Prayer Week 31: The Power of a Name

What’s in a name? It used to be very common, especially in some cultures, to be very careful and intentional about choosing baby names, and some still carry that belief. For some it is less of a superstition and more a way of blessing their child. They might be named for a dear friend or relative, an historical figure who possessed a quality they valued, or have a meaning that is particularly special to them. For example, the name I chose to write under means “light on a hill” in Gaelic, which is my purpose for writing. While all of these things are nice and special, is there really any power in a name?

 

Psalm 9:10 New American Standard Bible 1995

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You,
For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

Jeremiah 33:2-3 New American Standard Bible 1995 (emphasis added)

Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it, the Lord is His name, ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

Matthew 1:21 New American Standard Bible 1995

She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.

John 20:30-31 New American Standard Bible 1995

Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

Acts 2:38 New American Standard Bible 1995

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

 

There is only one name that truly has power: the name of Jesus. Because He is God, his name carries with it an inherent power that will send the enemy scrambling. It can bring light into the darkest hole and peace to the most troubled heart. It even has the power to bend the will, for one day at the name of Jesus every knee will bow. This is not some theoretical fluff. It is true and real. Speaking the name of Jesus audibly has power. The other names of God can also have power in our situations:

 

Refiner

Malachi 3:3 New American Standard Bible 1995

He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness.

God With Us

Matthew 1:23 New American Standard Bible 1995

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.

The Light

John 1:9 New American Standard Bible 1995

There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.

Bread of Life

John 6:35 New American Standard Bible 1995

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”

Good Shepherd

John 10:11 New American Standard Bible 1995

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

Teacher and Lord

John 13:13 New American Standard Bible 1995

You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.

The Vine

John 15:5 New American Standard Bible 1995

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

 

 

Each of these names is significant and portrays part of God’s character. They can have power in our lives, not as much as the name Jesus, but to encourage our hearts and remind us of His character and the promises He has made to us. Knowing the names of God helps us to know God Himself, and using them in prayer deepens our relationship with Him.

 

This week as you pray focus on one of these names each day. Think about what that names means to you this day in this circumstance. What promise does it hold for you? Let Him show you your need or desire illuminated by that name. Let this week enrich your prayer life and relationship with God.

 Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Prayer Week 13: Don't Lose the Game

It is so easy to get distracted. Our busy world can be so demanding. There are so many things pulling us in all directions. Not all of them are bad either. Some are quite good and necessary, like family, church and jobs. However, when they get in the way of time with God, problems arise. We should do those things, but they shouldn’t be our top priority. We need help refocusing throughout the day.

 

Psalm 119:176 New American Standard Bible 1995

I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant,
For I do not forget Your commandments.

Isaiah 53:6 New American Standard Bible 1995

All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him.

Matthew 18:12 New American Standard Bible 1995

What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying?

 

It is so easy to get so busy that we miss out on time with God. We think that important, necessary things that have to be done today should come first. However, we cannot do them right if we are not drawing our strength and wisdom from God. And we can’t draw from God if we aren’t spending time with Him. Instead of that shift giving us more time, it leaves us running on fumes. Time with God, in the Bible and in prayer, needs to be our first priority, and not just setting aside 5 minutes and then going about our day. We should be thinking about God and talking with Him throughout the day.

 

When I was in college, there was a popular “game” where the whole object was to not think about the game. Any time a person remembered the game they were to say out loud that they just lost the game (which subsequently often made others lose the game as well.) The only way to win was to either never be reminded of the game, or to always be thinking about the game so that it was never forgotten.

 

As you go about your day and week, try to continually think about and talk to God. Keep that constant awareness of His presence. The only reason God ever feels distant is because we aren’t paying attention. He is always there, and He will help bring us back if we are willing. Decide on a phrase that will help remind you to refocus on God. It should be something short and simple like “only You” or “walk with Me.” Every time you hear that phrase, let it remind you to talk to God, to be aware of Him. Make it your goal this week to never “lose the game” of communion with God.

 Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Prayer Week 6: Spirit of Power

Often God feels so distant, aloof, abstract. We lose touch with the idea that He is still here with us even though we cannot see or feel Him physically. It can be hard to pray to someone who feels so far away. As physical beings, we need that tangible reminder.

 

Luke 8:46 New American Standard Bible 1995

But Jesus said, “Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me.”

John 14:16-17, 26 New American Standard Bible 1995

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you….But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

Acts 2:3-4 New American Standard Bible 1995

And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

 

God knows our need for contact and communion. He did not leave us alone. Before Christ, the Spirit was only on a few select people for a specific time, but since Christ’s ascension, the Spirit is with all believers all of the time. The Spirit could not come like that until Christ left earth, and the Spirit’s coming was so important that Jesus said it was better than having Him here. If He were still here, our contact with Him would be limited. However, with the Spirit living in us, we all have unlimited access to God.

 

2 Timothy 1:7 New American Standard Bible 1995

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

 

That contact and access is not just for our comfort. When Christ was on earth, they had the comfort of His presence, but not His power. With the Spirit living in us, we also have direct access to His power. We have been given the Spirit of power, not to use for our own means, but for ministry and strength.

 

This week, focus on becoming aware of God’s presence in you. As you touch Him in prayer, like the woman in Luke 8, His power flows into you. Be mindful of that during your prayer time this week. Look for the ways in which God’s power works in and through your life as you are connecting with Him.

Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Do You Need a Power Flush?

I’ve been having trouble with my computer lately. It’s old and just not operating like it should. Both times I called tech support recently, they had me do a “power flush” which ended up solving the problem. It’s old and just needed to power down for a bit and reboot. What does this have to do with faith and Christianity?

Are Your Eyes On Victory?

Where is your focus? In everyday life, what draws your attention, what keeps you going? When times are hard, where do you look for help, what gets you through it? Are your eyes on victory?

How can you focus on victory? First you have to define what victory is, or more importantly, where victory comes from. Victory, of course, is overcoming some obstacle, which can play out in many ways in life depending on the situation. But where does it come from?

Use Your Power To Benefit Your Marriage

What I've Learned in Marriage 16-We all have times when we feel powerless, especially in marriage, but we all have the power of influence. And whether we intentionally exercise that power or not, it still has an effect on our marriage. We need to be aware of that power and use it to benefit our marriage rather than passively allowing it to undermine it. How do we do that? It is different for every person and every marriage, but there are some basics that are fairly universal.