April 23, 2020
Read Psalm 9:10
“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” (niv)
Reflect
Are you able to find stability in a relationship with Jesus? Why is it important to forget what lies behind and “strain forward to what lies ahead”?
I’m convinced that our puny or incorrect perspective of God is the root of many of our most distressing emotions. And I know when I let worries—over finances, the future, health, or anything else—sap my strength, it’s because I’ve forgotten how awesome, how able, how loving and faithful God truly is.
Our faith in God develops as we know His names. If you’re married, you’ve come to know your spouse in the different aspects of his or her nature: your companion, best friend, prayer partner, generous giver, parent of your children, and much more. In a similar way, we know God in experiencing different aspects of His character and person—or what in the Bible is known as “His names,” through the ways He revealed Himself in the Bible.
Thus I’ve found that when I become anxious or fearful about things, one of the best antidotes is to refocus on God by meditating on His names, that He is Elohim, Creator of the whole universe, yet He cares about me and my family. That He is Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord My Banner, and His banner over me is love. One of God’s names is Emmanuel, God with us—not at a distance, but nearer than our breath, constantly working in our lives. His name is Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord Our Healer, who specializes in healing relationships and broken hearts and renewing our weary spirits. In reminding myself of who God is and getting Him more clearly into focus, my heart becomes centered on God and finds courage to trust Him once again.
When I understand more about God’s nature, my heart begins to trust Him. And coming to Him with my needs or the needs of others in prayer is a whole different matter than just hoping that He might help me. It’s knowing whom we’re addressing, it’s being confident that we aren’t asking anything outside of who God is. For example, we can trust that we can pray to Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord Our Provider, He sees our needs and delights to provide for them because that is who He is. Just as He provided in the past, He’ll provide in the future. That is who He is, and it’s an essential part of His nature He wants us to experience.
Pray
Lord, help me to give up fear and find peace in You. Help me to Your mighty name. Amen.
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