El Bethel - The God of the "House of God"

El Bethel - The God of the House of God

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel," Genesis 28:16-19

"He (Jacob) built an altar there, and called the place El-Bethel, because there God had revealed Himself to him when he fled from his brother." Genesis 35:7 

"'I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.’” Genesis 31:13

Years after the rape of Dinah and his sons' brutal, murderous rampage, Jacob returned to Bethel, where he built an altar to Yahweh and named it "El-Bethel," because there God had revealed Himself to Jacob when he had fled from his brother.

Bethel was the place where Jacob saw heaven open and the Lord God standing at the top of the stairway to Heaven, the place God called him to return to after 20 years of servitude to Laban and the place he returned to after deep disappointment. But the actual place was not as significant as El Bethel - the God of Bethel. The God who promised to bless him wasn't limited to a specific location but was capable of keeping His promises wherever he was. 

Through this name we can see that, "the God who wonderfully revealed Himself to us in the Gospel, is the same God who remains covenantally faithful to us throughout our pilgrimage on earth and He is powerful to help us in our direst circumstances." 

Prayer

El Bethel, I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You have revealed your power and your strength in countless ways. The heavens tell of your glory. The skies display your marvelous craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak, and at night, they make you known. They speak without a word, and their voice is silent in the skies, yet their message goes out to all of us on the earth. For since the creation of the world, your invisible attributes—your eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made. You have revealed yourself to all of us, El Bethel, and I give you praise for who you are.

El Bethel, I confess I don’t always see you when you reveal yourself to me. I don’t always stand in amazement at the intricacy of your creation. I fail to marvel at the depth of your wisdom. Forgive me for those times when you have revealed yourself to me and yet I chose to view you with earthly eyes rather than with spiritual

El Bethel, thank you for making yourself known to me. Thank you for taking up residence in me through the death, burial, and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ, which enabled your Holy Spirit to make my spirit your house. My body is now the temple of the living God. My life is bethel, where you dwell, and yet I still strive to make my own decisions in spite of your desires. Thank you for your patience and longsuffering as you dwell in and with me.

El Bethel, abide in me. Set up your home in the depths of my soul. Let your words dwell in me that I may know and live by them and for you. Reveal to me the sin I must confess and turn from so that I may be pure and blameless in your sight. Show me how to best honor you through this temple you have set up within me. Guide me in my eating habits, in my entertainment choices, and even in what I wear so that as your house—bethel—I may glorify you in all I do. Grant me the discernment to know how to reflect you well.  In Jesus' name, Amen. 

(Prayer taken from Praying Through the Names of God by Tony Evans)

Adonai - Lord Over All

Adonai - Lord over all

The Jews would often use this name as they thought YHWH / Yahweh was too sacred to be uttered by sinful man. 

Adonai, the word for "Lord" - someone having power, authority, and influence; a master, ruler. In God's Word, Adonai is used as a title of respect for Him. 

"My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says (Adonai) Almighty. Malachi 1:11

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:4-5

"Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any Adonai besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him." Isaiah 64:4

O Lord [Adonai] God, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Yours? Deuteronomy 3:24

Prayer

O Lord God, my Adonai, you are a great and mighty God. You have opened my eyes to see your greatness and your strong hand. What god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the amazing and powerful things you can do? Who can create a mountain? Who can make the deep where the waters rest, far beyond anything we can see? Who can calm a storm with just one word? None other than you, Adonai. You are the Master over all. You are the Lord above all. And you are deserving of the highest honor and praise.

Adonai, I humbly bow and ask for your forgiveness for failing to honor you as I should. I ask you to show me great mercy for the many times I’ve gone about my day without considering that you are the Lord and Master over all. How dare I fail to acknowledge your hand? How dare I attribute to man what I ought to attribute to you? Forgive me for my shortsightedness and lack of faith.

Adonai, thank you for being my Lord and my Master and yet allowing me to know you intimately. Thank you for remembering me constantly and reminding me of your presence. Your love captivates me. Your power mesmerizes me. All I need is your love in my life, and I thank you, Adonai, for giving me access to you throughout my day. Any moment I need you, you are there. I love you, Adonai, and I thank you for granting me the privilege of loving you and receiving your love.

