DAY 04 | God with Us

So Adonai himself will give you this sign: A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanu El (God With Us).
Isaiah 7:14

Pronunciation Reference: עִמָּנוּ אֵל

photography by Tracey Hocking / calligraphy by Rita Ip

MUSIC

PRAYER

Immanu El, I exalt You, for You are with us forever. I marvel at the way You stooped down from heaven to dwell among Your people.

Thank You for removing the barrier between God and man and for the enormous comfort Your name "Immanu El" has brought me. Your passionate desire and relentless pursuit of me exceed my comprehension and redefine my worth.

Forgive me when there are times that I do not value Your presence; I may even try to keep You at a distance.

Search my heart, break the power of all the shame, the fear, the pride, and the lies, that keep me away from You. I earnestly ask You to help me experience Your presence more deeply and intimately.

Because You are Immanu El, I declare I am never really alone. Your indwelling presence brings me the fullness of joy.

A few facts…

Immanu El (עִמָּנוּ אֵל) is a masculine personal name in Hebrew, meaning "God with us," or "God is with us."
The name can be transliterated as Immanuel or Emmanuel. Immanuel is a transliteration of the original Hebrew word Immanu El, while Emmanuel is a transliteration of the Greek Emmanouel (Ἐμμανουήλ).
Immanu El appears three times in the Bible: Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 8:8 (also cited in Matthew 1:23), and Isaiah 8:10.
The prophecy of Immanu El in the Book of Isaiah finds its fulfillment in the birth of Jesus (approximately 700 years later).

SMILE & BREATHE

Find a tranquil space to be alone with Him. Eliminate any potential distractions and settle into a comfortable, relaxed position.

Smile, for He is right beside you, within you, and will never leave you.

Gently inhale through your nose, imagining yourself breathing in His warm and loving presence.

Feel your abdomen expand, hold your breath for a few seconds, His presence deeply satisfies you, and you just want to remain in it.

Exhale gently through your mouth, taking longer than the inhale, slowly releasing any feelings of loneliness, abandonment, or rejection from within you.

Exercise 1:

TWO-WAY JOURNALING

I can binge-watch sermons all day, or study God's word in depth, or even be busy serving Him like Martha in the Bible, but nothing can replace a heart-to-heart conversation with Him.

Today, let us direct our writing to Immanu El (God with Us). What would you like to tell Him who is always with you? Allow time to listen for His response, documenting it as we go. Remember, there are various creative and artistic ways to journal - writing is just one form of self-expression. Your journal could look like this:

[Part 1]
Dear Immanu El, …
[Part 2]
Dear child / (your name), …

If you’ve drawn a blank, here are a few prompts for you:

• Describe to Him what “God with Us” means to you. Ask Him what being with you means to Him.

• How does His presence make a difference in your life?

• Recall a time when you really needed but didn’t feel His presence. Write your heart out and ask Him where He was and what He was thinking of your situation. Allow Him to reframe your situation with you.
Check out Appendix 2 for more.

Exercise 2:

DECLARATION

Crafting a declaration involves being purposeful about your beliefs. How does the concept of Immanu El (God with Us) impact your present way of living? Take a moment to write your declaration of the day in your journal:

Because You are Immanu El, You are with me, I declare I can / I will / I am…

Read your declaration aloud and repeat it frequently. Allow your heart to align with your words. This intentional practice helps you to eradicate negative self-talk and emotions, and to actively create new realities alongside God.

Tips: For added reinforcement, consider reciting your declaration in the morning, throughout the day, and before bed. Additionally, displaying your declaration somewhere prominent can serve as a helpful reminder.

This completes Day 4 of HE. May God reveal the significance of "Immanu El" to you and enable you to live a life that reflects its essence. May you feel His presence with you always, and may His love and grace guide you on your journey.