What Do You Call God?
What is God really like? That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? We’ve all wondered this at some point, but does anyone actually know the answer?
There are a handful of famous people that I imagine to be wonderful humans. I don’t know them personally; I have never experienced them in person But I would be absolutely devastated to find out that they were mean, rude, or hateful people in real life. I have no way of knowing whether or not they really are wonderful humans because I will probably never have the opportunity to spend any time with them. There is no way to truly know what someone is really like without experiencing them in person. The same is true of God. The only way to truly know what God is like is to experience the many aspects of Him.
I want to share something with you that changed my prayer life years ago. I was talking with a leader at our previous church, and she asked me if I ever prayed to the trinity separately. I wasn’t quite sure what she meant, so I pressed in. She told me that the next time that I spent time in prayer, to pray to God separately, Jesus separately, and the Holy Spirit separately. This forced me to consider each aspect of the trinity separately and think about what makes them unique. It led me to really consider how I was praying and what I was praying about, and then speak directly to God, Jesus, or the Spirit depending on what I was praying about. My prayer life was changed forever once I started doing this.
Fast forward a few years, and I came across a book called, I Know His Name, by Wendy Blight. The book is about discovering power in the names of God. Have you ever searched the names of God? There are so many different names for God in scripture, and each one is powerful. I am so thankful for the time that I spent digging into the names of God a few years ago. It has been a tremendous help over the past year and a half as I have had to navigate this strange new world. Speaking directly to El Roi (The God Who Sees) during those times when I felt like I was alone and invisible was so healing for me. Crying out to Jehovah Shalom (God of Peace) when my anxiety threatened to take control was the one thing that kept me calm through it all. Calling on Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide) when uncertainty surrounded me sustained me and kept me grounded in truth. Spending time with Elohim (Creator God) in His creation was renewing, refreshing, and healing for me over the past year and a half.
I am going to keep things short and sweet today because I really want to encourage you guys to go out and do a deep dive into the names of God. Get to know your Father and the many different aspects of Him. It is incredibly life-changing, and I want that for you so badly, especially right now in the times that we are living in. Get to know the many different names of God, and then spend time praying to Him accordingly. Please, please, please reach out to me if you have any questions or would like to have a more in-depth conversation about any of this. It excites me to talk about this because it has changed my life so dramatically.
I am going to leave you with links to a couple of resources that you can check out. I also want to give you a list of names of God to get you started. I chose these based on conversations that I have had with people recently where they have shared what they have been struggling with lately, especially over the past year and a half.
I Know His Name by Wendy Blight
Praying Through the Names of God by Tony Evans
Options for names to start with:
Elohim - Creator God
El Shaddai - God Almighty
Adonai - My Lord
I Am - The Existing One
Jehovah Jireh - The Lord Will Provide
Jehovah Rapha - The One Who Heals
Jehovah Nissi - Banner of War/One Who Stands Guard Over Me
Jehovah Shalom - God of Peace
Jehovah Shammah - Ever Present/God Is There
Jehovah Sabaoth - Lord of Hosts (Armies)/God Who Fights My Battles
El Roi - The God Who Sees
I really hope that this helps you in some way. One thing I know is that God is still on the throne, and He is moving in our world right now. Maybe His Spirit is moving in your heart right now. If so, please don’t ignore it. Please don’t shrink back in fear. Find your courage. Step out in obedience. Jehovah Shammah (Ever Present) is right there by your side, and He will not leave you. I am here, whether I know you personally or not, and will be praying for you the whole way. Reach out when you need to. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don’t be afraid to reach out. You are not a burden, and you are not weak. It takes amazing strength and courage to let someone know that you need help, even if you just need someone to listen. I’m rooting for you, and I am standing in the gap with Jesus, praying on your behalf. Your Daddy desperately wants a relationship with you. Run to Him and experience Him for yourself. I promise your life will never be the same.