Ways To Give

Praying the Names of God

Written by La Von (Petey) Prater

LORD (Yahweh); Lord (Adonay)

Are you seeking God? Does He seem far away? Talk to one of our mentors about that.

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT.

What god are you seeking? What consumes your day? Wise men say whatever we spend our time on is our god.

Reading the Bible helped me narrow my search for my life priorities. “Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God” (1 Chronicles 22:19). “Seek the LORD and live….” (Amos 5:6). Those verses tell me what to seek – the LORD – and when to seek him – now. And life is promised!

Scripture says the LORD created man to seek God: “…so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:27, 28). God invites us to “… seek his face always” (Psalm 105: 4). God tells us that nothing else will satisfy once we’ve seen His face. In God alone is fellowship and reward. “… those who seek the LORD lack no good thing” (Psalm 34:10).

One way to seek God is by learning his names, which reveal his character. Knowing his character gives us confidence to trust him in prayer. Look at the difference between the names LORD and Lord.

One of the first passages to speak of God’s name is Exodus 3: 15. Moses asked God his name. God replied, “The LORD, the God of your fathers – the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob – has sent me to you. This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation” (Exodus 3:15).

God’s name, LORD (upper case letters) is the Hebrew word, Yahweh, meaning The Self – Existent One. It is His personal name, His title. The LORD appears more than 6,800 times in the Old Testament, often linked with redemptive acts. The LORD heard the cry of His people in Egypt and rescued them from slavery and bondage. And when we pray He also rescues us from those things that enslave us.

Sometimes we see Lord (lower case) written in scripture. When it appears without capital letters the Hebrew word is translated Adonay, which means Owner, Master. Christians choose Jesus as Savior and Lord, serving Him as their loving Master. But Jesus warns that if we call Him Master obedience is required: “Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say” (Luke 6:46)?

Dear ones, we can trust this LORD with our lives and prayer needs, He loves us with an everlasting love. We can bow in obedience to this Master for He only intends our good.

Father, you are LORD. We worship you as Master. Help us know Your names and have faith in Your character.  Cause us to pray, live and obey so that we replicate Your wonderworks and bring You glory. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

Questions: What god are you worshipping?  Does your god satisfy you? What steps do you need to take in order to allow God to be the one where you place your trust daily?

About the Author Petey Prater

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, God is Timeless, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

Tags: Abraham, Adonay, bondage, character, confidence, consumes, Egypt, fellowship, generation, Isaac, Lord, names of God, Obedience, old testament, prayer, reward, Scripture, slavery, Yahweh

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