Adonai, help me align my thoughts, actions, heart, decisions, and desires underneath you and your rule so I can fully experience the blessing of your hand in my life and so I can fulfill the destiny you have prepared for me. May I live out all of the days you have ordained for me, and may I discover the calling you have given me. Help me to see where I can share the knowledge of you with others and how I can spread the love you have put in my heart to those who need it the most. May your caring eyes watch over all I do. I ask you to empower me to impact the lives of those around me with your kingdom agenda. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

Jehovah / Yahweh - The Relational God

 Jehovah / YHWY / Yahweh - the true, personal name of God

The Lord revealed Himself as having a singular original name. How blessed we are to have this name that we can use in prayer to Him. Jehovah / Yahweh means "I am" or "I am the One who is." It gives us a sense of His eternal nature. 

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.  Revelation 22:13

“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” John 8:58

We first see Jehovah / Yahweh used with Moses. 

Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:13-14

This is not the first name we have of the Lord in the Bible, but it is the most commonly used name. It appears more than 6,800 times. When Jehovah was preparing for a great deliverance of the Jewish people from slavery, He further revealed Himself to them. 

God also said to Moses, “I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty / Adonai, but by my name Jehovah / Yahweh I did not make myself fully known to them. I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners." Exodus 6:2-4

Later, when Jehovah / Yahweh was ready to save us completely, He took on human flesh to show us Himself in the most intimate way possible. 

I will trust and not be afraid. For the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2

Yah/weh sounds like breathing out (Yah) and breathing in (weh)...like the breath of life. So even in breathing we are declaring the name of Jehovah. 

Jehovah wants to foster a close relationship with all people He has made. Giving us His true name was an act of intimacy that invited mankind to know Him. Jehovah / Yahweh - You are truly present with Your people. 

Prayer

Jehovah, you are worthy of all praise and adoration. You are the God who made the heavens and the earth. You set the stars in their places and hung the moon where it was to remain. You rule over all, and yet you also seek a relationship with your creation. For that and much more, you are worthy of all praise and worship. I lift up your name—Jehovah / Yahweh—as I seek your face. And I honor you as you are seated on your throne above all. You are the great and mighty God, who raises up kingdoms and subdues nations at your choosing. In your mercy, you sustain all life and passionately delight in our souls.

Jehovah, I come before you with a heart of contrition, knowing I often haven’t honored you as Lord and master of my life. You wait for me to come talk to you, to wake up and greet you, or to spend my evenings with you, but I have instead wasted time on futile distractions. You are the relational God, who desires to walk with me in the cool of the day, just as you walked with Adam and Eve in those early days of your creation. Forgive me for often seeking to walk alone and ignoring the blessing and joy of your presence.

Jehovah, thank you for desiring to be close to me. Thank you for not only being high and lifted up but also dwelling with the lowly and with those who are not of a high stature. Thank you for the goodness and depth of your heart, which pours out love time and again in my life. Thank you for your grace and patience, which you lovingly manifest even in the face of my many dismissals of you. I often walk in the midst of the beauty of your creation without giving you the praise and credit you deserve. Please accept my heart of gratitude right now for all you have made and for your desire to know me fully and to empower me to know you as well.

Jehovah, to know you and to be known by you—to experience the depth of this intimacy is my heart’s greatest cry. Give me the capacity to love you deeply and to receive the love you have for me. Where my heart has become hardened or jaded, remind me of the purity of your love and gently massage it open again. Where my mind has become too analytical, give me the gift of wonder at who you are and the works of your hands. Delight my soul with your Word and with the fresh wind of your Holy Spirit. Slow my steps so that abiding with you becomes a way of life. Help me to honor you as King and to advance your kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. 

(Prayer taken from Praying Through the Names of God by Tony Evans)

Abba, Father - Daddy

Abba, Father - Daddy

This is one of my favorite names for the Lord our God and one that I use often in prayer. 

