Crazy is Good

by David McGee
DESCRIPTION
To be viewed as different or even crazy is probably healthy in this confused world.
2 Corinthians 5:13

If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.
NLT

The word 'crazy' is not often used to describe someone in a positive way. You may use crazy to describe that one relative you don't get along with or maybe the small children who seem to climb everything. Whatever the use of this word, crazy is mostly seen as negative, but imagine being crazy in Christ.

If crazy means different or odd, isn't that what Jesus called us to be? The world says to fight for yourself, but Jesus says to think of others first. The world says we must do whatever pleases us, but Jesus told us to die to ourselves. The world says there are many ways to Heaven, but Jesus said "I am the Way the Truth and the Life." From the world's point of view, Jesus was crazy and so are we if we follow Him. Crazy in Christ means giving up ourselves, our comforts and our desires for the sake of God and others. It means self-sacrifice and loving your enemies. It is completely contrary to anything the world says. So today, as you walk out the door, set your heart and mind on being crazy in Christ. Love God, love others and watch as your craziness changes the world.

Life Lesson: To be viewed as different or even crazy is probably healthy in this confused world.

Dear God,
I am so thankful for the new life You have given me in Jesus. Help me to walk in the Spirit even though it may seem crazy to others. I desire to be a blessing to others no matter the cost to myself. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I can be used for Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name, Amen.

A Balanced Schedule

by Dr. Charles Stanley
DESCRIPTION
Let Jesus be your role model for keeping a balanced schedule.
Ephesians 5:15-17

We often think seconds are not very important. But seconds tick away into minutes, minutes into hours, and hours into days. We have all been amazed at how swiftly days turn into weeks, months, and years. Think of it this way: a 70-year-old has lived the equivalent of about two billion, two hundred seven million, five hundred and twenty thousand seconds!

While you read that last sentence, about five seconds of your life elapsed, and you can never go back and decide to use them differently. As small as they are, seconds are precious because they are a creation and a gift of God. How we use even these small time increments makes a difference. Since our heavenly Father has a plan for each life—that we live for His purpose and His will—then we must consider how we spend not just years, months, and days, but even minutes and seconds. And the time to decide is now, before any more of your life passes by.

Understanding the value of each moment, the apostle Paul urged us, “Be careful how you walk... making the most of your time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15-16). In essence, he is instructing us, “Take advantage of every opportunity God gives you. Don’t waste your time!” Let Jesus be your role model for keeping a balanced schedule. He knew that spending time with the Father was the most important thing He could do. Follow His example, and begin each day in the Father’s presence. He will help you arrange your schedule and can make every second count.

Radical Love

by Anne Graham Lotz
DESCRIPTION
Jesus outlined a radically different kind of love—a love that puts the needs and well-being of others before our own.
“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13, NIV).

We love others who meet our needs, whom we get along with, who make us feel good, who do things for us, whom we like.

In essence, our first concern is for our own well-being and having our own needs met, and we love others in proportion to the extent they fulfill those purposes.

Our second concern is that others respond positively to our overtures; if they don’t, we refuse to continue to love them. But Jesus outlined a radically different kind of love—a love that puts the needs and well-being of others before our own to the extent we would sacrifice our time, our energy, our money, and our thoughts in order to demonstrate it.

We are to demonstrate it to others whom we may not like or with whom we may be incompatible or who respond negatively or who may never do anything for us in return! Now that’s radical!

My Heart’s Cry

The Humble Man

by Dr. Ed Young
DESCRIPTION
Humility is not thinking poorly of yourself. Real humility is not thinking of yourself at all!
Humility is not thinking poorly of yourself. Humility is not thinking of yourself at all. Humility is the one grace that, as soon as you declare you have it, you’ve lost it. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior, the King of Kings, was a humble man. “He was a man of no reputation,” it was said. Nothing about His appearance or manner suggested divinity. The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians that it would please him (and God as well) if the Philippians would become humble men and women, in imitation of Jesus Himself.

