Good morning, 

This week we will look at love from God’s perspective. 

Valentine’s day promotes love between couples. It is relational and centered on the world’s system of love. Sometimes physical, sexual, and immoral. Gifts, flowers, candy, are all given to the one we love. 

God’s love is different. 

God is love. He demonstrates His love. He gives His love. He shows us examples of love. He explains that His love is opened to all. He defines love. 

Join us this week as we explore the God of love. 

GOD IS LOVE 

1) God is Love 

I John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth (demonstrated) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

Gen 1 In the beginning God 

Gen 2 Made he a woman and brought her unto the man. 

Gen 3 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins and clothed them. 

Gen 37-50 Joseph In all Joseph’s adversity, God loved him and cared for him 

Exodus God loved his children Israel and provided a way of escape from the Egyptians 

Judges 2,6 Rahab was a harlot, but God loved her and saved her and her family 

Ruth Ruth was a Moabite 

2 Sam 11 David had a man killed 

1 Kings 11 Solomon disobeyed God 

Acts 9 Saul, persecutor of the church on the road to Emmaus 

2) How do we respond to God’s love? 

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 

I John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us. 

I John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 

Genesis 3 is the darkest chapter in God’s word. Adam and Eve, created by, and in the image of, God, chose to rebel against God. They disobeyed God’s one and only command. They were deceived by the devil. Sin enters into the world. All future wickedness comes from that one act of disobedience. 

God could have destroyed them. He did not. A blood sacrifice was made for the young couple. Naked, God gave them clothes to wear, then cast them out of the Garden of Eden. All mankind are their descendants.  

God’s love extends to all people willing to come to God with a broken and contrite heart. Understanding that God sent Jesus to pay the sin debt we owed, that we could not pay. Jesus went to the cross, was crucified, died, was buried, and on the third day was resurrected from the dead.  

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) 

That is God’s love for His creation. Trust Christ today and begin to experience God’s love. 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning, 

God’s names reveal his character. They tell us who He is and what He does. As we study these names, we will have a better understanding of whom we pray to and to whom we serve. 

10 Names of God And How To Pray Them 

7. Yahweh Tsidknenu – yah-way-tzid-kay-noo 

It means “The LORD Our Righteousness.” It appears in Jeremiah 23:6 and Jeremiah 33:16.  

“In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.” (Jeremiah 23:6)  

“In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness.” (Jeremiah 33:16) 

This name shows that only God can save us from our sins and make us right. He made us right by sending Jesus to bear our sins and cloaked us in His righteousness instead (2 Corinthians 5:2). 

Call upon this name of God to be saved. Repent from your sins and ask God to forgive you, and give you a new life. Praise God for His grace and faithfulness to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. 

8. Yahweh M’Kaddesh – yah-way-meh-kad-esh 

It means the “Lord Who Sanctifies You” or “The Lord Who Makes Holy.” It occurs in Exodus 31:13 and Ezekiel 37:28. 

“Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.” (Exodus 31:13) 

“And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.” (Ezekiel 37:28) 

This name indicates that God is the only one that can make us holy. To be holy means to be set apart from the world. It means to live by following God’s principles, not the world’s. 

Pray this name by asking God to transform you from the inside out. Praise Him for giving you the power to overcome sin, and to live a righteous life. Ask Him to purify you and make you holy and sin no more. 

9. Yahweh Sabaoth – yah-way-sah-bah-ohth 

This name means the “LORD of Hosts” or “The LORD of Armies.” It first occurs in 1 Samuel 1:3 and appears over 285 times in the OT in verses such as Isaiah 1:24, Psalm 46:7. 

“Therefore saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:” (Isaiah 1:24) 

“The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” (Psalm 46:7) 

Hosts or armies refer to both angels and men; God is Lord over all creations in heaven and on earth. This name indicates God’s sovereignty, power, and authority over the world. 

Pray this name to engage in spiritual warfare. Praise God for giving you the authority over all the power of the enemy. Call upon the name of the Lord of the armies of heaven to deliver you from the evil one and give you victory. 

10. Yahweh Shammah – yah-way-sham-mahw 

It means “The Lord Is There” and occurs only in Ezekiel 48:35. 

“It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there.” (Ezekiel 48:35) 

Jerusalem was given this name as an indication that God had not abandoned Jerusalem. This name shows God’s omnipresent attribute; He is always present and accessible for His children. 

Pray this name to enter God’s presence. Thank God for always being there with you, on the hills and valleys alike. Ask Him to manifest Himself to you, and to experience Him like never before. 

