365 Ways To Know God

365 Ways to Know God ? 2004 CLICK HERE For More Information

FOREWORD

Talking to God

on a First-Name Basis

Elmer Towns knows a lot about the names of God. He has lectured on the names of each of the three Persons of the Godhead and has written three best-selling books on them: The Names of Jesus, My Father's Names and The Names of the Holy Spirit. The Names of the Holy Spirit won the Gold Medallion award from the Christian Booksellers Association in 1995. He also has compiled the most extensive lists of the names of God (see the appendices at the back of the book). Now he has written this daily devotional on 365 names of God in the Bible.

Elmer wrote the first three books to give us information on God's names and to help us understand the nature of God from His names. Many people have used them in their Bible studies or Sunday School classes. Now, in this devotional, he writes to our hearts so that we can feel and apply God to our everyday living. Through the names of God, we can touch God each day in a new and different way; but most important, God can touch us daily.

This book could be called Talking to God on a First-Name Basis, because it contains prayers for you to talk to God with--using one of His personal names each day. This book can be an exciting journey into knowing God more intimately through His many names.

Elmer prayed that he would be anointed to write a book through which readers could feel the presence of God. I believe God has answered his prayer, because I felt the presence of God as I read these devotionals and talked personally to each Person of the Godhead.

Tim LaHaye Coauthor, the Left Behind Series

5 Receive a New 'Names of God' Devotional Each Morning Subscribe for FREE to 'Prime Time With God' CLICK HERE

365 Ways to Know God ? 2004 CLICK HERE For More Information

Introduction

The Bible has more than a thousand names, titles and metaphors for God. Why does God have so many names? For the same reason we do. Each name and title represents a different position, function or characteristic. For instance, I am called husband, father, grandfather, dean, faculty, golfer, author, Sunday School teacher and so on. The more you are and do, the more names and titles you have. Since God is greater than anyone in the universe, wouldn't you expect Him to have the most titles and names?

Every time you learn a new title or name of a person, you learn more about that person. As you read through this devotional, you'll learn more about God than you ever have before, because you will explore 365 of His names, one for every day of the year. So be prepared to know God intimately this year. And when you learn about God and His relationship to you, you'll learn more about yourself. Be prepared to live closer to God than ever before.

There's one reading for each day of the year. Also, there's a suggested daily Bible reading to expand your understanding of the name assigned for that day. Get ready to be transformed this year as you experience 365 ways to know God.

Elmer L. Towns Written from my home at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains

2004

6 Receive a New 'Names of God' Devotional Each Morning Subscribe for FREE to 'Prime Time With God' CLICK HERE

365 Ways to Know God ? 2004 CLICK HERE For More Information

MAY

27 The Father: His Name Is Father

I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.

JOHN 5:43

His Name is Father; this means that "Father" is more than a title. Men on Earth are called by the title "Father" because that is a description of all who sire children. But throughout eternity past, the first Person of the Trinity was known by His name "Father." He was called Father by His Son, Jesus Christ. Why is "Father" His name? The title reflects the intimacy of relationship that He had with Jesus and that He can have with you. The most important aspect of God is not His awesome power or His omniscient knowledge; the most important characteristic of God is His relationship with people--He is Father.

I worship You as My God because of Your almighty power. I magnify You as my Lord because of all You've done for me. I follow You as my

Master because of Your wisdom and miracles. But I know You intimately because You are my Father.

People did not pray to God in the Old Testament using the name "Father," so Jesus came to teach them to pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name" (Matt. 6:9). As a child goes to an earthly father with his needs, so you can take your requests and call Him by name.

My heavenly Father, hallowed be Your name in my thoughts, actions and service. Father, I love Your name. It cheers me

when I am down. It gives me strength to serve when I am weak. It guards me against evil when I'm tempted. Because I know You

by Your name, I come calling You Father. Amen.

Reading: John 12:27-50 Key Thought: Call Him by His name "Father."

159

Receive a New 'Names of God' Devotional Each Morning Subscribe for FREE to 'Prime Time With God' CLICK HERE

MAY

365 Ways to Know God ? 2004 CLICK HERE For More Information

Jesus: A Prophet Mighty 28

in Deed and Word

And He said to them, "What things?" And they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed

and word before God and all the people."

LUKE 24:19

God sent prophets to speak His message, but many times people wouldn't accept their message. So some prophets predicted the future to give them credibility; other prophets did miracles to get people to believe their message. The Bible describes these "prophets . . . who have . . . predicted signs or miracles" (Deuteronomy 13:1-2, NLT). Just as God's prophets in the Old Testament came with supernatural predictions and miracles, so Jesus came doing supernatural things as He preached to the multitudes. Jesus was a Prophet Mighty in Deed and Word.

Lord Jesus, I believe in the miracles recorded in the Bible. Lord Jesus, I believe the truth You spoke in sermons. But I mostly believe because

You came into my heart and saved me.

Jesus did miracles for many reasons. He healed because He had compassion on those who suffered. He did supernatural acts to demonstrate His deity. Jesus did signs and wonders because the Old Testament predicted that the Messiah would do them. Jesus worked miracles so that His disciples and others would believe in Him. Jesus did miracles because it's only natural for God to do the supernatural. Today, let Jesus speak to you as a Prophet Mighty in Deed and Word who has God's message for you. Today, let Jesus do something supernatural for you.

