while I am impatiently waiting for my water to boil. During this wait time I review the card while also learning patience at the same time.
While this setup works for me it may not work for everyone. Choose a place that works for you. The bathroom mirror is another great place to display the cards because many people get ready in front of their mirror every morning.
I really like spiral bound books, especially Bible study books and cookbooks. It just makes it so much easier to keep books open while taking notes or mixing up ingredients. My first impression after opening up the book was how much I liked the font size. The larger print is much easier to read than smaller print.
The next thing that I noticed was the fact that the paper it's printed on seemed thin, and I wondered if it would hold up without tearing. I like to use my studies several times or share them with others. My last concern was for those who write the answers to the questions in the space provided in their study books. I wondered if the ink would bleed through the pages. I do not write in mine, so I can't give an accurate answer to this question; however, I did not find any reviews about either of these concerns, so I am hopeful that these concerns will not become an issue.
For those who are unaware, the names of God have been removed from almost all Bible translations and replaced with God or Lord. So, if you go to your Bible and see that the actual name of God does not appear and say to yourself "this name does not appear in the Scriptures" this the reason why. I saw some confusion in the reviews about this fact. How can we call on the name of the Lord if we don't know what His name is?
God is also called by the names of His attributes, and God has an infinite number of attributes. Therefore, His names are also infinite. This is by no means a complete study of all of God's names and attributes. It is however a study of 52 names that include some of the names for God, the Son.
What better way is there to get to know God than through His countless names and attributes in His Word? When we first meet someone, we introduce ourselves. It is the beginning steps to building a relationship is it not? Hey, you or other generic names do not reflect a personal knowledge of someone.
We distinguish God in the Bible with an upper-case G or L instead of His true name. I wonder who is behind this? Who benefits from removing the Name of God from His Word and out of the mouths of His own children? You guessed right, Satan himself.
I encourage you to take this journey with me and learn God's names and attributes for a deeper connection to Elohim, Mighty Creator - God.
Mrs. Smith