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. (Psalm 8:1) 

Excerpts from Audrey’s blog https://www.wordsoffaithhopelove.com/ 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning, 

God’s names reveal his character. They tell us who He is and what He does. As we study these names, we will have a better understanding of whom we pray to and to whom we serve. 

10 Names of God And How To Pray Them 

4. Yahweh Nissi – yah-way-nee-see 

It means “The LORD Our Banner.” It only appears in Exodus 17:15. God had just delivered the children of Israel from the Amalekites, so Moses built an altar and called it “The-LORD-is-my-banner.” Banner or Nissi means a rallying point, a sign, or a signal. This name indicates God’s willingness to fight our battles and bring us victory. 

“And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi:” (Exodus 17:15) 

Pray this name to invite God into your battles and fight for you, and praise His willingness to defend you and deliver you. Call upon His mighty power to lead you to victory, and have confidence that He will intercede for you. 

5. Yahweh Shalom – yah-way-shah-lohm 

It means “The LORD Our Peace” and only occurs in Judges 6:24. The Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and told Him to have peace and not to fear, for he would not die for seeing the Angel face to face. So, Gideon built an altar and called it “The-Lord-Is-Peace.” This name indicates God’s gentle and peaceable nature. 

“Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.” (Judges 6:24) 

Pray this name to invite God’s supernatural peace in your life. Praise Him for carrying your burdens and worries. Ask Him to fill you with His peace that surpasses understanding and ask Him to give you rest. 

6. Yahweh Rohi – yah-way-roh-hee 

It means “The LORD Our Shepherd” and was penned by David in Psalm 23:1.  

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1) 

This name shows that God cares for us as a shepherd cares for his sheep. A shepherd guide feeds and protects his sheep. God is the good shepherd that lay down His life for His sheep. 

Pray this name to ask God for His guidance, leadership, and protection. Praise Him for caring for you and giving up His life for you. Ask Him to prepare the way ahead of you while walking beside you. 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning, 

God’s names reveal his character. They tell us who He is and what He does. As we study these names, we will have a better understanding of whom we pray to and to whom we serve. 

10 Names of God And How To Pray Them 

Most often, when we come before God, we call Him “Lord” or “Heavenly Father,” but God has a name! The Bible mentions multiple names of God, and you need to know them because names are important and meaningful. 

In biblical times, names were considered to reveal a person’s character or trait and were chosen with great care. For example, if parents named their child Joy, they expected their child to be joyful. We can see this in Genesis 17:5 when God renamed Abram to Abraham, which means “Father of many” after God told Abram would father many nations. 

Some names were also chosen due to circumstances surrounding the child’s birth. Such as Abraham and Sarah, who named their son Isaac (to laugh) because they both laughed when God said they would have a child in Genesis 17:17, Genesis 18:12 respectively. 

Also, Eli’s daughter-in-law named her son Ichabod which means “no glory” for the Philistines had captured the Ark of God, and Eli and her husband had been killed (1 Samuel 4:21). But names also had simple meanings. For example, Isaac and Rebekah named their first-born Esau (hairy) because he was born hairy (Genesis 25:25). 

Likewise, the names of God reveal His character and nature. When we pray His different names, we meditate on Who He is and see Him in a more personal way. It deepens our relationship with Him and enhances our prayer life. 

I once did a study on the different names of God to write a poem and then learned how to pray them. It was refreshing, powerful, and I experienced greater intimacy with God. Here are ten of His names and how you can pray them to fire up your prayer life. 

0. YHWH/Yahweh – yah-way 

It is the name God gave Himself when Moses asked for His name in Exodus 3:14. It is translated in English Bibles as “LORD” all caps, not to be confused with Adonai which means Lord. 

“And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.” (Exodus 3:14) 

Yahweh means “I Am that I Am,” or “He Will Be,” and it’s the only proper name of the God of Israel. It indicates God’s transcendent and self-existent nature. He was, is and will be. Almost all the names of God on this list is an extension of Yahweh. 

Fun fact 

Ancient Israelites had a high reverence for God’s name and never said it aloud. When reading scriptures, they would say Adonai instead of Yahweh. Later, Jewish scribes created a hybrid name by combining the consonants of Yahweh with the vowels of Adonai to create Yahovah. It served as a reminder to say Adonai and to prevent an accidental pronunciation of Yahweh. 

