When I reached for a book on a shelf of my library, I grabbed the wrong book.  I have to admit, I find myself doing this more frequently since I started wearing trifocals.

As I placed the mistakenly retrieved book on my desk, it randomly opened to and old hymn: Take the Name of Jesus with You.  I know the words of the song by heart and find pleasure in its joyful refrain of Precious Name Oh How Sweet.

In the Old Testament, names were declarations that characterized a person, a promise, or a relationship with God. Here are a few of the many names of God:

• EL SHADDAI: God Almighty (Genesis 49:24; Psalm 132:2,5)
• YAHWEH-JIREH: The Lord Will Provide (Genesis 22:14)
• YAHWEH-ROHI: The Lord Our Shepherd (Psalm 23:1)
• ELOHIM: God, Creator, Mighty and Strong (Genesis 17:7; Jeremiah 31:33)
• YAHWEH-RAPHA: The Lord Who Heals (Exodus 15:26)

David may have been meditating on the names of God when he wrote Psalm 9:10: Those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

As you contemplate the week ahead, I encourage you to do two things:

• First, use this post as a Monday through Friday mediation; and, focus on one of these names of God for the next five days.
• Second, read Psalm 33:20-21 at least once a day and use it as a prayer of thanksgiving:

Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name.