Shoveling It In

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     Have I mentioned before that I like words? Maybe that I like to follow words down trails...? Today I came across the word "continually" in Acts 1 in relationship to the idea of prayer. The verse reads as follows: "These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer..." The verse led me to the explore the Greek reference in the back of my Bible via a Strong's NT Dictionary, which directed me to Strong's 4342, and I found the word abundance, which is a transposed participle of Strong's 3257 meaning "shovel." Ok! Now, I was really excited because the idea that came to me is that the early church abundantly "shoveled in" prayer as they waited in the Upper Room for their baptism with the Holy Spirit as Jesus promised.  This is a concept I need to understand and grab hold of....and I need that, truly I do...but really, I can't see very well early in the morning and the numbers (and letters) are small, so what it really means is found where I thought I looked (the NT Dictionary, not the OT Dictionary). The definition given is "to continue or persevere" (spoken about a work or a business), which is derived from Strong's 4314 (indicating a direction) and Strong's 2594 (regarding steadfastness and patience, and in this case to persist or hold fast). When I read and study the Bible, I want God to illuminate my mind and heart with His truth through His Word; today, even though I first mistakenly flipped to the wrong section of my Bible dictionary for the reference in the original language, I still received encouragement to shovel in the prayer as I wait on Christ to work in my life and provide what I need as I need it. The continuing and persevering flow along the same lines, but not as strongly as I needed to hear that today. God offered me encouragement through my mistake. Shovel it in!

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