DAY 09 | My Lord

The priests who carry the ark of Yahweh, Adonai (Lord) of the whole earth, will stand in the water of the Jordan. Then the water flowing from upstream will stop and stand up like a dam.
Joshua 3:13

Pronunciation Reference: אֲדֹנָי

photography by Boris Baldinger / calligraphy by Rita Ip

MUSIC

PRAYER

My Lord, my Master, I praise You. All authority in heaven and on earth submits to Your lordship. You rule over everything.

Thank You for the privilege to serve the One who has the absolute power to orchestrate the entire universe.

Forgive me for serving You on my terms, not Yours, for serving You reluctantly, half-heartedly, or with impure motives.

Come take Your throne and reign in my life. Make me Your humble and loyal servant. I want to serve You alone with all that You have graciously entrusted me with: my time, my wealth, my strengths, and my weaknesses. I consecrate everything to You for Your divine purpose; I submit myself to what is important to You.

Because You are my Lord, I declare I refuse to serve other masters. I am Your faithful servant, and I choose to obey You fully and immediately.

A few facts…

Adonai (אֲדֹנָי) carries the meaning of "my Lord" or "my Lord Master," emphasizing God's sovereignty over humanity.
In Judaism, due to the sacred and mysterious nature of the name Yahweh, direct invocation is prohibited, and "Adonai" is used instead.
In the Bible, lord, Lord, and LORD hold distinct connotations:
- all lowercase "lord" (אֲדוֹן, Adon) signifies a human figure with authority over others.
- first letter capitalized "Lord" (אֲדֹנָי, Adonai) refers specifically to God, acknowledging His sovereignty over humanity.
- all uppercase "LORD" (יהוה, Yahweh) corresponds to the personal Hebrew name of God, Yahweh (or Jehovah, a Latinized version of Yahweh).

SMILE & BREATHE

Find a quiet place where you can sit undisturbed in a comfortable position, allowing yourself to calm down.

Smile, for one day, every knee will bow, every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.

Take a deep breath through your nose, focusing on Jesus, who humbled Himself and died on the cross.

Hold your breath for a moment, recognizing that because of this obedience, the Father exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above every name.

Slowly exhale through your mouth, taking a bit longer than your inhale, releasing to Him anything you are unwilling or unable to surrender to God.

Exercise 1:

TWO-WAY JOURNALING

I confess that during my prayers and moments of worship, I frequently address Him as "Lord," without fully comprehending the depth of its significance and the immense authority it carries. If you can relate to this, then today's journaling presents the perfect opportunity to reconsider and surrender yourself once again to His Lordship.

In the form of a letter, write to your Lord. Posture your heart to hear Him, take the time to listen, and pen down His response. Allow your thoughts and words to flow onto the pages of your journal without concern for grammar or spelling conventions, or the pressure to adhere to logic and formality. This space offers you the freedom to express your true self.

[Part 1]
Dear Lord …
[Part 2]
Dear (your name), …

• ask Him what you do that brings Him the most joy

• ask Him how He wants you to serve Him

• talk to Him about your joy or struggles in serving or surrendering to Him

• ask Him if there is a specific thing or area that He wants you to surrender to Him
Check out APPENDIX 2 for more.

Exercise 2:

DECLARATION

How does the truth that "He is Lord" shape your present lifestyle? Write a declaration that resonates with your personal journey. Keep it simple and concise.

Because You are my Lord, I declare I can / I will / I am…

Speak this declaration aloud, addressing it to the Lord and to yourself. Repeat it with conviction and assurance. Verbalizing the words creates a stronger impact than merely contemplating them internally. Allow these words to permeate your heart and transform them into your new reality.

As we conclude Day 9 of our journey, my prayer is that you be granted a profound comprehension and heightened consciousness of His Lordship. May you surrender yourself to Him in unprecedented ways, exploring new depths of devotion.