I used to be afraid to trust God. And it bothered me.
I wanted to slip my hand in His and let Him lead.
I wanted to put my concerns in His capable arms
and believe He could take better care of them than I could.
I wanted to have more faith.
But I didn’t. And one day I realized why.
It’s hard to trust someone we don’t really know.
Therein was the reason for my hearts hesitancy to fully rely on God.
You see, I knew a lot about God but I didn’t really know God.
So I decided to start spending time with Him like a friend, getting to know Him.
Talking to Him with simple-sentence and conversational prayers
listening to Him through promises in His Word
depending on Him in different circumstances
relying on Him in faith as I struggled with different fears.
Over time my “knowing” and trusting God got stronger and stronger.
And my depth of dependence grew as I depended on Him and found He is dependable.
What about you? Do you ever struggle with trusting God, like really trusting Him and fully relying on Him to meet your needs like I have? One thing that has really helped me get to know God and push through my fear of dependence is remembering the names of God and giving Him a chance to show me the faithfulness of His character through the power of His names.
The truth is we can’t know God as Jehovah Jireh, our Provider, if we aren’t in need. And when we are, we can learn to trust Him as we depend on Him to meet ours needs. The more we do this, the more our trust will deepen and our relationship with Christ with be strengthened.
Our confidence in Him will grow as we live in the powerful promise of this beautiful verse: “Those who know your name trust you, O LORD, because you have never deserted those who seek your help” (Psalm 9:10). Let’s pray: Lord, I want to know You for who You really are. I desire to trust and follow You more and more each day.
Knowing God By Name – printable
I’d love to send you a FREE “Knowing God By Name” printable. Simply enter your email below ( I promise not to share it with anyone.)
ENTER TO WIN: I Know His Name by Wendy Blight
My friend, Wendy Blight, has written a five-session Bible study about discovering power in the names of God. This study is for any woman who wants to move beyond simply knowing about God to really knowing God in a very personal way. This study will help women to:
- Realize their infinite worth as they explore the nature of the God who created and formed them.
- Live with bold assurance that their God is a personal God who sees them, hears them, and knows them by name.
- Walk confidently in knowing both who they are and Whose they are.
- Arm themselves with seven tools to pray more confidently and effectively in any situation or circumstance.
- Transform their walk with Jesus as they discover how He fulfills the Old Testament names of God.
ENTER TO WIN by sharing why you’d like to study this topic and have a copy of Wendy’s new book. Simply click SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS below. One winner will be randomly selected on Friday and notified via email.
Discover more from Renee Swope
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I want to know God deeply – forming a relationship with him and trusting him to work out all things for His good. When things go well I seem to have this solid faith in Him, it’s when things don’t go well (illness, sin, pain), my faith is shaken and I start to question him!
I think this would be a great study to work through with a handful of friends. Knowing about the names of God would further my understanding of His character and love for me.
I love studying all the beautiful names of our Father God. I agree that the better we know him, the closer we can grow in relationship with him, lean into him, and trust him to guide and protect us. Wendy, I’ve so enjoyed your teaching on First 5…what a blessing this study will be to every woman who works through it. Blessings <3
This is a revelation for me and a topic that is rarely brought up! It is completely interesting to me! So excited!
My husband recently left this world for heaven – My heart grieves deeply. Our marriage was deep and good, relying on our loving and merciful God together. Now I’m learning to rely on God on my own and learning that I was quite dependent on my husband in many areas including the way we knew God as a couple. I need to become reacquainted with the God I love.
I have studied some of the names of God over the years. I would love to lead my small group in this study!
I am anxious to start this study because I have always wanted to know His names, and what they mean. To have them taught by Wendy Blight is a big plus! Renee, I did A Confident Heart Bible Study and I just wanted to thank you for that. You come to mind often. And Living So That by Wendy also makes me stop, and think, and pray. Thanks to all of you and P31OBS, you have changed my life!
I’ve started this study and am using the Kindle version. The actual paper version would be so much nicer for answering questions! I love this study so far because it helps me to see that there is so, so much more to dig into with each verse and sometimes each word in the Bible. I know I often skim over the words as I read, so this study is helping keep my mindful and accountable.
It’s ‘interesting’ that God is laying this subject on my husband’s heart, then, voila – this opportunity comes to me from you! I’d love to have a copy of the book as I come to know my Father’s heart!
I have thought of studying the names of God over the years but never seriously pursued it. Recently the Lord has made me aware that I know a lot about Him, but don’t know Him with my heart. Learning more about the names of God would give me more heart knowledge of God and enable me to trust Him more quickly and fully.
I want yo know God more than ever
I want to know God more and more!
I once heard a sermon series on the names of God. I would love this study guide to learn about that again and experience God through His different attributes.
I have never studied the names of God or learned about the character of God. I can’t wait to learn more and go deeper.
I would like this book to use for prayer and Bible study.
Sounds wonderful….I lead our women’s Bible Study at our small church in Vermont.
We are always looking for studies that help us draw closer to Him…..
Seeking His highest and trying to give Him our best….
Thankyou
Sandy
With knowing HIS names and each service he blesses us with, I can share with anyone who questions, doubts, fears, uses excuses and for not turning to God for every need! I believe that every time I open his word…God teaches me something new. I never want to stop learning.
One quick note…”A Confident Heart” was my very first OBS and thank you for choosing that beautiful quote from your book to remind me how blessed I am to know God and yet to hope that as I pray to deepen my relationship with and depend on Jesus I can journey to know Him so much more…and to sense that journey will last my lifetime into eternity…
Just settled in to spend some quiet time and to read Wendy’s first post for the study…haven’t purchased a book yet…hopefully soon…would love to be chosen to receive a copy…either way I am very excited to truly learn about and experience God in and through His every Name. Thanks Renée and Wendy! God bless!
This post resonated with me because lately I have felt GOD calling me to know Him better and reestablish my relationship with Him on a more personal level. This study would lead me in the direction I think GOD wants me to go.