Coram Deo

My husband was of the generation whose high school in Nebraska taught Latin. It wasn't even available at mine. I guess that was reflective of the "progressive" Northwest.

 

I am a bit familiar, though, with a few Latin phrases as are many of us. Just recently, a major department store's sale email landed in my inbox with the attention getting title, "Carpe Diem"—seize the day. That's a good attention getter as far as sales go. The Marines, one of whom is my nephew, have the motto "semper fidelis"—always faithful. Have you heard this one? "Usus magister est optimus." You're probably more familiar with it in English—practice makes perfect. Or perhaps this one is familiar: "Pro Deo et Patria"—for God and country.

 

One of my favorites is "coram Deo"—before the face of God or in the presence of God. It is an expression that I liken to the communion of our walk with the Lord.

 

Similarly, R.C. Sproul wrote, “The big idea of the Christian life is coram Deo. Coram Deo captures the essence of the Christian life. This phrase literally refers to something that takes place in the presence of, or before the face of, God. To live coram Deo is to live one’s entire life in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God."

 

Isn't that our heart aspiration for our children?

 

So we speak the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, over their lives.

 

We pray from Colossians 3:17, asking the Lord that whatever ______ does, in word or deed, that s/he would do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

 

We pray from 1 Corinthians 10:31 that whether _______ eats or drinks or whatever s/he does would be done all for the glory of God.

 

We pray from Proverbs 3:6 that in all ______ ways s/he would acknowledge the Lord, and He shall direct their paths.

 

We pray from Psalm 91:1 that ______ will dwell in the secret place of the Most High, abiding under the shadow of the Almighty.

 

We pray from Psalm 27:8 that ______ will seek the face of the Lord.

 

More than anything, our desire is for our children to live before the face of God and know the presence of the Lord—coram Deo!

 

You will show me the path of life;

in Your presence is fullness of joy,

at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11 (AMP)