Would you like to become more aware of God’s presence than ever? Would you like to see Him move in your life, showing Himself to you in tangible and very personal ways?
If so, begin praying God’s Advent names during this Christmas season!
I learned the power of God’s Advent names during a crisis. I had been asked to serve as a prayer partner for a distressed family. I entered their home with great trepidation, knowing that I couldn’t help them myself. I didn’t even know how I should pray.
As we sat down to try to talk through things, I opened the discussion in prayer with the only words I could think of:
“Lord Jesus, You are our Wonderful Counselor. Please counsel us and guide us. Holy Spirit, lead us into all truth. Please do the work that only You can do to heal and restore this family, in Jesus’ Name.”
It was a prayer born out of Isaiah 9:6-7, which says:
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this”(NKJV).
I had learned many years before that we could call upon God as whoever He is, and He would help us. Therefore, with desperation building up, I began to pray into those names …
… and He answered!
As I sat with this family and prayed for them silently, the Holy Spirit began to work while they talked:
· They opened their hearts and began to discuss the real issues openly with one another.
· The Holy Spirit melted their anger away, giving them peace and clarity.
· Slowly, the Lord convicted each person about his or her wrongdoing in the situation, and they repented and forgave one another.
When the conversation was over, they had made up and were hugging each other!
When I left the situation that night, I was so happy I could have floated home.
I was awestruck because I knew I had just seen the Holy Spirit work a miracle—one for which no human being could take any credit. The situation had simply been too big for all of us. In our inadequacy, however, the Holy Spirit showed us to do the one thing that would help: to call on the name of Jesus and sit back while He moved! And after we did, God showed Himself to be exactly who He said He is. Our God--Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace—showed out and healed His people.
It’s all about the power of His name.
Isaiah 9:6 is not “only” a beautiful prophecy about the Christ-child. This passage is actually God’s disclosure of His heart and nature to us, His children.
Before God told us about His Advent names, His people knew Him as many things—Warrior, Sovereign, Creator, God Most High—but most did not know Him as Father or Peace-giver.
However, when God revealed these names to Isaiah thousands of years ago, He was baring His heart to us.
No longer would we simply have to know Him as the God of the angel armies. Now, we can know Him as our God whose heart beats for us—to comfort us, counsel us, encourage us, and care for us in every way.
Our Father is a God who is personally involved in our lives. When we get to know Him and ask Him to manifest Himself to us in all the ways He promised He would, He shows out every time.
Are you hungry for more of God’s manifest presence this Christmas season?
Do you want to know Him better, sense His companionship, and get refilled with the awe and wonder of who He is? If so, pray into God’s five Advent names with me!
If you aren’t sure how to pray, try starting with short prayers just two or three sentences long. For example, you could pray like this:
1. Wonderful:
“Father God, in Jesus’ name, I want to thank You for being so wonderful to me. You are such an amazing God. Thank You for adopting me and making me Your child. Thank You for loving me.
Father God, please help me to magnify You this Christmas season—to look at You bigger. Help me become more aware of Your kindness, faithfulness, goodness, and mercy. Help me to know You better and to give You glory for how amazing You are. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
2. Counselor:
“Father God, thank You for promising to instruct me and teach me in the way I should go, and to guide me with Your eye (Psalm 32:8). I confess that You are my Counselor, and I ask in Jesus’ name that You would lead me into all truth today. Please show me which way to take. Order my steps. Give me wisdom and help me to obey Your counsel. Thank You, Lord.”
3. Mighty God:
“Lord Jesus, thank You for being my Mighty God. Thank You for showing Yourself strong on my behalf.
Father God, I ask that You would protect me and take care of me in all things. Send me the help I need in every situation, and help me to rest and trust You while you perfect everything that concerns me. Thank You, Father. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
4. Everlasting Father:
“Father God, thank You for being my Abba—my Heavenly Dad. Lord, Your Word says that when my father and my mother forsake me, then You will take me up. I claim Your promise, Lord, and I ask You to fill me with Your Spirit of adoption today. Fill me up, and provide for all my needs as only You can.
Father God, I ask that You would protect me, provide for me, comfort me, and help me sense Your presence and affection. Help me receive all the satisfaction and fulfillment I need from You alone, and make me perfect in Your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
5. Prince of Peace:
“Lord Jesus, thank You for being my Prince of Peace. Your Word says that You will keep me in perfect peace if my mind is stayed on You. So Lord, please help me to be anxious for nothing; but in everything, with prayer and petitions, with thanksgiving, help me make my requests known to You; and Your peace, which passes all understanding, will guard my heart and mind in You. Thank You, Lord.”
Praying into God’s Advent names makes us aware of who He is, and of who He desires to be in our lives. If you’ll call on His name this season and always, He will answer you!
Do God’s Advent names comfort and encourage your heart also? If so, please leave a comment below. I’d love to hear from you!
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