Modern man is chiefly concerned with working his way up. Up the corporate ladder. Up the office pecking order. Up the social register. Jesus worked his way down. Jesus started at the top. Paul said, “He existed in the form of God.” But He didn’t cling to that position. “He did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped.” Not only did He not cling to His top spot, He emptied Himself. He cashed it in. Walked away from it all. We’re stunned when we see people at the top walk away, aren’t we? But Jesus left it all and became not only human in form—He adopted the role of a servant. Do you see it? He worked His way down. And finally, He died the death of a desperate, wicked criminal. Then God brought Him back to life, and brought Him back home to glory. Jesus emptied Himself...and God exalted Him. Can you imagine the applause in Heaven over Jesus’ return? Humility is a key to true joy. Jesus didn’t just say it...He proved it.

MEMORY VERSE

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:29).

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE

1 Kings 1-2; Psalm 31

Used, Abused, and Refused?

by Brian Ray
DESCRIPTION
Justified or not, when we get used, abused and/or refused, it is tough to generate a genuinely positive attitude.
I can remember all too well when my boss lost his temper, yelled and said “How can you be so stupid?”

Actually I was wondering the same thing. I messed up. The project I had been given had not gone as we all hoped, taking more time and money than planned. I had done my best, but it wasn’t good enough. How hurt I felt!

I also remember another tough time, going on spring break during graduate school. When I came back, my part-time job was given to someone else.  No explanation. I was out. That was just as painful.

When I get hurt, many times I get angry – either at them or me – sometimes both. Justified or not, when I get used, abused and/or refused, it is tough to generate a genuinely positive attitude.

Forget What Lies Behind.

“Forgetting what lies behind” means accepting the loss of something you either had or had hoped for. Whether you lost your job, or you are in a job that you wish you could lose, you will find freedom to move to the future if you admit, understand and grieve the loss, no matter how minor or major it may be.

You can expect to experience one or more of the following feelings at some level of intensity––maybe a little, maybe a lot. As you admit your feelings about your situation, you may feel that you have been used, abused and refused. Maybe you are blaming others; your boss, a coworker, someone else – maybe even yourself.

To help you process, write about your situation and your feelings in a private journal. You can talk about it with people you trust, people who care about you: your spouse, a parent, a sibling, a friend or business associate, someone from church, a minister or a counselor.

The real key to overcoming anger, however, is to exercise forgiveness toward everyone involved – not for their benefit – but for yours. As you write or talk about your situation, visualize every person you are blaming, and make a conscious decision to begin forgiving each one every day. So remember …

Do not let the sun go down on your anger. Ephesians 4:26

Let go of the past, so the past can let go of you. Only then can you reach toward the future.

Anger is One Letter Short of Danger.

When you see red, it is an alarm that “Danger Is Ahead!” Everyone feels anger sometimes. It is what you do with your anger that counts.

Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone,?so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.” Mark 11:25

How to Forgive from the Heart.

Let me share from the book Bondage Breaker by Neil T Andersen, which I have found helpful over the years.

Acknowledge the hurt and the hate. If your forgiveness doesn’t visit the emotional core, it will be incomplete. Let God bring the pain to the surface so He can deal with it.

Ask God to bring to your mind those you need to forgive using the following prayer: “Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the riches of Your kindness, forbearance, and patience knowing that your kindness has led me to repentance. I confess that I have not extended to others that same patience and kindness toward others who have offended me, but instead I have harbored bitterness and resentment. I pray that during this time of self-examination, You would bring to mind only those people I have not forgiven in order that I my do so. I also pray that if I have offended others. You would bring to mind only those people from whom I need to seek forgiveness and the extent to which I need to seek it. I ask this in the precious name of Jesus.”

Be prepared for surprises. The Lord may bring to mind your father, mother or yourself. Make a list of everyone who has offended you. Since God forgave them, you can too.

Decide that you will bear the burden of their offenses by not using the information about their offenses against them in the future.

