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What’s in a Name?

“I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.”¹

In 1540, Martin Luther had an assistant and friend named Friedrich Myconius. Friedrich had become sick and was on his deathbed and wrote Luther a farewell letter.

Luther immediately sent a reply, ‘I command you in the name of God to live because I still have need of you in the work of reforming the church…the Lord will never let me hear that you are dead but will permit you to survive me. For this I am praying because I seek only to glorify the name of God’.

Friedrich, who had already lost the ability to speak, did soon recover and lived an additional six more years, but then died two months after Luther himself had died.

There is power in God’s name, and when we ask things in His Name, according to His will, He answers. While we may be most familiar with just a couple of names of God, there is a long list of names used for God, and each describes a certain attribute of His character. From El Shaddai, “The All-Sufficient One”, to Jehovah-Jireh, “The Lord Who Provides, each name will give you a new reason to worship Him, trust Him, and praise Him. He is our God in every season and can understand each circumstance in our lives because of His great care for us.

Suggested prayer: Almighty God, you alone are faithful and worthy to be praised. Your names each describe an attribute of your greatness, but also describe the different ways in which you connect with us. Regardless of the season we are in, you truly are everything we need. I ask that you help me seek to know you more each day and trust you unconditionally. In the powerful name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

 

1. Psalm 9:2 (NLT).