What's In A Name?

Most of us were given three names at birth; a first, a middle and a last. Before we can celebrate our first birthday, most of us will have been nicknamed something that we will answer to in conjunction to our born name. At birth, we are born either daughter or son to our parents; possibly sister or brother if we are not the first born, and eventually we will also become friend to some, to another wife or husband, maybe even counselor, teacher, or preacher…I could go on and on with a list of possible titles that we could be given in this lifetime. Just as we wear many hats and respond to different names, so does our Father; and just as we respond to different names for different reasons, so does He.

My close friends normally refer to me as Shoni. In fact, I’ve become so accustomed to being addressed by my nickname that it sounds a little weird to hear them refer to me by

Katina.  Of course, upon first meeting them, it would have been even more awkward for them to refer to me by anything other than Katina. As we began to learn more about each other and develop a close and intimate relationship, it has become the norm to be addressed as Shoni. The first name that my children call me is Mommy; however, as they’ve grown older Mommy has turned into just Mom or more recently, Madre.  If I’m called Mom, I know it’s of a more serious nature. If I hear Mommy, I know my children want something from me; something that I’d likely say no to. When I’m called Madre, I know that my children are just being silly because none of us are Hispanic!

When we look into the Scriptures, God reveals Himself in many different ways. When God told Abraham to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice, He revealed Himself as Jehovah-Jireh or Our Provider; the Lord Who Provides. One of my favorite passages of Scripture is the 23rd Psalm and it is where we get to know Jehovah-Rohi, or the Lord Who is our Shepherd. Jehovah- Nissi, Our banner; Jehovah-Tsidkenu, the Lord Our Righteousness; El Shaddai, The Almighty God or- my favorite translation, the God Who is more than enough are just a few of the many names of God.

In February 2003, I became a born-again believer in a Word teaching church. My oldest child at the time was 10 and my second, who was only 8 was experiencing some really bad recurring ear problems. The specialist said it wasn’t an infection, but really didn’t have an explanation as to why the thick white build up on her eardrum kept coming back no matter how many times he either attempted to treat or suction it with his special little vacuum. After a few months of unsuccessful treatments, the only other option that the ear specialist could come up with was to place tubes inside my daughter’s ear. I could not bear the thought of subjecting my child to the procedure itself and I wasn’t really sure that the insertion of tubes was the cure. As a mother, I was torn because I wanted my daughter healed. I wanted to cry every time that I saw her digging into her ear until it bled. I didn’t know what to do other than trust God to heal her. Between my pastor teaching faith-filled sermons weekly and my reading every book by Kenneth E. Hagins that I could get my hands on, I was ready to test this faith thing and had no idea that I was about to be introduced to Jehovah-Rapha.

I remember calling my girls into the bathroom with me and explaining to them that we were going to use God’s Word for Kryssen’s healing. I started by telling them that when Jesus gave His life for us on the cross that He shed blood for the forgiveness of our sins and for our healing (Isaiah 53:4-5). From there, I told them that as long as the three of us were in agreement about any of God’s promises, that Jesus promises that it shall be done and that He (Jesus) would be there in the midst of us (Matthew 18:19-20). I had been in enough services and had read enough to understand that faith is not begging; it is believing in the unseen (Hebrews 11:1). We had to see Kryssen healed even while there was no evidence of healing in the natural. As I stood in that bathroom that day with my girls, we prayed and thanked God for healing my daughter. I instructed my oldest daughter to say “God I thank you for my sister’s healing” every time that she witnessed Kryssen digging in or tugging at her ear. I told Kryssen that no matter how badly her ear hurt nor how badly it itched, to say “God I thank you for healing my ear”.  Likewise, each time that I saw my baby in agony, I would say “Father, I thank you for healing my daughter’s ear”.

A couple weeks had gone by when the Holy Spirit prompted me to look up at my daughter as she ran across the living room floor. He said to me “When is the last time that you’ve seen Kryssen dig in her ear?” I thought to myself, ‘It’s been a few days, Lord’.  He then tells me to take a look inside of her ear. When I looked inside of her ear and could see no more of the thick white build up, tears began streaming down my face. Jehovah Rapha had not only healed her ear, but any evidence of scratches on the inside and around her ear canal had completely disappeared! I can’t even describe the joy that I felt when we went back to the ear specialist and was told that there was no longer a need for the tubes.

Since I’ve been a hearer and doer of the Word, I have witnessed countless testimonies of the healing power of God. Many have been within my own household and many have come from sharing our testimonies and then believing in faith for the healing of others. I can say that in almost 18 years of being saved, that Jehovah Rapha has never failed me and never ceases to amaze me. No matter what you’re facing, remember that there is power in the Blood of Jesus- it is still just as alive and active as the day that He shed it- and that there is power in the Name. The next time that you have a headache, just say “Jehovah-Rapha, I thank you for your love and I thank you for the Blood. I thank You for being faithful to Your Word to me. Right now, with childlike faith, I plead the Blood of Jesus over me and thank You for my complete healing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” After you’ve prayed the prayer one time, start thanking Him as if it’s already been done (because faith is believing before you see it) and Jehovah Rapha will deliver. He never fails.

Our Father takes pleasure when His children communicate with Him. He enjoys being called on by His many names because it denotes a more intimate and personal relationship with Him. God desires intimacy with us, in fact, He created us in order to commune with Him.

The next time that you’re praying and you’re thanking Him for providing you with food, shelter and clothing; instead of saying “God, I thank You”, try “Jehovah-Jireh, thank You”. You’ll feel His love smiling down on you.