Going Deeper with Our Prince of Peace

We’ve been talking about how the presence of God is the ONE THING needed to end stress. (Read prior blogs here.)

It’s much easier to pursue God and His presence when things are going poorly, isn’t it?  When you are desperate you are willing to live radically and spend extra time with God and His Word to try to find the answer.  But when things level out and you are feeling satisfied, it is easy to let that relationship slip. Dedication gets pushed off by distraction. 

It takes faithfulness to stay with Him when things are going well.  This is the condition of much of the church today, especially in America, where most people have their basic needs met.  They are comfortable and don’t recognize their need for more of Him. Or maybe you seek Him desperately while unemployed, but once you get the job you back off.  If you’ve been stuck at a certain level in your spiritual walk it could be because you withdraw when things start to get good.  

 
There are levels that God takes us through - taking us deeper and deeper into Him.  If you reach one level and are comfortable there and your passion starts to wane, you will stay there or go backward and you’ll never experience the deeper levels.  You’ll always wonder, “Isn’t there more to life than this?” You’ll always have a vague feeling of discontent. You’ll keep fighting the same battles over and over instead of conquering them victoriously.  

2 Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the Lord move over all the earth so that He may give strength to those whose whole heart is given to Him."  God notices when you are faithful and devoted.  He notices when you seek Him just as earnestly in the good times.  You will be someone He can work with.

 
One way to connect with God on a higher level is to study and pray His names.  I was reading a Christian fiction book one time and the people called God "Creator" the whole time.  They never referred to Him as God. I started to worry that I had picked up a book I shouldn’t be reading.  Perhaps the author was trying to say that all the gods worshipped around the world were represented in his God in the story.  Why was he avoiding His name?  

 
But as I continued to read, the author was clearly portraying my God.  I started another book by this author and everyone called God "The Almighty One".  I started to really like this idea. The name "God" has become too generic. It is misused.  

 
This week try picking one or two names of God and start using it.  Use that name when you are talking about Him. Address Him with that name as you pray.  Don’t pray to a vague God up there somewhere but very personally to your Heavenly Father that lives in you.  

 
There is just something special about saying: I know The One and Only will take care of this need for me.  The One and Only loves me. The One and Only is my healer. I will live my life for The One and Only today.  

 
In our Heavenly Father, we find everything we need for life and godliness.  What do you need today? Start calling Him that.  Do you need healing?  Call Him Jehovah Rapha.  Are you grieving and need comfort?  Call Him your Comforter.  Do you lack wisdom? Call Him your Guide or Great Shepherd.  

Get personal with your Prince of Peace.  Come to know and experience Him as each name and you'll go deeper and deeper into His presence - the ONE THING needed to end stress.
 

Here are just some of the Biblical names of God to get you started:

Advocate – 1 John 2:1

Almighty – Revelation 1:8

Alpha – Revelation 1:8

Amen – Revelation 3:14

Angel of the Lord – Genesis 16:7

Anointed One – Psalm 2:2

Apostle – Hebrews 3:1

Author and Perfecter of our Faith – Hebrews 12:2

Beginning – Revelation 21:6

Bishop of Souls – 1 Peter 2:25

Branch – Zechariah 3:8

Bread of Life – John 6:35,48

Bridegroom – Matthew 9:15

Carpenter – Mark 6:3

Chief Shepherd – 1 Peter 5:4

The Christ – Matthew 1:16

Comforter – Jeremiah 8:18

Consolation of Israel – Luke 2:25

Cornerstone – Ephesians 2:20

Dayspring – Luke 1:78

Day Star – 2 Peter 1:19

Deliverer – Romans 11:26

Desire of Nations – Haggai 2:7

Emmanuel – Matthew 1:23

End – Revelation 21:6

Everlasting Father – Isaiah 9:6

Faithful and True Witness – Revelation 3:14

First Fruits – 1 Corinthians 15:23

Foundation – Isaiah 28:16

Fountain – Zechariah 13:1

Friend of Sinners – Matthew 11:19

Gate for the Sheep – John 10:7

Gift of God – 2 Corinthians 9:15

God – John 1:1

Glory of God – Isaiah 60:1

Good Shepherd – John 10:11

Governor – Matthew 2:6

Great Shepherd – Hebrews 13:20

Guide – Psalm 48:14

Head of the Church – Colossians 1:18

High Priest – Hebrews 3:1

Holy One of Israel – Isaiah 41:14

Horn of Salvation – Luke 1:69

I Am – Exodus 3:14

Jehovah – Psalm 83:18

Jesus – Matthew 1:21

King of Israel – Matthew 27:42

King of Kings – 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16

Lamb of God – John 1:29

Last Adam – 1 Corinthians 15:45

Life – John 11:25

Light of the World – John 8:12; John 9:5

Lion of the Tribe of Judah – Revelation 5:5

Lord of Lords – 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16

Master – Matthew 23:8

Mediator – 1 Timothy 2:5

Messiah – John 1:41

Mighty God – Isaiah 9:6

Morning Star – Revelation 22:16

Nazarene – Matthew 2:23

Omega – Revelation 1:8

Passover Lamb – 1 Corinthians 5:7

Physician – Matthew 9:12

Potentate – 1 Timothy 6:15

Priest – Hebrews 4:15

Prince of Peace – Isaiah 9:6

Prophet – Acts 3:22

Propitiation – I John 2:2

Purifier – Malachi 3:3

Rabbi – John 1:49

Ransom – 1 Timothy 2:6

Redeemer – Isaiah 41:14

Refiner – Malachi 3:2

Refuge – Isaiah 25:4

Resurrection – John 11:25

Righteousness – Jeremiah 23:6

Rock – Deuteronomy 32:4

Root of David – Revelation 22:16

Rose of Sharon – Song of Solomon 2:1

Ruler of God’s Creation – Revelation 3:14

Sacrifice – Ephesians 5:2

Savior – 2 Samuel 22:47; Luke 1:47

Second Adam – 1 Corinthians 15:47

Seed of Abraham – Galatians 3:16

Seed of David – 2 Timothy 2:8

Seed of the Woman – Genesis 3:15

Servant – Isaiah 42:1

Shepherd – 1 Peter 2:25

Shiloh – Genesis 49:10

Son of David – Matthew 15:22

Son of God – Luke 1:35

Son of Man – Matthew 18:11

Son of Mary – Mark 6:3

Son of the Most High – Luke 1:32

Stone – Isaiah 28:16

Sun of Righteousness – Malachi 4:2

Teacher – Matthew 26:18

Truth – John 14:6

Way – John 14:6

Wonderful Counselor – Isaiah 9:6

Word – John 1:1

Vine – John 15:1

* I'd love to hear which name you have chosen to use.  Write a comment below.

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