When I was at the seminar in North Carolina in April, we were challenged to broaden our use of God's names in public prayers. In the Bible, God is referred to in hundreds of different ways, and each person (and each pastor) has their own way of referring to God. I tend to pray mostly to our "Heavenly Father", but that is just one of many, many Biblical ways of referring to God.
What is your favorite?
If you are reading this, please leave a comment with some of your favorite names for God (leave your name, too, if you would). Or if you would rather, send me an email (pastor@bethel-church.ca) with your favorite names for God. And if you are reading this as a print-out and don't have email, ask Audrey at the church to send them for you. I am very interested in hearing back about this.
Blessings, David
That's an interesting question, David. 35 years ago, I prayed to Him as Jesus. "Dear Jesus" was the start... I felt like He was like a brother, which is what I needed at that precarious time. When the kids were born, He became "Father" "Dear God, Oh Lord" These days He is still Father, but King and Master come more into my prayer speech. When I look at this I see that He is the same and different at each instance. He meets me where I am. I could never have handled King and master at 15, and the pressures of young motherhood definitely required a side by side God, "Oh Lord, will they never grow up????" Not that He is not side by side anyother time but perspective changes and I spend time each morning walking Max and speaking to God. He walks with me there and I make observations on His wonderful creation... which naturally leads to King and Master and glad I am of it. I think that names like King of Kings for me would come into play if I was searching and comparing to other religions' gods. The ones I use are all really personal.
ReplyDeleteOk that's enough.
Audrey
Hello David,
ReplyDeleteMy favorite name is I am, My Father, Our Lord, My Saviour, there are so many, but the one I like to best is still I AM, and always will be.
Blessings
Joan
Hey, saw your blog about this, thought I'd respond.
ReplyDeleteOne of cooler and more creative assignments at seminary was from Dr. Kaiser, who assigned us to write a 'psalm like' prayer, in the vein of. ie, ps 107 "let the redeemed tell their story", but write it based on memorable ways that God had shown himself their family.
So, for my family it could be, Savior who protected my dad when the van caught on fire;
God who went before us and made a way for us when his will called us to a new home.
God who never let us go hungry, even when money was tight
God who binds us together even when we live in all corners of the continent...etc
Anyway, not sure what you hope to do with your list, but this is an interesting excercise for individuals and families to recall God's faithfulness together.
Janelle Koolhaas
Okay...so, it took me some reflection but If I have to narrow it down to one or two of my favorites, they would be Yahweh and Abba. Yahweh gives me the feeling of a special connection to a God who has always been and forever will be. Abba, is a deep and wonderful reassurance that I have a Father in heaven who loves me because I am His....a daughter of the King.
ReplyDeleteHeather Vandervelde
For me it is alway FATHER GOD
ReplyDeleteIT GIVESME SUCH A WARM AND SAFE FEELING TO KNOW THAT HE IS MY FATHER GOD. WILLY.
Heavenly Father is always the name that comes to my mind, because whenever grandpa prays at family gatherings or meals, it always starts out "Heavenly Father, we come before thee..." It is something I have heard since I was young, and it makes God seem more personal I suppose, although i'm still not completly sure why, but it certianly has givin me something to think about.
ReplyDeleteRhonda