Yahweh Yireh

Do you struggle with bringing requests to God, sometimes?
I do.
Sometimes it's hard to believe that my constant problems and struggles aren't a bother to "the Big Man". Sometimes I feel like I'm a constant mess, forever in need of help to get out of the trouble of my own making, and that that must get old.

And yet at the same time, it seems as though he doesn't ever get tired of it. Being the Rescuer.

Well, I found myself there once again. I made a mess of things financially, and got myself into the hole - literally. My checking account balance had a big fat minus sign in front of it. Grrr!

So, Sunday I took it to the Lord.

I have an awesome book called Praying the Names of God. It takes you through 26 Hebrew names of God, and is broken down into meditating on one name each week. I like it because it tells you the history of the name - what it really means, and then where it's first introduced in scripture, which is kindof fun (for me, at least) to see what circumstances cause God to reveal a certain aspect of his character through a new name.

So I spent Sunday meditating on Yahweh Yireh - The Lord Will Provide.

But here's what's cool about this word, and what came alive to me this week. According to the author, the word yireh is derived from the word raah, which means "to see". And in this case (Gen 22:13-14) it is translated "provide", since God sees the future as well as the past and present, and therefore he is able to anticipate and provide for what is needed. She goes on to say, "When you pray to Yahweh Yireh, you are praying to the God who sees the situation beforehand and is able to provide for your needs."

And so I prayed. I said, "Lord, you know and see my financial needs, please be provider this week. Because I have no means or resources to fix it myself." (Which I think is a statement God loves to hear us say - that we are incapable in the midst of the belief that he is 100% capable!)

And guess what....God did something incredibly amazing! Monday night I was up late, looking at Scripture and timing it with some music for something I want to do in the future. And I needed another Bible of a different translation for one part of it. So I grabbed my little pocket-size NASB (that I used to keep in my purse), and started working. And as I flipped through some pages, you're not going to believe what I found!

Three checks fell out of that Bible! THREE CHECKS! From a few babysitting jobs I had back in December! I had looked for those checks a few times, and never found them, so I gave up, thinking I had deposited them and didn't remember it. But no! You know what happened? God, being the God Who Sees in Advance and Provides, Yahweh Yireh, knew that today would come, when I needed those checks more than I did back then. And so he assisted me in "loosing" them, and then "finding" them at the most opportune time! He met my current need, by making provisions in the past when I wasn't even aware of it! Because those checks totaled to just enough. No more, no less. He met the need!

Now, isn't God awesome?!!!!!!!

What name do you need to experience of God today?

Here are some possibilities:
Elohim - God, Mighty Creator
El Roi - The God Who Sees Me
El Shadday - God Almighty
El Olam - The Everlasting God/Eternal God
Yahweh - LORD
Yahweh Yireh - The Lord Will Provide
Adonay - Lord, Master
Yahweh Rophe - The LORD Who Heals
Yahweh Nissi - The LORD My Banner
Esh Oklah, El Kenna - Consuming Fire, Jealous God
Qedosh Yisrael - Holy One of Israel
Yahweh Shalom - The LORD is Peace
Yahweh Tsebaoth - The LORD of Hosts
Yahweh Tsuri - The LORD My Rock
Yahweh Roi - The LORD is My Shepherd
Hashem - The Name
Melek - King
Ish - Husband
El Chay - Living God
Maon, Machseh, Magen, Metsuda, Migdal-Oz - Dwelling Place, Refuge, Sheild, Fortress, Strong Tower
Shophet - Judge
Miqweh Yisrael - Hope of Israel
Yahweh Tsidqenu - The LORD Our Righteousness
El Elyon - God Most High
Yahweh Shammah - The LORD is There
Ab, Abba, Pater - Father, Daddy

I hope that after hearing my story, you will have confidence in coming before him with any of these names. He proved in my life this week that he can be trusted, counted on, to live up to his reputation.

That's why they are his Names! Because it has to be worth a lot to put your name behind it! If your name is on the line, there is a seriousness to it, right? Ask any reputable business. If they put their name on it - they're usually pretty concerned with the quality. Well, God is that way - if it involves his Name, he takes it pretty darn seriously!

So my blessings to you, if you choose to trust him with your need this week. I think that's why it's so awesome that the name he told Moses was I AM. Because that really sums it all up.

God truly is: I AM ______________.

Count on it!

"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so the the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

John 14:13-14