Don’t wait to forgive until you FEEL like forgiving, you will never get there. Feelings take time to hear after the choice to forgive is made.

For each person on your list, say: “Lord, I forgive (name) for (offenses). Don’t say “Help me to forgive,” because He is helping. Don’t say “I want or will try to forgive,” because then you are bypassing the hard-core choice to forgive. Don’t try to rationalize or explain the offender’s behavior; forgiveness deals with your pain, not their behavior.

Forgiveness is continuous exercise, not a one-time event. Practice every day as needed. Whenever you feel angry – forgive. Exercise forgiveness. Let go of the past, so the past will let go of you, and you can move on to the future.

Prayer of Relinquishment

by Guideposts
DESCRIPTION
What is one dream you desire to accomplish? Stop trying to succeed on your own and offer God a prayer of relinquishment.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20, NLT

For many years, I wanted to write a novel. As someone who grew up loving to read, I thought there could be nothing cooler than getting published. There was a huge obstacle, though: I have no degree in literature or creative writing. Instead, I read books on the writing process and attended writers' conferences. Once I realized how hard getting a book published would be, I focused on writing magazine articles. The publication of a book eluded me for many years.

Over time, some of my friends started to get their books published, and I felt the same as I had in fourth-grade kickball…I’ll always be the last one picked. For a long season, my prayer times were more like whining sessions. Other times I’d just pout. Didn’t God realize that if I was published I could point many people to Him through my words?

My thinking of this changed after one writers’ meeting I attended. The speaker shared how God launched her career only after she relinquished her writing desires to God. That sounded like a great idea to me, so the next morning I got on my knees. The only problem was, even as I prayed words that sounded good, I knew they didn’t come from my heart. If I was going to do this, I had to give Jesus everything—my hopes, my dreams, my longings.

Ephesians 3:20 speaks of God “who is able, through his mighty power at work within us.” It wasn’t about me and what I could accomplish. It was about what Jesus could work within me as I let Him.

Jesus wasn’t concerned about me being a great writer. What He desired (and still desires) is that He has access to every part of my life. The more of myself I surrendered to Jesus over the years, the more He’s done the work. And through Him, I’ve accomplished more than I could ask or even think. Today, I have enough books to fill a bookshelf. More importantly, I walk through life depending not on my own strength, but on Jesus who is at work within me.

FAITH STEP: What is one dream you desire to accomplish? Say a prayer of relinquishment to God. Tell Him you’re tired of trying to accomplish your dreams in your own strength, and ask Him to work within you, for His glory.

Written by Tricia Goyer

Keep Your Eyes on the Goal

by Bryant Wright
DESCRIPTION
Keep your eyes on Jesus; He will keep you right on track.
Jesus said..."Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19).

Walking through freshly fallen snow, a father wanted to teach his son a key lesson in life. He said, “Son, I’m going to walk to that tree fifty feet ahead in a perfectly straight line. Then I want you to do the same.”

The father walked to the tree. He turned to look at his son, and they both observed the perfectly straight tracks in the snow. Not wanting to fail the test, the son looked at his father and began to walk. He looked down at his steps, wobbled in the snow, and veered to the left. He looked up and corrected his course. He looked down again. He veered to the right and had to correct his course once more.

Arriving at the tree, his tracks told the story of his failure.

His father explained, “Son, as long as you focused on me, your tracks were straight. The moment you took your eyes off me, you got off track. The key is keeping your eyes on the goal.”

So, it is in life. There is one primary goal, and if it becomes the heart and focus of your life, it will be the key to eternal success. That goal is following Jesus. Keep your eyes on Him, and He will keep you right on track to where you need to go.

A New Breed of Workplace Believers

by Os Hillman
DESCRIPTION
Has He called you out of Egypt in order to do extraordinary things in your life for His Kingdom? Ask God to show you how He wants to use you in the workplace this year.
"Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people...." - Haggai 2:2

Zerubbabel was the governor of Judah 60 years after the great temple built by Solomon had been destroyed. The temple lay in ruins, and the Lord spoke to the prophet Haggai, "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" (Hag. 1:4) God was calling for a remnant of His people to come out of their comfort zones and restore the glory of God's house.

