Mentoring Minutes

“In God we have boasted all day long, And we will give thanks to Your name forever.” Selah     (Psalm 44:8)

JEHOVAH GANAN – “GOD OUR/MY DEFENSE” (Psalm 89:18)

I’ve mentioned this before but The Lord has laid this on my heart and my prayer is that as we study, discover and learn more about God’s Names, which reflect all the He Is and His Perfect Character rooted in Truth and Love, we will know Him more. As we know Him more we will worship Him alone and grow to love Him with all we are (First and Greatest Command – Mark 12:29-30)!

Today’s Name is another from King David in Psalm 89:18 where He describes God as JEHOVAH GANAN – GOD OUR/MY DEFENSE. How comforting is that in any and every situation… fear, disease, threat, enemies, uncertainty, sin, even death? David proclaimed God as Israel’s shield or defense against enemies and affliction because of His Covenant with His people.

We have that same shield and Defense as God has fulfilled all of His Covenants in Christ for all who believe in Him as Savior and Lord, both Jew and Gentile!

Christ is our “JEHOVAH GANAN – GOD OUR/MY DEFENSE!” We see this literally when we are strong in Christ’s strength and put on the Gospel Armor in Ephesians 6:10-17 and in particular the shield of Faith in Christ that protects us against satan’s attacks. We are defended, safe and secure in Him!

We also find Christ as our Shield and Defender, always there for us in Hebrews 13:5-8. Whatever you are facing, or may face in the future, by faith (the shield of faith in Christ) you can rest assured the He is with you and protecting you.

Who/what is your trust in to help and defend you? We all face things in life that are difficult, uncertain and tough. Christ has promised to protect us and see us through even into eternity with Him. I pray that you know Him as Savior and Lord.

JEHOVAH MACHAI – “GOD OUR REFUGE” (Psalm 91:2, 9)

I don’t know about you but the more I study and get to know God and His incredible character rooted in His Truth and Love for me (us) I am so encouraged and blessed. When I think that this Glorious, Perfect, Righteous and Holy God would come in the form of His Son as a helpless Baby for my salvation, I can’t help but be humbled and grateful.

It’s amazing how each name, even very similar names, reveal even more of His Love and character, layer by layer, and help us to know Who He Is and how much He loves us and what He does for us, including our salvation and freedom in Christ!

This Name is another one of those that adds a very encouraging and inspiring layer to His character and is found in Psalm 91:2, 9. Here David is sharing in praise and worship of God for His incredible Protection and Presence at all times and that all who put their trust in Him are secure. In this verse, central to all he is saying in this Psalm, God reveals Himself and David refers to Him as “JEHOVAH MACHAI – GOD OUR REFUGE.”

We’ve seen this concept before but David is letting us know that there is no reason to fear for those who trust in God…those who abide in Him as their dwelling place!

Where are you abiding, whether in the good times or the storms of life? He is always there and is our REFUGE! Will you choose to make Him your Refuge?

Christ is our “JEHOVAH MACHAI – GOD OUR REFUGE” fulfilling the Old Covenant and making it new in His life, death, blood and sacrifice for our sins, and to bring us into this relationship with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

Remember that Refuge is similar to our Stronghold, our Defense, our Rock, Shield and Protection. One of the most beautiful places we find Christ as “JEHOVAH MACHAI – GOD OUR REFUGE” is in Matthew 23:37 when He expresses His Love and desire to gather His people under His wings…a place of shelter and refuge to all who will receive Him as Savior and Lord.

We also find this character and concept when we look to Christ and know that nothing can shake those who find their Refuge in the Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19-22) where we mature and are secure, individually and collectively as His People in Christ!

What are you facing today? Who, what or where do you turn to for refuge? Are you finding the peace you’re seeking? You can only find it in Christ as “JEHOVAH MACHAI – GOD OUR REFUGE.” I pray that you look to Him and choose to make Him your Refuge.

JEHOVAH HAMELECH – “GOD THE KING” (Psalm 98:6)

Today’s final Name of God is a powerful one but also one that should cause us to stop and reflect on the personal application in our own lives and relationships. It is found in Psalm 98, which is a straight up call for us to praise The Lord for His Righteousness.

