Have you ever had a season where you find yourself face to face with the same theme everywhere you turn in life? I’m currently in a season like this. And I’ve learned that such things warrant my close attention!
In January of this year, my next-door neighbor began a neighborhood Bible Study on the names of God. I was interested both because I haven’t done a ladies’ Bible Study in years and because my neighbor has been teaching Bible Study classes for a very long time. The study is on the names of God. While we are reading Kay Arthur’s Lord, I Want to Know You as a foundation, Cindy takes us deeper into the context of each name of God.
This is all well and good and interesting. But then I picked up the book I gave to Jeff for Christmas—John Mark Comer’s God Has a Name: What You Believe About God Will Shape Who You Become. I devoured it. Comer comes at God’s name from a bit of a different perspective, using the passage in Exodus 34 where God tells Moses the character attributes that define His name. Because in the Old Testament world, your name equates to your character.
Okay, so two things. I’m paying attention.
Then, I ran across an old book by George MacDonald called Discovering the Character of God. Not sure of the original publication date of this book, but it would have been before 1900. I love George MacDonald, so I wanted to hear what he had to say on the subject. I haven’t read this yet, but it’s coming!
Finally, our church announced its new sermon series, which will lead us up to Easter—the “I am” statements of Christ in the gospel of John. In other words, who Jesus says He is.
Do you think the Lord is telling me to pay attention to who He says He is? I do!
Each of these resources is similar yet different. I love this because it makes me think more deeply about any subject when I can come at it from several different starting points. And so I’m trying to slow down. Absorb and meditate. Search scripture and listen to the Holy Spirit.
I have no doubt there is a reason for this deep dive into who God is. And so I will follow because I know my Shepherd leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. (Ps. 23:3)
Have you ever had a season where the Lord shows you something about Him or yourself over and over again? Tell us about it!
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When I was going through a difficult season, I did Lysa TerKeurst’s study “Finding I Am” and it was all about those I am statements. I loved it. It really helped me to focus on who God says He is when I was doubting Him. I do love when He sends things our way like this and that aha moment when He finally has our attention.
Studying the names of God is always such a rich experience. It reveals so much about His nature and character. Thanks for the George McDonald reminder, too, D’Ann. I so appreciate his writings.
I agree, D’Ann. I love that God has so many glorious attributes found in His names. We can never dig so deep into His Word and His nature that we come up empty. But we keep finding more and more and more treasure.