God is doing this same thing today among Christian workplace believers throughout the world. He is raising up a remnant of workplace believers who are being handpicked to use their resources, skills, and experience to affect nations that have not heard the message of Jesus Christ. The only way they can hear is by commerce being brought into their nation through Christian workplace believers, because these are closed regions to normal missionary efforts.

"But now be strong, O Zerubbabel," declares the Lord. "Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land," declares the Lord, "and work. For I am with you," declares the Lord Almighty. "This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And My Spirit remains among you. Do not fear" (Haggai 2:4-5).

The remnant of workplace believers God is calling today understand that they have to come out of Egypt from their past work life. Egypt signifies the way of the world. It represents sweat and toil. It is the flesh. This new way is exemplified by a pioneer spirit. God knows we need to have courage in order to move in this realm. Also, God assures us that His Spirit is with anyone who seeks to live in the realm of supernatural faith.

Are you one of these remnants He has handpicked in these days? Has He called you out of Egypt in order to do extraordinary things in your life for His Kingdom? Ask God to show you how He wants to use you in the workplace this year. Then act and "be strong, all you people of the land."

How to Get Out of the Pits

by Lead Like Jesus
DESCRIPTION
Are you in the pits of depression? Michael Hasha offers biblically based suggestions to help you find joy again.
Let’s think about some of the many benefits of praising God. Look at these verses:

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever (Psalm 30:11-12).

Are you in the pits of depression? Are you in desperate need of some encouragement? Here’s how you get out of depression’s grip: Gives praise and thanks to God, and He will turn your depression into dancing.

Take a look at this passage:

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing (Psalm 100:1-2).

We can look for other ways to find joy and gladness. The flesh promises joy, but never delivers what it promises. Pure joy and gladness is found in our praise of the Father.

Today, let’s do what these passages suggest we do. Let’s come before the Father and shout, serve, sing, and dance.

Written by Michael Hasha

Names for God

by Ignite Your Faith
DESCRIPTION
Learning the names of God can help add to your worship and praise of Him.
Wonderful Counselor

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)

It's comforting to have someone who will just listen when I'm hurt and need to cry.

I can come to you whenever I want.

You always have time for me.

You are a wise and Wonderful Counselor. (You run the whole world, after all, so I know I can trust you with my life.)

When I'm confused and need to talk, you always offer good advice.

I can always count on your wisdom.

Mighty God

I see your might in the waves that crash against a rocky seacoast.

I see your strength when lightning streaks through the sky, and when thunder shakes the earth.

I remember your power when fire blazes through a forest, turning everything into charred stubble.

With the power of life and death in your hands, nothing I ask could be too hard for you to accomplish.

When my requests are in your will, you'll shove aside mountains to answer my prayers.

Everlasting Father

You always understand, always forgive, always deliver on your promises.

You're always interested in me, concerned about even the smallest details in my life (not to mention your concern for the billions of other people on this planet).

Always providing for all my needs, always gentle, always patient, always kind.

People may let me down, but you will always be there.

I long to feel the warmth of your huge hugs, to climb into your lap and forget about grades and dates and who likes me and who doesn't.

I want to rest in your loving arms forever.

Prince of Peace

The news blares of violence in the streets, in the schools and everywhere.

And in my school, too.

Misunderstanding reigns among family and friends.

Stereotypes and racial tension push people apart.

And the poor hate the rich.

And guys use girls and girls manipulate guys.

Sometimes I wonder what kingdom you're prince over.

But then I see those who love you:

People of different races praying together.

The rich sharing with the poor.

Respect flowing from guy to girl and back again.

Your people love you and this spills out to a hate-filled world.

Wonderful Counselor, guide me forever by your wisdom. Mighty God, help me trust in your strength. Everlasting Father, keep me in your care. Prince of Peace, I want you to rule my heart.