In v. 6 David calls God JEHOVAH HAMELECH – GOD THE KING. We’ve looked at God as King of kings and Lord of lords in a previous name and David essentially states, in The Holy Spirit, that as we sound the trumpets and shout His Name, we do so because He is King…The Righteous King.

The question that faces each of us with this name, as with King of kings and Lord of lords, is that while He is KING, you still have the choice…so, the question… Have you made Him King of your life?

Because of Christ as Savior and Lord, we also have the full right and privilege by faith through grace, to walk with Him as King. He was not a King that made us bear the burden but He took it upon Himself to bear it for us (that’s why He came). Imagine that, a King, the only perfectly Righteous King that took the punishment and bore the burden of His servants.

Here are 2 Scriptures that remind us that Christ is “JEHOVAH HAMELECH – GOD THE KING” and that He is King over all those who willingly submit to and believe in Him as King in their lives… John 18:36; Revelation 1:5-6.

Check these out and be sure not to miss that while He is King, His true desire is to be King in each life as we submit to Him as such. By faith through grace make Him King of your life.

Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – Jehovah Gannan – God My/Our Defense and with Christ we have the Shield of Faith and He is our ever Faithful Helper that never changes. He is Jehovah Machai – God Our Refuge and in Christ we are secure under His wings and on Him as our Cornerstone.  Finally, He is Jehovah Hamelech – God The King. Christ has done all that is needed to make Him not just The King but King of your life…have you believed in Christ as your King?

Love and Lordship…Action Item –

1. Read the Scriptures in this article and ask The Holy Spirit to teach you.
2. Write down what each of the Names of God in this post mean to you. 
3. Today’s Names of God reveal that He is our Defense, Refuge and King. What does that look like in your life?
4. What do you need today (any/all) in Christ and why? Will you come to Him?

Contact us at Love and Lordship to find out more about how you can know God the Father, Christ His Son and The Holy Spirit and The Lord God.

Check out this week’s Love & Lordship Mentoring Minute Video

“But You, God, the Lord, deal kindly with me for the sake of Your name;” (Psalm 109:21)

El Chaiyai – “God My Life” (Psalm 42:8)

David in a Psalm in which he cries out reveals this Name of God in his absolute and utter need for God. Most of us may recognize the first couple of verses, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?”

That’s a dire need for God like we need water to live! In the middle of this Psalm in which David is thirsting for God, he calls Him “EL CHAIYAI – GOD MY LIFE” in Psalm 42:8. He realizes and shows us that God is ultimately all we need…our water, and our nourishment…our life.

Christ is “EL CHAIYAI – GOD MY LIFE” as He came to offer Himself to be our All in All, our Savior, our very Life as we see once again in John 10:10b and John 14:6. He is my Life, now and eternally, and I pray that You know Him as “EL CHAIYAI – GOD MY LIFE”…as your Life as well, both now and eternally!

Is He your Life? He can be. If He is, are you sharing His Life with others so they can know and have His Life!

EL MAUZI – “GOD MY STRENGTH” (Psalm 43:2)

We continue to build on the Names of God that reflect the character that is His Strength. Recently in Psalm 42:9 we were introduced to El Sali – God My Strength as it pertains to His giving us strength to endure and make it through the struggles and trials as we cry out to Him and receive that strength.

In Psalm 43:2, David cries out to God as “EL MAUZI – GOD MY STRENGTH and in this case His strength is not just the power to overcome or persevere through. The Strength of EL MAUZI is the revelation of His character as our Stronghold. We can come to Him, abide and rest in Him and know that His Strength provides complete security no matter what we’re facing.

This requires faith because often the circumstances we are dealing with tell us that we’re not safe and secure but by faith we can trust in “EL MAUZI – GOD MY STRENGTH” in this case, The One Who will surround and protect me. One translation beautifully states, “God, my only safe haven.” Don’t we all want that?

Christ is “EL MAUZI – GOD MY STRENGTH” as my stronghold as we see in 2 Corinthians 10:4 where Paul contrasts the worldly and spiritual strongholds in our minds/flesh, the world, and from the enemy, with us overcoming these by taking thoughts captive and making them obedient to Christ. We literally choose obedience to The Truth that is Christ and we are secure in Him as our stronghold!

