Have the whispers of the enemy bombarded you until you see no hope?  Have you given into the lies of the enemy?  Do you feel paralyzed in your situation?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, God has laid this blog post on my heart to share with you.  I have been studying the different names for God.  Each name meaning something significant about His Character and an expression of His Greatness. I have been reminded just how incredible the Sovereignty of God is in our daily life.  Even in unfortunate circumstances, He reveals Himself to us personally.  This is not a one time decision not to be thought of again. This is a daily journey He desires to take us on, if we are willing to submit our life to His will.  If  you question whether God loves you, look no further than the foot of the cross.  The very place He sacrificed His only son, the apple of His eye, to bridge the gap that we may become sons and daughters of the Most High God.  We gain access to something we paid nothing for, but is priceless.  When we invite Him into our hearts, a new life is birthed within us. We are given a hope in this life no matter the circumstance.  No one is excluded!  All are welcome to eat and drink of His goodness.  It’s our choice how we respond to Him.  

“Keep your eye on me; hide me under your cool wing feathers from the wicked who are out to get me, from mortal enemies closing in.” Psalm 17:8-9

When the whispers of the enemy begin to overwhelm your mind, and you feel as though all hope is lost, take heart… El Roi “The God Who Sees” has not forsaken you.  You may feel completely alone and as though no one understands.  El Roi sees every tear you have cried and every heartache you have encountered.  He sees the open wounds you carry.  He sees the battle scars you have endured.  The God who sees your brokeness is the same God who can heal your brokenness.

” ‘For I will restore your health to you and heal you of your wounds’ says the Lord.” Jeremiah 30:17

Jehovah Rapha “Healer, the Lord who heals you” is the same today as He was thousands of years ago.  His promises of restoration do not have an expiration date. In the beginning stages of my illness I cried out to God desperately seeking physical healing.  No one knew what was wrong with me.  My diagnosis came on the heels of eight long years of searching and praying.  After receiving a diagnosis I was told my illness was incurable. That possibility had not crossed my mind.  I assumed a diagnosis would naturally bring wellness after treatment.

I wanted immediate physical healing.  Instead, I received inner healing.  He gently revealed the broken crevices of my heart.  Some were obvious areas of hurt, but others I had tucked deep within.  I unknowingly allowed the hidden pain to influence my every day decisions.  As He healed my heart, I  found my true self in the reflection of His eyes.  He looked at me and I saw wholeness and life.  Those shattered spaces within me no longer existed.  Yet physically, I remained broken. This led me to ponder whether inner healing could be equal or greater than physical healing.

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

Yahweh Shalom “The Lord is Peace”.  There is a peace that is incomprehensible to the human mind.  The world around us can be shaken, yet we do not have to live in fear.  We may only see darkness, but His light penetrates the darkest areas of our soul and gives us a supernatural peace.  A peace that sustains us in the midst of the storm and one that penetrates the darkness by the light of the Holy Spirit.

“More than the sounds of many waters, the mighty breakers of the sea, The LORD on high is MIGHTY” Psalm 93:4

We can easily lose sight of the power of God Almighty when we focus on our circumstance and not  El Elyon “God Most High”/ El Shaddai “God Almighty”/Elohim “God”.  These names encompass the matchless Sovereignty of God.  He is God Almighty! He is the First and the Last, the Beginning and End, the One true God!  His name is above all names.  His power is limitless and His character unchanging.  He is stronger than any attack of the enemy.  With His mighty right hand, He stops the fiery darts of the enemy.

The battle raging before you is no match for Him.  You can safely place your struggle, your pain, your desires, and your heart in His hands.  You have a protector that will be with you in the darkest nights of your soul. He has conquered death that we might live in communion with Him for eternity.  Those paralyzing moments of seeing only our humanity can create great distress,  or be the very moment we encounter Almighty God!

“May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God.” Psalm 20:5

Yahweh Nissi “The Lord is My Banner”…It’s so important to remember not to base our theology of who God is by our present circumstance.  Circumstances can change like the wind, but God does not.  There is no circumstance that takes Him by surprise.  He is always fighting for you even when you feel completely defeated.  In your weakest moments, His strength will carry you.  He places a banner of divine protection over your life.  Yahweh Nissi  not only calms your mind, He protects you and delivers you.  You no longer have to fear the unknowns.  You are supernaturally covered and protected from the elements.  We cannot use human reasoning to understand the supernatural power of God.  It is only through divine revelation that our eyes can be opened to a heavenly perspective.  

“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 3:14

Yahweh “The Lord”…  Yahweh is derived from the Hebrew word for “I AM”.  It’s the proper name of a Divine Being derived from the verb meaning “exist”.  This name holds great power! He says, “I AM” in describing Himself.  Nothing can match His power and His existence is the most powerful of all.

“So Abraham called the name of that place, ‘The Lord will provide’, as it is said to this day, ‘On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided'”. Genesis 22:14

  Yahweh Yireh “The Lord Will Provide” has limitless resources.  He will provide us with everything needed for the battle ahead.   From your greatest need to what is seemingly insignificant Yahweh Yireh will provide.

When we hear the word provision, we usually think monetary or basic human needs (food, water, and shelter).  But God’s introduction of Himself as Yahweh Yireh occurred  when He called Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac.  Abraham and Sarah had already lived through years of infertility.  God told Abraham his wife would have a son, even though she was far past child bearing years.  He followed by promising He would give Abraham more descendants than he could count.

The birth of Isaac came to pass just as God had promised.  He then tested Abraham’s faith by telling him to sacrifice his son.  The provision promised by God(Isaac), was now in danger of being sacrificed.  Abraham had to have a deep conviction that God would provide a way and follow through on His promise. Abraham did not know the HOW of God’s plan, only the WHO, and that was enough for him to obey.  God never intended for Isaac to be killed, but rather expand the faith of Abraham even more while solidifying His promise of what was to come. God did so in the most profound way humanly possible, revealing Himself as Yahweh Yireh and providing a sacrifice (a ram in the thickets), in place of Isaac’s life.

“Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father'”.  Galatians 4:6

 Abba “Daddy, Father” …The Abba Father relationship is very intimate.  He is our Heavenly Father. Some have a difficult time grasping God as a father or dad.  If your earthly father abandoned you or abused you, your idea of a father is not positive.  For those who have experienced a difficult childhood, great inner healing can come by knowing God as Abba Father.

If you are a parent, this should bring great hope to your heart.  You know the unconditional love you have for your children cannot compare to the unconditional love Abba Father has for them.  Do you need comfort? Are you feeling as though you just don’t really belong anywhere?  Maybe your family doesn’t understand you and your friends have backed away?  Go into the loving arms of Abba Father, and allow His embrace to hold you strongly yet gently.

“The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together.  The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road.  The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy.  The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes.  God’s reputation is twenty-four carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee.  The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree.  God’s Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds…”  Psalm 19:7-10