Message #1 (of 20) from the PrayerPower radio series "Names of God"

by Kaye Johns

I’m intrigued by the many names of God which are given throughout Scripture, because they each reveal something different about Who He is and how He wants to relate to us.

It is our relationship with the Lord that is at the heart of our Christian walk, and everything about our spiritual growth and maturity depends on it, including the effectiveness of our prayer lives.

The Lord has made clear the kind of relationship He wants with us -- a personal, love relationship. The Bible is full of illustrations of the ways that relationship can be expressed, and many of them are defined by His names. God’s names each represent a different aspect of His character, His nature, His attributes. They help explain Who He is, and Who He wants to be in our lives, if we’ll only let Him.

The first time I was exposed to the idea of the names of God, I thought it was strange. As I grew up, I attended many different churches -- but none of them mentioned the names of God, nor that it might be important to know them. I knew of God, the Father; Jesus, His Son; and the Holy Spirit. When I prayed, it was always to "God" or "Father" or "Lord" -- but without a real sense of Who He is.

As I began to understand and use some of His names in prayer, I've discovered that my prayers not only seem more personal, but God has begun to be more real to me. I can't help but think it pleases Him, when we call Him by name.

Pray with me now -- Lord, help us to understand and use Your names in prayer, not to complicate our prayer lives, but to better understand Who You are -- in Jesus' name, Amen.

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