Begin Prayer with Praising the Names of God

When Jesus taught the disciples to pray the Lord’s Prayer, he gave them a series of index sentences. To learn how to pray according to the Lord’s Prayer, please see my lessons on Praying the Lord’s Prayer.  How to Pray Using the Lord’s Prayer Part 1, Part 2, Part 3,

Part 4, Part 5, Final.

In the first verse of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus began with “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name”. He is teaching us in this first verse to begin our prayers with praise. This can be done in sevaral ways such as singing or praising God for who He is. Be careful that you do not turn your praise time into thanksgiving, because this comes later. Praise is different than thanking God for what He has done. Praise is praising God for who He is. I have given you a list of some of the names of God that you can use during your time of worship to the Lord. Worship is not only restricted to Sunday morning at church. All prayer should begin with worship and hopefully you have a daily quiet time with the Lord.

Elohim – God is the source; all we have comes from Him.

1. Whatever might, strength, power, and glory are visible in the created universe are infinitely less than the One who created it.
2. Through this name we learn that God is Sovereign over His own domain.
3. Translated as “God” in the Old Testament

Adonai – implies dominion on God’s part and submission on our part.

1. Abraham saw God as Master or even Ruler.  Elohim and Adonai imply creation and dominion, power and authority.  Used together in English, Elohim and Adonai form the majestic name Lord God.
2. Translated as “Lord” in the Old Testament

Jehovah – means Self-Existent, He existed before creation, He is utterly faithful to His own nature, He cannot cease to exist, He never changes.

1. Gen 2:4
2. It became the covenant name for God in the Old Testament. 
3. It carried with it such reverence that the Israelites would not pronounce it.
4. Translated as “LORD” in the Old Testament

El-Shaddai – God Almighty

1. The El is God’s name in power (the singular form of Elohim), and Shaddai suggests inexhaustible resource or bounty.
2. El Shaddai is one of the most powerful names in the Bible.  As a matter of fact, almightiness is itself suggested in the name El, and Shaddai suggests the Almighty’s willing to supply perfectly. 
3. Gen 17, 1-2 – I am God Almighty (El Shaddai)

Jehovah Rapha – The Lord our Healer

1. Exodus 15:26 – And He said, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer. (NASB)

Jehovah Nissi – The Lord our Banner

1. Exodus 17:15 – And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah- nissi. (KJV)
2. Exodus 17:15 – Moses built an altar and named it The Lord is My Banner.  (NASB)

Jehovah M’Kaddesh – The Lord who sanctifies

1. Leviticus 20:8 You shall keep My statutes and practice them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you.

Jehovah Shalom – The Lord our Peace

1. Judges 6:24 – Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and named it The Lord is Peace. (NASB)
2. Judges 6:24 – Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah shalom:(KJV)

Jehovah Rohi – The Lord our Shepherd

1. Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. (NASB)

Jehovah Tsidkenu – The Lord our Righteousness

1. Jeremiah 23:6 – In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; and this is His name by which He will be called, The Lord our righteousness. (NASB)

Jehovah Shammah – The Lord who is there

1. Ezekiel 48:35 – The city shall be 18,000 cubits round about; and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there. (NASB)

I Am – YHWH

1. Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

Omniscient – all knowing

1. Psalm 139:1-4, 1 John 3:20

Omnipresent – all present, He is everywhere

1. Jer 23:23-24

Omnipotent – all powerful

1. Matt 8:23-27, Joshua 6:1-21

Stone, Nathan. The Names of God. The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. 1944.