PRAYING THE NAMES OF GOD

What an amazing God we serve! It has been a true joy to focus on researching and praying the names of God. It has revived my prayer life and reminded me how awesome and wonderful He is. But in my time of research on the internet, in books, and reading plans in The Bible app, I stumbled upon a school of thought with which I was unfamiliar. It was subtle at first, but I began seeing the belief that praying specific names of God that matched a person’s specific circumstances would increase the likelihood of the result a person desired. There was even evidence to suggest calling God by His Hebrew name would give you even more favor for your request. For example, if a family member has cancer, you should use God’s name, “Yahweh Rapha” when you’re offering supplication because in English it means “the God who heals”. This brings to mind some important questions.

Does praying a specific name of God have special power?

The Bible says no. God never commanded anyone to pray specific names to Him. No one is recorded in the Bible as having prayed a specific name to get a specific result in prayer. Any time anyone “calls on the name” of God they call on one name only: The LORD (Ps. 116:4). Jesus never prayed a specific name of God to get a specific result. The only name he told his followers to call on was His own name (John 14:13). 

What does it mean to call on the name of the LORD?

In the Bible, when people called on the name of the LORD it was always in the context specifically of salvation or deliverance. The Psalmist in Psalm 116 calls on the name of the Lord for deliverance from enemies. God answered and came near to Jeremiah when he prayed for deliverance (Jer. 3:55-57). Joel prophesied a future repentance for those who call on the name of the LORD (Joel 2:31-32). And in Romans 10 Paul gives the assurance that all who call on the name of the LORD will be saved. There are more times people call on the name of the LORD, but it is never to a special name of God for a special request.

What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name?

This is a much larger topic that I need to research more and will require its own post. Suffice it to say, Jesus never said to pray in a special name at a specific time. He didn’t give a list to match the attribute with the request. And that’s not how he showed us to pray. Logically, there is no evidence to say that because Jesus told us to pray in his name we should pick the name to match the circumstance.

Should we still pray the names of God?

Absolutely! Just skim through Psalms and you will see over and over again the command to praise, extol, shout, sing, and proclaim his great and awesome name. Also, when we are praying for a specific situation, the names of God will come to mind. When someone is sick, we should be reminded God is the Healer. When we are worried, we should remember God is sovereign. When we are lonely, we should remember God is faithful. Fill your prayers with praise to God! But we should guard against cheapening prayer to a works-based superstition that treats God’s names like a Magic 8 Ball. His great and awesome name deserves honor and respect.

RESOURCES: Article-Praying the Bible https://biblicalspirituality.org/why-you-should-be-praying-the-psalms/ Video with same info- https://equip.sbts.edu/video/can-improve-prayer-life/

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