Written by Diane Eble

Praying the Names of God

by Sylvia Gunter
DESCRIPTION
God is the name above all names. When we praise Him using His names, we gaze at the One who wants us to draw near.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower.
The righteous run into it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10

In Hebrew and Greek, a personal name communicated something indispensable for distinguishing that person's character and personality. All the many names of God present some aspect of his inexhaustible, awesome glory.

When God revealed Himself to man, he often used his name. God revealed his name in the Bible after people experienced him in a deep way in response to their immediate need. When man first began to worship, he called on the name of the LORD(Gen 4:26). He revealed Himself to Abraham, who came out of polytheism, as El Elyon, God Most High (Gen 14:18), El Shaddai, God Almighty (Gen 17:1), and Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who provided the lamb (Gen 22:14). He revealed Himself to Hagar as El Roi, God who sees (Gen 16:13). He revealed Himself to Moses as "I AM WHO I AM," Yahweh LORD (Exo 3:14). He revealed Himself to the people of Israel as Jehovah-Rapha (the Lord the Healer), as Jehovah-M'Kaddesh (the Lord my holiness), and as Jehovah-Nissi (the Lord my banner).

Why Pray The Names Of God?

We are obeying a command. "Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together" (Ps 34:3). We do what Jesus modeled. He said, "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name'" (Matt 6:9). He taught us to give His Father the honor and worship He deserves. Knowing the names of God causes us to know the riches we have in Him, and we rejoice His heart when we know Him. When we pray the name of Jesus, we understand His significance. "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil 2:9-10).

In the space of two short verses, Psalm 86:11-12 illustrates the use of the three most important names of God in the Old Testament: LORD, Lord, and God.

LORD
Yahweh means "I am I AM, I am eternal, self-existent. I am the only uncaused cause. Worship me." Six thousand times this name calls from the pages of the Old Testament, "Worship me." Will we worship Him?

Lord
Adonai means "I am ruler, master, absolute authority, sovereign. I am the one who rightfully commands obedience. Serve me." Will we serve Him exclusively?

God
Elohim means "I am infinite in power, absolute in faithfulness. I am able. I keep covenant. Trust me." The Bible opens with "In the beginning Elohim..." 2700 times the name Elohim/God says, "Trust me." Will we trust Him implicitly?

Can you find the 61 names or titles and 300 attributes of God in Psalms? How about the 64 names and titles of God and 150 attributes in Isaiah? There are 37 names and 120 ways and attributes of God in Revelation. We orient ourselves upward to the one who has the legal jurisdiction, authority, power, and desire to intervene in our affairs as the Sovereign one. He is the name above all names. When we praise Him using His names, we gaze at the One who wants us to draw near.

Jesus said that making the Father's name known was one of His continuing functions, so that we will love Him more and live in His abiding presence (John 17:26). Focus your attention on the overcoming God of the universe. Make it your ambition to glorify Him and enjoy Him in His many names. The King of kings wants you to personally know Him in all his fullness.

Think of it! The Living Water invites you to drink deeply of Him.
Think of it! The Bread of Life invites you to feast upon His Word.
Think of it! You are privileged to walk with the LORD of hosts.

God Knows Our Names

by Family Matters
DESCRIPTION
Angie Ryg, for Family Matters, shares a personal story to remind us that we are all still learning. But the One who created us is also the One to teach us.
“I said, ‘Can you put two Splendas into the tea please?” knowing full well that I am not going to understand what she says back to me. Somehow the drive- thru window takes whatever I say and whatever the person answers and turns it into gibberish that I usually cannot understand.

It was a long day.  I had been driving the kids to crazy amounts of practices and games and rehearsals. They were tired and I was tired. I was in a hurry and I just needed some tea.

I must confess I am usually pretty impatient at the drive-thru. I always think to myself, “If it is fast food, why am I not getting it faster?”

But this last trip to McDonald’s was different…

I drove around to the “second window” and had my money ready.

