What's In A Name?

Yesterday was a wonderful day at our church. We celebrated 11 years of ministry, and last night several people gave testimony of what God has done. Something I praise God for is the salvation of three people this year...A.A., T.D., and my daughter!

Like He did for many of us, God wondrously saved their souls, and He keeps them safe in the palm of His hand, never to be lost again. However, there's still an adversary that will try to destroy their lives. Satan will try to disable them so they are not effective for God.

Once we've been saved, we go though a lifelong process of growing in Christ. Throughout this process, we'll face sins, habits, and things that aren't good for us. We'll wish and pray that God would remove them from our lives, yet we'll continue to struggle with them.

I believe we can learn from something Hannah did in 1 Samuel chapter 1. She desperately wanted God to hear and answer her prayer. She addressed God as 'the LORD of hosts'. Here's what verse 11 says, "And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life..."

You might think, "so what...what's in a name?" This name of God is translated from the name 'Jehovah Sabaoth'. Throughout the Bible, the word 'host' is used to describe huge and powerful objects (heavenly bodies, armies, angels, etc.). By calling upon God as the LORD over all these powerful things, we're acknowledging to God and to ourselves that He is able to take care of our problems. Next time you pray about your problem, address Him as 'the LORD of hosts', then pray in faith, believing that He will help you!