God’s Names
ABBA – Father,
ADONAI – Lord,
ALPHA & OMEGA – Beginning and End
CHRISTOS – The Anointed One
EL DEAH – God of Knowledge
EL ELYON – The God Most High
EL OLAM – The Everlasting God
EL ROI – The God Who Sees
EL SHADDAI – God Almighty
ELOHIM – The Creator
YAHWEH – I Am
YAHWEH JIREH – The Lord Will Provide
YAHWEH NISSI – The Lord My Banner
YAHWEH RAPHA – The Lord That Heals
YAHWEH SHALOM – The Lord Is Peace
YAHWEH SHAMMAH – The Lord Is There
YAHWEH TSIDKENU – The Lord Our Righteousness
YAHWEH TSABBAOTH – The Lord of Host
God’s names tell us we have everything we need in Him; even though Life brings many struggles.
2 Corinthians 12: 7-10 (NIV) 7 Paul said, He was given a thorn in his flesh, a message from Satan tormented him. 8 “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
It takes much prayer and meditation on God’s Word to reach a level of discipline, such as Paul’s. Many years ago, I was taught that fasting was to move God toward my biblically based desires. Therefore, I would fast for deliverance and healing from disease for others. One fasting effort changed my life. I fasted in agreement with a dear friend for healing and deliverance from cancer. I was saddened when she subsequently made her transition to Heaven. Our prayer efforts had not been answered according to our expectations.
Her mother called me to visit before her bodily remains were removed for funeral preparations. When I arrived, I could see a sense of peace, relief and even joy on my friend’s face. However, the enemy told me I should be ashamed because I respected her wishes. I agreed with her chosen path for healing through faith. As a health care professional I should have pushed harder toward western medicine. But, my friend assured me that she had heard from God and had a made up mind. She was told not to be afraid. Therefore, she swore to shut me out of her quest if I persisted in trying and persuade her otherwise. This was her second diagnosis of Cancer in her young life.
While I was disappointed and even ashamed that prayer and fasting had not keep her on this earthly plane; deep in my heart I knew that our prayers had indeed been answered. She had the healing and deliverance we prayed daily to receive. 2 Corinthians 5:1 (KJV) 5 For we know that if our earthly house , body, were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home the body, we are absent from the Lord. 7 (for we walk by faith, not by sight) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body; and to be present with the Lord. 9 wherefore, we labor that whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him.”
My dear friend indeed had no need to be afraid to be transitioned to our Father. However, because of my associated shame with the experience, I subsequently directed my fasting efforts to eliminate activities that distracted me from God. I used that time to gainfully meditate on God’s Word; praise and worship Him, in an attempt to know Him better and strengthen our relationship.
In my Christian walk, I have learned that prayer and fasting are not to move God toward my requests, but to move me toward His direction. Christians often fast during the Lenten season. Often the leaders of the Church may designate additional times for prayer and fasting to strengthen the congregation, as well. As my Christian walk deepened, I have been subsequently introduced to other teachings about prayer and fasting designed to conquer my will, too tame my fleshly desires.
How can we tame our fleshly desires? Is fasting a dietary change from old habits to be resumed once the designated time is satisfied? Can we tame the flesh by abstaining from candy, sweets, adult beverages, cigarettes? Is fasting and prayer a form of deliverance from sinful or lustful presence in our lives?
Prayer and fasting can provide one with a sense of power. In the process we are reminded of our dependence on God. Prayer and fasting ought to be humbling. Self-denial to our physical appetites for a period of time, allows us to wait in faith and trust in God’s mercy. 3 John 1:2, (NKJV) “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”
Prayer and fasting while reflecting on God’s Word, helps to change our paradigm, our vision on life. If we are to be in health as our soul (mind, will and emotions) prospers, the best way to prosper our soul is to focus our attention on God’s Word, which explains His will for our lives. Prayer, praise, worship in song and fasting helps to give us a change of mind through God’s Holy Spirit working within us.
What is health? Health has been defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Fasting, prayer, praise, worship should help to change our minds toward complete physical, mental and social well-being. It helps to motivate us to work toward avoidance of habits that cause poor health. Yes, habits including but not limited also, to excessive alcohol use, over eating, toxins from every type of smoking, over expended income, pornography, cause an unrest in our bodies. These behaviors place stress on our bodies, thus cause bodily disorder. Have you ever analyzed the word DIS- EASE? John knew that God wants us to be without disease. That is why the Bible says,”well in all things”, the KJV says, “He wants us well above all things.”
Participation in prayer, praise, communion with our maker, worship and a fast are designed to move our minds and bodies closer to God. When we change our focus from the negative things around us, to a vision that God has for us, we have the help of God’s Spirit to make beneficial changes in our overall health. While we do not know how we will receive deliverance from disease, we surrender our will and trust that God wants the best for us.
It is essential that we remain content in the blessings we receive. With God, life is a win-win situation. We already have the victory because we believe that Jesus died for our sins and was resurrected with the keys to sin and death. He is seated at the right hand of God, as our advocate. He is our Lord and Savior and His Spirit is within us. We are strong, free and deeply loved!