I asked the worker,  “Are you having a good day?”

I will never forget that look of insecurity, confusion and anxiety.

She paused for a moment and said, “Maria.”

All my sinful impatience and need for speed went out of me with my breath.  With a smile, I said quietly, “It’s nice to meet you, Maria. My name is Angie.”  And then came her smile…

So, the next time any kind of impatience hits you, whether it’s the store clerk who has to change the ticker tape or the waitress that forgot to get the ranch dressing again, whether they know English or not, whether the impatience is with your child or even with yourself… everyone has a name.

And the greatest thing is that God knows your name. And He knows your child’s name.  He knows you. He created you to be the perfect parent for your child. Not the perfect parent, but the perfect parent for your child. And the perfect wife for your husband. We are all still learning. But the One who created us is also the One to teach us.

By His sweet grace, He gave us His word to know Him better and in the end, we will know Him better. And we will know the name of Jesus.

Written by Angie Ryg

The Names of Christ

by Charles Spurgeon
DESCRIPTION
Jesus has many names - Mighty Counselor, Wonderful, Emmanuel, and more - but one name, perhaps, is sweetest of all: Jesus.
Matthew 1:21  Thou shalt call his name Jesus.

When a person is dear, everything connected with him becomes dear for his sake. Thus, so precious is the person of the Lord Jesus in the estimation of all true believers, that everything about him they consider to be inestimable beyond all price. "All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia," said David, as if the very vestments of the Saviour were so sweetened by his person that he could not but love them. Certain it is, that there is not a spot where that hallowed foot hath trodden--there is not a word which those blessed lips have uttered--nor a thought which his loving Word has revealed--which is not to us precious beyond all price. And this is true of the names of Christ--they are all sweet in the believer's ear. Whether he be called the Husband of the Church, her Bridegroom, her Friend; whether he be styled the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world--the King, the Prophet, or the Priest--every title of our Master--Shiloh, Emmanuel, Wonderful, the Mighty Counsellor--every name is like the honeycomb dropping with honey, and luscious are the drops that distil from it. But if there be one name sweeter than another in the believer's ear, it is the name of Jesus. Jesus! it is the name which moves the harps of heaven to melody. Jesus! the life of all our joys. If there be one name more charming, more precious than another, it is this name. It is woven into the very warp and woof of our psalmody. Many of our hymns begin with it, and scarcely any, that are good for anything, end without it. It is the sum total of all delights. It is the music with which the bells of heaven ring; a song in a word; an ocean for comprehension, although a drop for brevity; a matchless oratorio in two syllables; a gathering up of the hallelujahs of eternity in five letters.

"Jesus, I love thy charming name,

'Tis music to mine ear."

Why Study the Names of God?

by Revive Our Hearts
DESCRIPTION
God is so amazing, so complex, so vast and so awesome, one name just can't describe Him!
Do you know the story behind your name, why your parents chose the name they did? I love knowing I was named after my great-grandmother. My youngest is named after my grandfather. My husband, after his father. Sometimes we choose names for their meanings or because they remind us of someone special.

Names in the Bible are of particular significance. When God gave someone a name, it defined who they were, who they would become, what they would do, or even described what would happen to the nation of Israel. Abram's name was changed to Abraham which means "father of many." Simon's name was changed to Peter which means "rock."

When it comes to the name of God, the meanings for His name have extraordinary significance for us. God is so amazing, so complex, so vast and awesome, one name just can't describe Him. In fact, there are hundreds of names in the Bible that describe who God is.

The Great "I Am"

When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and told him he was to lead his people out of Egypt, Moses asked:

"If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you'" (Ex. 3:13–14).

The most common name for God in Scripture is the one our Bibles write as LORD in all capital letters. It is the name YHWH, which we pronounce Yahweh. The Jewish people had such reverence for the name that they never said it out loud; instead they used the name Adonai.

