When Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, He begins with the most radical word imaginable — Father. In the ancient world, approaching God as Father was almost unthinkable. Jesus opens the door and says: this is how you come. Not as a subject before a king. As a child before a Father who already knows what you need.

To know, to understand, to perceive. Ginosko. This is eternal life that they may know You. The deepest knowing is relational not informational. God wants to be known.

Youth, young man. Neanískos. The young man in the tomb announced the resurrection; another walked away from Jesus grieving. Youth is neither a virtue nor a liability. Choose well with it.

Strong, mighty, forcible. Ischyrós. The strong man must be bound before his house can be plundered. True strength belongs to God; borrowed strength must be surrendered to him.

To be, to exist. Eimi. When God names himself I AM, he uses this word. Existence itself belongs to him. Ground your identity in the one who simply is.

In Greek thought, the logos was the rational principle holding the universe together. John opens his Gospel with this word — not as a concept, but as a person. In the beginning was the Word. Before anything existed, the Word already was.

God. Theos. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The ultimate reality. The source of all existence. Personal knowable and present.

To abide, to remain, to stay. Meno. Abide in Me and I in you. Abiding is not a feeling. It is a choice. Stay connected to the vine and fruit is inevitable.

To conquer, to overcome, to prevail. Nikao. In all these things we are more than conquerors. Not barely surviving. More than conquering. Through Him who loved us.

Evil, wicked, bad. Poneros. Deliver us from the evil one. The evil one has a name but no ultimate power. He operates only within the limits God permits. His defeat is certain.