We’ve all experienced a time in prayer or worship when we want to praise God, but our vocabulary limits us. While the Holy Spirit will intervene and help intercede for us in ways we can’t, the Bible also shows us names we can use to express our love for God.
When we call on the Lord, these are some names we can use to identify him, as they reveal an aspect of who he is to us.
He is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.
“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9: 6
God identified himself to Moses as “I am who I am,” and as Yahweh. The name Yahweh is known as the holiest of names. When we use “Yahweh” to worship God, we acknowledge God’s faithful from generation to generation.
Adonai is another name that means Lord, and it can be used as a substitute for Yahweh.
Today, English Bible translations merge the two words and simply use Jehovah.
“God replied to Moses, ‘I am who I am. Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you.’ God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.”
Exodus 3:14-15
We can also say God is our creator, Elohim. Starting in the first chapter of the Bible, we can see that God created the heavens and the earth.
Through scripture, God continues to create, and today when we go outside and look at nature we see God’s power.
Although God is powerful, he is also gentle. That’s why with freedom we can cry out to Him, and call him Abba Father.
Romans 8:15 says, “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.”
Another way to worship God is by acknowledging what he has done in our lives as a provider. When we’re in need, we can hope the Lord will provide (Jehovah Jireh), because he will.
In the Bible, when Abraham sacrificed his only son, God provided a ram for him. That’s when Abraham experience God’s great provision. We can also see God’s provision when the Israelites exited Egypt. He gave them the resources to survive 40 years, which included making bread fall from heaven.
“So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
Genesis 22:14
More names for God…
God can also be referred to as Jehovah Rapha, our healer. He heals us physically, when it’s his will, and he heals us internally when we’re brokenhearted. This name reveals God’s love for his people. When we’re hurting, he is right there to pick up our pieces.
Isaiah 53:5 says, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.”
We are never alone when we’re feeling distressed. That’s why we can cry out to God “Jehovah Nissi,” which means the Lord is my banner.
“Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner.”
Exodus 17:15
It’s a reminder that God is with us through our trials. When Moses was tired of raising his hands, it seemed that the Israelites had lost the victory, but God showed Moses he wasn’t going to leave him “‘Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the Lord.’”
Jehovah Shalom, the Lord is peace, is another name for God. During a battle, Gideon put his trust in God as he led an army of 300 men, against 135,000 opponents, in return God gave Gideon peace and victory.
Judges 6:24 says, “So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.”
Attributes of God
The Bible also describes God as Jealous, Quanna. When we worship God, we must keep all our attention on him, without distractions or idols. Doing that shows our devotion and love to Him who loves us.
“You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
Exodus 20:5-6
Later in Exodus, God confirms that “jealous” is not only part of his character, but also his name.
Knowing different names for God will expand our vocabulary as we worship him. It can help us express our love, admiration, and need for him. His names can also remind us of all God has done in the past for his people, and it can bring hope to us that God can do the same for us. We can use the names to show our gratitude to the Lord for the miracles he has done in our own life as well.
In conclusion, let’s remember that God’s names are to be used with respect and honor. They are not for mocking or addressing someone else.
Exodus 20:7 says, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
Prayer of Worship
Dear Lord,
I worship you for who you are, for what you’ve done, and what you’ll continue doing. You are my wonderful counselor. When I felt overwhelmed by stress, you guided me and gave me peace. You are my Prince of peace, the one I can call on. You are my Abba Father. I worship you because you are a mighty God. You’re an everlasting father and you’ve never left my side. There is no greater way I can express how much I love you, Yahweh. Holy Holy Holy is your name.
Jehovah Jireh, you are my provider, whatever I need you provide. You are my healer, Jehovah Rapha. When I was brokenhearted, you healed me. You are my banner, Jehovah Nissi. When I was worn out because of life’s troubles, you gave me strength to lift my hands and took me out victoriously. God, I worship you alone. There is no other name greater than yours. Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to worship you. In the name of Jesus, Amen.