Our strongholds either consist of our flesh, the world and the enemy’s lies and deceptions…or they are found upon Christ, the only Stronghold that ensures our protection and that will withstand every onslaught of the enemy. Christ is “EL MAUZI – GOD MY STRENGTH!” None of the former will keep you safe. The only safe haven and stronghold is Christ!

This Name is about dwelling and resting in His Strength and in Him as our Stronghold! Who or what are you trusting and abiding in?

EL YESHUA TENU – “THE GOD OF DELIVERANCE.” (Psalm 68:19-20)

Isn’t it interesting that many, if not most, of the Names of God we can find in the Psalms written by David, a man after God’s own heart. In spite of his own sins and failings David continued to seek after God and God revealed Himself in so many ways to David.

Don’t you desire to know God and have Him reveal Himself to you in such a way? I do…and you can! So let’s be people who seek after Him with all our heart.

This next Name is found in Psalm 68:19-20 and is another Name that encompasses a lot for us. Here David, in proclaiming God as a God of victory and power over all His enemies, declares in this verse that He is “EL YESHUA TENU – THE GOD OF DELIVERANCE.” This includes victory over enemies, salvation from sin, restoration of brokenness and deliverance from any bondage and burdens! Do you believe that He is “EL YESHUA TENU – THE GOD OF DELIVERANCE” and can deliver, save, restore and redeem you from any sin or circumstance?

For those of us who know Him we know that He can because we know that Jesus is our Deliverance…He is “EL YESHUA TENU – THE GOD OF DELIVERANCE” in any and every situation. How awesome is that! PTL!

Here are 3 texts from the New Covenant in Christ that proclaim Him as “EL YESHUA TENU – THE GOD OF DELIVERANCE”… in Philippians 1:18-20 where Paul is literally writing from prison in chains and knows He will be delivered; in 2 Thessalonians 3:2-3 where Paul states to believers, because of their faith, that He knows they will be delivered from evildoers and those without faith; and of course, we have to return to the ultimate Deliverance in Christ in Matthew 1:21…His Name is Jesus and He came for the express purpose to deliver and save us from our sins! Praise and thanks to Jesus!

Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – El Chaiyai – God My Life as He is my very Breath and gives me Life. He is El Mauzi – God My Strength, in this case the only Stronghold that protects me from all others, even when I face them in the here and now.  Finally, He is El Yeshua Tenu – The God of Deliverance, setting me free from every situation and struggle that I may encounter, ultimately delivering me from sin, death and hell! In Christ, every believer can know God as Life, Protection and Deliverance… Do you believe in Christ?

Love and Lordship…Action Item –

1. Read the Scriptures in this article and ask The Holy Spirit to teach you.
2. Write down what each of the Names of God in this post mean to you. 
3. How has God in Christ given you life, protected and delivered you?
4. How has any or all of these Names of God changed your life?

Contact us at Love and Lordship to find out more about how you can know God the Father, Christ His Son and The Holy Spirit and The Lord God.

Check out this week’s Love & Lordship Mentoring Minute Video

(Psalm 79:9) – “Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name;
And save us and forgive our sins for the sake of Your name.”

JEHOVAH UZI or URI – “GOD MY STRENGTH!” (Psalm 28:7)

A couple of weeks back we looked at God’s Name in Psalm 19:14 as Jehovah Tsori – God Our Strength (Rock) and it also means God Who Is Strength (Power). Building on this concept and character of God, David reveals the strength and power of Who God Is and how He is at work in and for those who love Him collectively (Israel in David’s case and all those who believe in Christ as His disciples and Church presently).

In Psalm 28:7, David proclaims that He is “JEHOVAH UZI or URI – GOD MY STRENGTH!” David is praying to God for personal help and praising Him for personal deliverance.

We all need God as our personal strength and power and the more we learn to walk with and rely on Him the more that power is seen in and through us to others. We have that very personal power in Jesus as “JEHOVAH UZI or URI – GOD MY STRENGTH!”

The obvious and perhaps most encouraging text is Philippians 4:13 where we have all the strength we need in every situation in Christ. We also find this personal strength of Christ in and through us in one of the most beautiful and encouraging passages in all of Scripture as Paul prays for the Ephesian believers and for all who believe on Christ in Ephesians 3:14-21. He closes in vv. 20-21 by saying that we have all and more than we can ask, think or imagine according to the power of Christ in and through those who believe in Him!