Jesus, thank You for doing miracles while on Earth; they give credibility to Your message. But thank You for the

miracles of my new nature and spiritual sight. Amen.

Reading: Luke 24:13-35 Key Thought: Jesus did miracles to give credibility to His sermons and His claims of deity.

160

Receive a New 'Names of God' Devotional Each Morning Subscribe for FREE to 'Prime Time With God' CLICK HERE

365 Ways to Know God ? 2004 CLICK HERE For More Information

MAY

29 Jesus: The Just One

Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have

become the betrayers and murderers.

ACTS 7:52

Stephen preached a convicting sermon to those ready to kill him (see Acts 7:1-53). The Jewish leaders stoned Stephen, just as they had been responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus. Stephen said that the coming of Jesus, the Just One, was foretold in Scripture. Stephen was suggesting that Jesus was not guilty, but that He had been crucified unjustly. Jesus did not die because He broke a law; rather, His death was a substitute for everyone who had broken the Law. Jesus died on the cross so that people wouldn't have to die eternally in Hell.

Lord Jesus, You are the Just One, who died for me. Thank You for taking my place.

The title "Just" comes from the Greek word dikaios, which also can be translated as "righteous." Jesus was always right--He never sinned. He was right in character and actions. The Father made Jesus, who never sinned, to become our sin, so we might have His righteousness (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). There is a double transfer in this verse. First, our sins were transferred to the sinless One; and second, His righteousness was transferred to us. It's not just enough to have your sins forgiven to go to Heaven; you must be good--or in the words of this verse, you must be righteous. In His substitution for us, Jesus, the Just One, did two things: He took away our sin (subtraction), and He gave us His righteousness (addition).

Lord Jesus, You came into my heart to take away my sins and give me Your righteousness. You made me "good enough" for Heaven. Amen.

Reading: Acts 7:51-60 Key Thought: Jesus makes us "good enough" to go to Heaven.

161

Receive a New 'Names of God' Devotional Each Morning Subscribe for FREE to 'Prime Time With God' CLICK HERE

MAY

365 Ways to Know God ? 2004 CLICK HERE For More Information

The Holy Spirit: The Breath 30

of the Almighty

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

JOB 33:4

The Holy Spirit is the Breath of the Almighty; He gives life to all living things. When Adam was originally created, God breathed into his physical lungs, and that clay body came alive. It was the Holy Spirit who entered into Adam's body. The Holy Spirit is life and gave Adam human life. Through the continual miracle of procreation, physical life was passed on to you. In the life of God, you live and move and have your being (see Acts 17:28).

Holy Spirit, I thank You for physical life. Help me bring glory to the Father, Son and Yourself this day. Keep my physical life strong

so that I can develop my spiritual life.

The Holy Spirit is the Breath of the Almighty who first gave you spiritual life. When you became a Christian, He entered your life through the new birth (you were born again); now the Holy Spirit indwells your life. "Unless one is born of . . . the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). Now the Holy Spirit is present in your physical body to accomplish all the work that the Father and Son want to do through you. Will you yield to the Spirit's leading and let Him guide you today? Will you yield to His power and let Him work through you today?

Holy Spirit, I am weak; I yield to Your power to overcome temptation. I rely on Your power to live for You. Fill me with Your presence to accomplish Your will this day. Amen.

Reading: Genesis 2:1-7; Job 33:1-7 Key Thought: The Holy Spirit is God's Breath that gives me life.

162

Receive a New 'Names of God' Devotional Each Morning Subscribe for FREE to 'Prime Time With God' CLICK HERE

365 Ways to Know God ? 2004 CLICK HERE For More Information

MAY

31 Jesus: The Image of the Invisible God

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

COLOSSIANS 1:15

Jesus is the Image of the Invisible God whom you can't see. Throughout history, people have asked to see God, but God has protected them. "No man shall see Me, and live" (Exodus 33:20), God told Moses. But there's another reason: You can't see God, because there's nothing to see. Jesus told the Samaritan woman, "God is Spirit" (John 4:24); and a spirit has no flesh or material substance to see. But still people want to see God. So they can see God by looking at Jesus. Read the pages of Scripture to see Jesus' character and miracles. See His acts of kindness. When you see Jesus in the Bible, you'll see God. You'll see how God in human flesh acted and reacted, for Jesus is God. He's the Image of the Invisible God.

Lord, in the pages of Scripture, I see kindness in Your face. I feel the forgiveness of Your grace. When I can't see anything

else, the image of God I trace.

An image is an exact reflection. The original object can't move without the same movement in the image. Jesus is the Image of God; He is one with the Father--one in love, goodness and grace. Jesus said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). To know the Father more intimately, look at Jesus; He is the Image of the Invisible God.

Jesus, I praise the Father in whose image You exist. One look at You satisfies my curiosity about God. You are the

matchless beauty of deity. Amen.

Reading: Colossians 1:1-15 Key Thought: Jesus shows us how God would live and act in human flesh.

163

Receive a New 'Names of God' Devotional Each Morning Subscribe for FREE to 'Prime Time With God' CLICK HERE

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download