God uses many names to describe Himself. Knowing His different biblical names gives us confidence when we face various challenges. As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, knowing Jesus called Himself “the Resurrection and the Life” reassured me when I faced a scary medical situation. I realized the Lord is bigger than any prognosis. He has conquered even death.
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Below I’ve listed six names of God and what they mean for us today.
Six names of God and what they mean for us today. #hope, #peace, #purpose Share on X
1. My Shepherd
“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need” (Ps. 23:1 NLT).
Jesus is the Good Shepherd who sacrificed his life for His sheep (Jn. 10:11). When we trust Jesus for salvation we become part of God’s flock. Knowing Jesus is my shepherd reminds me I am safe and secure because the Lord Himself is watching over me, defending me, and providing for my needs.
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2. Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7 NIV).
I discovered these Scriptures early in my Christian walk. They have rescued me countless times from anxious thoughts and feelings. When I tell God my worries and thank Him for His care, He gives me peace. I’ve found that praying with thanksgiving is very different from worrying on my knees. (I wrote a whole chapter on this in Give Yourself a Break.)
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3. The God of Hope
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:13 NIV).
Author Hal Lindsey said, “Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air…but only for one second without hope.” Hope makes the difference in how we live. It’s also determined whether some people survived ordeals like concentration camps.
If God is the source of our hope then we have an endless supply—no matter how grim our circumstances appear. Notice, hope is released “as we trust in Him.” Faith in Christ, not in our idea of how things should turn out, activates hope.
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4. Wonderful Counselor (Is. 9:6)
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do” (James 1:5-8 NLT).
Our Lord already knows our needs, the future, and how to handle every situation. But He tells us to ask for wisdom. God wants a relationship with us. He uses our needs to draw us to Himself. We see again the role faith plays in activating God’s promises. Faith doesn’t mean feeling sure we know the right thing to do but being sure God will keep His promise and direct our steps. As always, God is the object of our faith.
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5. The Vine (Jn. 15:1, 5)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5 NIV).
Jesus calls us to abide in Him. When we do, His life flows through us and we bear fruit. Often we reverse this order. We feel driven to achieve in order to prove our worth and find meaning in life. Abiding in Him and having His Word is in us makes us fruitful. Otherwise we produce thorns! When we question our calling or value, remembering Jesus is the vine gets us back on track. My life has purpose and meaning because His life flows through me.
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6. I AM
Perhaps the name He gave Moses says it all (Ex. 3:14). “I AM” is God’s way of saying, “I am whatever you need.” Jesus is the great I AM who is able to meet our every need (Jn. 8:58).
Question: Is this a topic you’d like to know more about? Which of His names are special to you? I’d love to hear a personal favorite.
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Blessings,
Sometimes I link up with these great sites:
#God-sized Dreams #Moments of Hope, #Teaching What Is Good, #w2wwordfilledwednesday, #Wedded Wednesday, #Women with Intention, #HeartEncouragement, #LivefreeThursday, #Grace and Truth, #Dance with Jesus, #Fresh Market Friday, #Sunday Thoughts
I LOVE all of them because for different times in our lives one may minister to us more. Each name is a treasure chest full of truths. Thanks for the lesson Debbie.
I agree, Ella. Thanks so much for sharing.
Every one of the names you mentioned is just beautiful and has been a comfort and blessing to me. I think one of my special favorites is Jehovah Shammah – The Lord is There. I love knowing that no matter where I am or what is happening – He is right here with me!!
Ann, I didn’t remember that one but love it. Thanks so much.
The names of God always inspire me to take heart. I really like the one-” God is Able”- Eph. 3:20, Daniel 4:37, James 4:12, Jude 24 and Hebrews 2:18.
I love that too, Pat. Thanks for sharing the references too.
Debbie, this is so very comforting and encouraging! Such a great reminder.
Thank you, Cindi. I had fun thinking about them.
DEBBIE, I like “Beer Lehai Roi,” the God Who sees me.
Henni, that is a wonderful name. He always knows right where I am.
What a great angle to come at the Lord–all his names and the roles he plays in our lives. Thank you for sharing on the #sundaythoughts link up!
Thank you, Jamie. I was so glad to discover your link up!
It’s so important to know who God is. And how He shows up in just the right way, in just the right moment. Thanks for sharing this. It ministered to me today.
Thank you, Heather. In Hebrew culture names were significant and people’s names were often changed with significant events. I know your remember this happening with Sarah, Abraham and Israel. I like how God’s names express His many different attributes.
As I wrote the book, 40 Days of Lent, I learned Jesus’ name for Himself was Son of Man. How I love that. The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost. I love Him so. Thanks for visiting my blog this morning.
Wow, isn’t that amazing, that of all His names He chose to identify with us by the name He called Himself. How different from us humans who’d like to toss out our most exalted titles. Thanks so much for adding that name, Susan.
I love meditating on all the names of God. There is such rich and meaningful truth to each representation and facet of our Lord, Debbie. Thanks so much for sharing and encouraging us to get to know God more intimately and completely, my friend!
Thank you, Beth. I enjoyed thinking about Him in these ways.
It may seem trite, but I think God wants us to deeply believe and faithfully call upon Him as our all purpose God. His many names remind us that He has the grace and power to meet ANY need. Blessings for your neighbor at God-sized dream.
Amen, Alice. Thanks for dropping by.
I love all the names you have mentioned. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Sherry!