Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise His name; proclaim His salvation day after day. Psalm 96:1-2
One of the most powerful forms of prayer is Praise. I have been spending quite a bit of time in this last couple of months learning the names of God as revealed in Scripture.
Names are an important part of how we identify one another. The name of a person begins to mean something to us as we get to know that person over time. Depending on our experience with that person our feeling about the name may take on a good connotation or a bad one…or we may even feel indifferent.
When we take time to learn the names of God we are beginning to learn something about His character. Each name reveals a character trait belonging to God. In Scripture, when we see LORD all in capitals like it is in this passage we are alerted to His almighty, sovereign character. This name refers us back to Moses encounter with God at the burning bush. Moses asked God “who should I say sent me?” God responded with His name “I AM”. All inclusive, incomprehensible, mysterious…that is our God.
In these last months as I have been practicing listening for His voice I was reminded that Scripture tells us we are to call on the name of God and He will hear us. He draw near to us when we draw near to Him. I am so grateful for this very important truth!
The name I have been calling upon the most is El Shaddai. Nothing is to hard for God. This name is revealed to Abraham and Sarah when El Shaddai tells them they will have a child even in their old age. If you remember Sarah laughs at the idea, but Abraham is humbled and receives the news as God’s own truth. El Shaddai…nothing is to hard for You! You bring life where there is none. You restore to new life what was old and worn out. You bring about Your best for us when we can see no way through. Nothing is to hard for You.
You set aside Your glory and power to become like us. Born in human flesh You experienced life on earth as a child growing into manhood. You poured out Your life to cover mine. Nothing is to hard for You. Your love for me…for my brothers and sisters, is beyond compare and a mystery to my heart.
I encourage you to practice praise. God inhabits our praise and is honored through our praise. He loves it when we acknowledge Him and all that He is and does for us.
I would love to have you share your praise report with me. Where there are two or more gathered together…
El Shaddai, Your name be praised!