I pray that you know Christ and His strength in you no matter what you are facing! If you do then share it with others. If not, contact us at L&L and let us introduce you to Christ as Savior and help you walk with Him as Lord by His power in you.

EL HAKKAVAD – “THE GOD OF GLORY” (Psalm 29:3)

The next Name of God that David expresses to us in Psalm 29:3 is “EL HAKKAVAD – THE GOD OF GLORY” the God Who speaks even in the dread and power of a tremendous storm…and we need not fear!

David declares that this God of Glory is majestic and powerful and impacts all of His creation in mighty and awe-inspiring ways! Do you see Him in this way? It’s for our good and for His Glory.

Christ is “EL HAKKAVAD – THE GOD OF GLORY” revealed throughout the New Covenant. We see Him glorified in His Incarnation (John 1:14); in His High Priestly Prayer of Unity for His Apostles and all believers throughout time (John 17:24) and in one of the greatest descriptions of God in Christ as the writer of Hebrews bridges the Old and New Covenants and the completion of both in Christ (Hebrews 1:3).

What a great and Glorious God that we serve and we can declare His Glory by our words and lives as Christ, “EL HAKKAVAD – THE GOD OF GLORY,” dwells within us!

I pray that you know Him as Savior and Lord and even as you share in His sufferings you are growing in Him from glory to glory…His Glory expressed in and through you. May we give all praise and honor to Him, the Only One deserving of All Glory!

EL EMET – “THE GOD OF TRUTH” (Psalm 31:5)

Our final Name for today’s post is not only great, powerful and much needed…it is also very much lacking in our culture, even in many churches in our day and time.

David refers to God as “EL EMET – THE GOD OF TRUTH” in Psalm 31:5 where he recounts the trials, struggles and enemies he has faced and is facing. Yet he remembers and reminds us that God is Truth and therefore He is Faithful. He says what He will do and He does what He says…ALWAYS!

Because He is Truth we can always count on Him no matter what we’re facing or what the situations looks like. This requires faith in us but we can know that He is Faithful…ALWAYS! If He were to falter and fail to uphold His Truth even once it would no longer be Truth and He would not be Faithful. But He has never failed and never will.

As we explore, and I pray, are seeing more and more throughout these posts on the Names of God, Christ is God in the flesh, the fulfillment and exact representation of God to us as Savior and Lord.

We find Christ as “EL EMET – THE GOD OF TRUTH” in one of the most comforting verses to those who believe and one of the most uncomfortable texts to those who don’t in John 14:6. He alone is The Way, The TRUTH and The Life. There is no other way and He has been Faithful to save all who will believe on and surrender to Him as Savior and Lord.

We find this same character of Truth and Faithfulness in Paul’s 2nd letter to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:11-14 in which he declares that even when we are not faithful, HE IS! He is our “EL EMET – THE GOD OF TRUTH!” He can never be untruthful and therefore never unfaithful!

I pray that you know Christ as The Way, THE TRUTH, and The Life because He will never fail You. His Truth endures forever and you can count on that…come what may! He is the only way to God The Father!

Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – Jehovah Uzi or Uri is GOD MY STRENGTH and even though there are times I fail or struggle, His strength in Christ has always found a way and empowered me to do what was needed. He is El Hakkavad – The God of Glory and is worthy of all our praise. We see this in Christ being given all honor and glory and as we share in His sufferings we will also share in His Glory.  He is also El Emet – The God of Truth meaning that you can count on His Word and faithfulness as we have The Truth in Christ and it is absolute…never changing! Do you know His Truth? It is the only thing, He is the Only One who can set you free!

Love and Lordship…Action Item –

1. Read the Scriptures in this article and ask The Holy Spirit to teach you.
2. Write down what each of the Names of God in this post mean to you. 
3. The God of Strength, Glory and Truth…Which of these have you needed or experienced from God in your life?
4. How has He shown up for you?

Contact us at Love and Lordship to find out more about how you can know God the Father, Christ His Son and The Holy Spirit and The Lord God.

Check out this week’s Love & Lordship Mentoring Minute Video