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:15-16

The parable of the prodigal son shows us the heart of God for each of His children...those who have called on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. It's the heart of a Father; an Abba (it's Hebrew translation is closest to our "Daddy.") "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him...I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Luke 15:20, 7

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

Prayer

Abba, Father, magnificent in splendor...Elohim, the Great Creator of the Universe; yet with a father's tender heart of love toward His children. The hands that fashioned the universe, also tenderly creates each child in its mother's womb. Then, when that child is born, You call for us to know You through Your Son Jesus Christ. How blessed we are to be able to call You Abba, Daddy. 

I confess that I sin greatly against You. Like the prodigal son, I turn from You and do my own thing. I take all the incredible blessings You have given me and squander them on myself. I don't appreciate the blessings of living near to You each and every moment of the day and often I wander. Please forgive me. I also confess that I can be like the older brother...spiritually prideful, thinking I'm better than others and judging people around me. I look with envy at what they have instead of looking with gratefulness at all that You have given me. Please forgive me Abba. 

Thank You for being my Abba, Father. Thank You for calling me to Yourself. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to make a way for me, through His death, that I might come to You. I am the sinner who repented. Thank You that You rejoice over me and lavish Your great love on me. 

Please help me to share the good news of who You are with the lost. I want Your family to be as big as possible. Please continue to look for the lost sheep and may I rejoice, like the angels in heaven, when each one is found by You. I love you Abba, Father with all that I am. In Your Son's name I pray, Amen. 

Elohim - The Strong Creator God

Throughout Scripture we find God’s people calling on his name. Or more accurately, calling on his names. In the Bible, God reveals himself by various names, mostly related to his ability to meet the needs of his people. Thus, the people of God in the Bible were able to call on the name of the Lord for peace, deliverance, productivity, victory, encouragement, safety, protection, provision, power, and myriads of other things. That’s true of God’s people today too. Whatever our present need, God is the one who can meet that need—and he reveals himself as such by one of his many names.

The Bible includes more than 85 names of God. Each one gives us a description of who God is and how he relates to his creation. We can see God’s relevance to our particular situation by appealing to him based on the revelation of his names.

ELOHIM | THE STRONG CREATOR GOD

In the beginning God [Elohim] created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Genesis 1:1-2

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.  Hebrews 11:3

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. Psalm 19:1-4

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:11

Prayer:  

Elohim, you are the strong Creator God. In you I find all of the components of everything you have ever created. Your great imag- ination gave the elephant its long trunk and the leopard its spots. By your strong arm the ocean depths were first measured and the mountains rose. You chose what color the sky would be and how the earth would feed itself, even bringing life through death as a seed dies before towering into a tree. I praise you for the greatness of your creative prowess and ingenuity. I adore you for the fullness of your power. And I honor you for how you have made all things, even the minutiae, work together to populate your great creation that we call earth.

Elohim, forgive me when I fail to recognize your creative power. Forgive me for not stopping and being awed by your hand and the masterpiece of your creation. Forgive me for doubting where I should trust you, even when it comes to my own life—my health and my purpose for living. I have not always seen you in the light of your greatness, and sometimes I make you seem much smaller than you truly are. For that, I am sorry.

Elohim, thank you for the security I experience when I recog- nize you as the great Creator God. No one was there telling you how to make the earth rotate in its orbit so it would continually receive light and heat. And yet you did it perfectly. I thank you that you know all things and don’t need me to try to figure out how to solve my issues or make my plans come about. You put the uni- verse together with your words—thank you for knowing how to put my life together as well.

Elohim, create great things for me to walk in. Create intersec- tions where you merge my passion, experiences, skills, and inter- ests together so I can fulfill the calling you have for me. Create in my heart a purity that is peaceful and appealing to those around me. Create my destiny, I pray, and then guide me into it for your name’s sake and for your pleasure. I trust you to create my life’s story and to give me all I need to fully live out the path you have planned for me. Thank you, Elohim, for being the strong Creator God.