Names. In the Bible, names held significance. They didn't just name their child a name that was pretty, they named them something that meant something. It was the same thing with places. Actually Jessica over at Apples of Gold recently posted about that (you can read her post here). But I'm not going to talk about the names of places. I'm going to talk about the names of God.
My youth group has been doing a study called Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby. There's a study guide - or devotional - that comes with it that we do on our own. Yesterday I read Day 1 in Chapter 4 and it was about knowing God. It talked about how as we get to know God more and more He reveals His names to us.
For instance, we may know God is loving. But when we experience His love it has a deeper, more personal meaning. There are so many names of God. When Moses asked God who he was to say sent him God didn't say one name.
Exodus 3:14, "God replied to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.'"
"I AM WHO I AM". That sentence holds authority, a sense of forever, and holds promise. God didn't tell the Israelites one of His names. He chose to reveal those names to them as time went on. It's one thing to know God is Comforter. It's another to experience that. For God to reveal those names, the truths about Himself, is to know Him personally and to know Him better as time goes on.
You could know that God is Provider, but that doesn't mean much to you personally until you experience that.
That's one way we come to know God. As we walk through this life, God will continue to reveal Himself to us, to reveal His names. His names aren't just words, the names are attributes, truths, and hold promise.
Personally, one of the things about God I've experienced is that He is hope. I won't share the specifics, but I will say that He has shown His hope to me time after time. When all other hope seems lost, He shows up. I've shared this verse many times but it's one of my favorite verses. Psalm 42:5, "Why am I so depressed? Why is this turmoil in me? Put your hope in God for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God."
Psalm 32:7, "You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance." I've also come to know God as my hiding place. With Him, surrounded by His love, I'm safe. There I can show my brokenness, I can surrender, and I can trust Him.
Having a relationship with God isn't a one time thing, not one prayer. It's a daily thing. It's like any other relationship in your life - it takes work and time. It's a continuing relationship. It grows and you build it together. As you get to know other aspects of God's character, as He reveals His names to you personally, that relationship you have with Him grows deeper and stronger.
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What names has God revealed to you through experiences in your life? How have you come to know God more personally?
Loved reading this post, Sarah! So true! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDelete-Brooklyne
Thank you, Brooklyne! :)
DeleteI never really realized that God revealed His name to them as time went on. Makes sense! :D One name He's revealed to me is Friend. <3 Best friend, actually!
ReplyDeleteYeah, before reading that devotional I hadn't ever really thought about it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Mallory! :)
DeleteThis is so good, Sarah! I would like to do a study of all the names of God in the Bible sometime actually - there are so many, and I think that's fitting with how broad and deep His character is. We will never finish learning about Him! It sounds like an interesting devotional you're going through too. And God is hope - that one is so powerful. Recently, I would say I've been experiencing that God is there, and also that He is my Father. That's been a really hard one to grasp because I haven't had the opportunity to know an earthly father for most of my life, but recently God's been showing me what it's like for Him to be my father. It's so hard, but it's also beautiful. Thanks for sharing! xx
ReplyDeleteThat would be a very interesting study, to dig deeper into all of His names mentioned in the Bible.
DeleteKnowing that God is always there... that can be a simple yet hard thing to grasp. But He always is, and personally I find comfort in that fact. Often what is hard becomes the most beautiful. I hope that God continues to show you Himself as a Loving Father.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Jessica! <3
This is so encouraging, Sarah! Once I tried to write down all of God's names... obviously, I fell very short. =) But the idea showed me how many names He has - which as you mentioned, shows how many attributes He has!
ReplyDeleteThe word I come back to so often is love. God is Love. As I strive to live in love, I see how impossible it is - and yet God encompasses all that! Just read 1 Corinthians 13 in that light... He is so incredible. ♥
Thank you for reminding me of His truth today, dear friend! You are so loved.
I think it's interesting to think about all the different names of God... some we've only just discovered, and others we've yet to scratch the surface of. It's pretty amazing to think that these names aren't just names, but rather expressions or attributes of who God is.
DeleteAh yes, He is love. When you read 1 Corinthians 13 and see all the things that love is listed to be... He is that and more.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Hosanna! And for the encouragement. <3