It is this name Yahweh that's used in Exodus 3. This passage is important because God is in essence defining His name for Moses. He is telling Moses that He has always existed and that He is not dependent upon anyone else. Unlike humans, He is not created and does not rely upon anything outside of Himself to sustain Him. He is also unchangeable—He always is and always was. This name—Yahweh, I AM—was the name Jesus used in response to the questioning Jews in John 8: "Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am'" (v. 58).

Knowing God's Names

As believers, it's important that we learn and study the names of God in His Word. Psalm 9:10 says, "And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you." While the name Yahweh is the most common and important name for God, there are hundreds more names for God in Scripture. Each one describes a particular characteristic or attribute of God. They help us understand more of His power, wonder, and might. They describe what He does, how He acts, and how He moves in our lives. They also describe how He responds toward us as His people. And as Psalm 9 tells us, knowing God's name helps us trust Him.

One name for God that I find comforting is Jehovah-Rohi, which means, "Our Shepherd." The most well-known passage where this name is found is in Psalm 23: "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want" (v.1) Jehovah-Rohi reminds us that God is our Shepherd who watches over us, guides us, and protects us.

Jesus referred to Himself as a shepherd in John 10, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (v. 11). Jesus is the Good Shepherd who became the Lamb of God and died in our place. This name also tells us that He loves and knows each one of us. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27). In Luke 15, Jesus told a parable about a shepherd leaving ninety-nine sheep to seek one that was lost. Jesus is our Shepherd who knows us, loves us, and who has gone to great lengths to rescue and save us.

Another name for God is El Roi, the God who sees, which comes from the story of Hagar in Genesis 16. After being hurt by her mistress, Hagar ran off into the desert. God saw Hagar crying. He saw her misery and had compassion on her and helped her. In response to God's kindness, Hagar gives God the name El Roi: "She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: 'You are the God who sees me,' for she said, 'I have now seen the One who sees me'" (v. 13 NIV).

My own heart has been filled with worry and fear. I've felt alone and uncertain about the future. Many times anxiety has taken over my heart, paralyzing me. I, too, have run and hidden from all that frightens me. But no matter where I go, God is always there. He sees, He knows, and He cares about all the burdens on my heart. He sees the weight on my shoulders and the way worry holds me hostage.

El Roi tells me that He is not a distant God, watching things from afar. He not only sees my pain, but He meets me right there in my desert wanderings and rescues me. When I think of the name El Roi, it reminds me of just how much God cares. I can trust Him, and that trust leads me away from fear, worry, and anxiety and back to the God who sees.

Here are just a few more names of God:

El Shaddai: God Almighty (Gen. 17)

This name tells us that God is all-powerful; nothing is too hard for Him. He has proven this over and over in Scripture and in our lives. He has conquered sin and defeated our enemy. He has freed us from slavery and rescued us from sin. No matter how big our problems, He is bigger still.

Jehovah-Jireh: The LORD will provide (Gen. 22, Matt. 6)

God not only sees everything that is happening in our lives, He knows just what we need. This name reminds us that God is our provider and sustainer. The name Jehovah-Jireh comes from the story of Abraham and Isaac where God provided a ram in the thicket, a substitute taking Isaac's place on the altar. This event pointed to the day when God would provide His very own Son as a substitution and payment for our sins. If He would provide His Son for us, won't He also provide for us all our daily needs?

Strong Tower (Prov. 18:10)

Just as a strong tower provides safety and shelter from a storm, so too is God's name a place of safety for us. Proverbs 18:10 says, "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe." When we trust Christ as our Savior, we are safe from evil and sin forever. Nothing can take away God's love for us. Our eternal hope is firm and secure in Christ.

And there are many more names of God in Scripture. The more we study His names and their meanings, the more we trust Him. When we are lost, wandering in our own desert wilderness, uncertain and afraid, we can call out to our Strong Tower, El Shaddai, Jehovah-Jireh, Jehovah-Rohi, and El Roi and know that He is all powerful, all mighty, and that He provides, He protects, and He sees.

Which of God's names hold special significance for you?

By Christina Fox