However, many years later, Christians scribes who didn’t know Hebrew thought Yahovah was God’s divine name. They began to pronounce it and translate it. As a result, it entered Christianity and became Jehovah. Many people still use it today and believe it’s God’s name. 

Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. (Psalm 148:13) 

1.  El/Elohim – el-oh-heem 

Elohim means God, Creator, and Mighty Strong. It is one of the most common names of God and appears about 2600 times in the Old Testament. Its first appearance is in Genesis 1:1. Elohim indicates God’s strength, sovereignty, and creative power. 

Elohim is often shortened to El and used as part of other names such as El Shaddai (el-shah-dahy) which means God Almighty; and Eloah (el-oh-ah) which means mighty, strong, prominent. 

Pray this name to fall in reverence before God. Exalt His name, His awesome power, and His majesty — Marvel at the work of His hands and His creation. 

2. Yahweh Yireh – yah-way-ji-reh 

It means “The LORD Will Provide” and occurs only once in Genesis 22:14, when Abram was about to sacrifice his son Isaac, but God provided a ram for the sacrifice instead. Yahweh Yireh indicates God’s provision and care for His people. 

“And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-Jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.” (Genesis 22:14) 

Pray this name to call upon God’s supernatural provision. Praise Him for caring for you and supplying for all your needs. Ask Him for anything you may lack and trust that He will provide. 

3. Yahweh Rapha – yah-way-raw-faw 

It means the “LORD Who Heals” and it occurs in Exodus 15:26. God called Himself Yahweh Rapha after He healed the bitter waters of Marah so the Israelites could drink from it. He declared He was their healer and would spare them from the diseases He put on the Egyptians. This name indicates God as the source of all healing: body, mind, and soul. 

“And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.” 

Pray this name by acknowledging God alone, heals you, and praise Him for your health. Ask Him to heal and restore you from any illness, scar, or pain in your life, to repair the broken parts of you and make you whole again. 

4. Yahweh Nissi – yah-way-nee-see 

It means “The LORD Our Banner.” It only appears in Exodus 17:15. God had just delivered the children of Israel from the Amalekites, so Moses built an altar and called it “The-LORD-is-my-banner.” Banner or Nissi means a rallying point, a sign, or a signal. This name indicates God’s willingness to fight our battles and bring us victory. 

“And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi:” (Exodus 17:15) 

Pray this name to invite God into your battles and fight for you, and praise His willingness to defend you and deliver you. Call upon His mighty power to lead you to victory, and have confidence that He will intercede for you. 

5. Yahweh Shalom – yah-way-shah-lohm 

It means “The LORD Our Peace” and only occurs in Judges 6:24. The Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and told Him to have peace and not to fear, for he would not die for seeing the Angel face to face. So, Gideon built an altar and called it “The-Lord-Is-Peace.” This name indicates God’s gentle and peaceable nature. 

“Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.” (Judges 6:24) 

Pray this name to invite God’s supernatural peace in your life. Praise Him for carrying your burdens and worries. Ask Him to fill you with His peace that surpasses understanding and ask Him to give you rest. 

6. Yahweh Rohi – yah-way-roh-hee 

It means “The LORD Our Shepherd” and was penned by David in Psalm 23:1.  

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1) 

This name shows that God cares for us as a shepherd cares for his sheep. A shepherd guide feeds and protects his sheep. God is the good shepherd that lay down His life for His sheep. 

Pray this name to ask God for His guidance, leadership, and protection. Praise Him for caring for you and giving up His life for you. Ask Him to prepare the way ahead of you while walking beside you. 

7. Yahweh Tsidknenu – yah-way-tzid-kay-noo 

It means “The LORD Our Righteousness.” It appears in Jeremiah 23:6 and Jeremiah 33:16.  

“In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.” (Jeremiah 23:6)  

“In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness.” (Jeremiah 33:16) 

This name shows that only God can save us from our sins and make us right. He made us right by sending Jesus to bear our sins and cloaked us in His righteousness instead (2 Corinthians 5:2). 

Call upon this name of God to be saved. Repent from your sins and ask God to forgive you, and give you a new life. Praise God for His grace and faithfulness to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. 

8. Yahweh M’Kaddesh – yah-way-meh-kad-esh 

It means the “Lord Who Sanctifies You” or “The Lord Who Makes Holy.” It occurs in Exodus 31:13 and Ezekiel 37:28. 

“Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.” (Exodus 31:13) 

“And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.” (Ezekiel 37:28) 

This name indicates that God is the only one that can make us holy. To be holy means to be set apart from the world. It means to live by following God’s principles, not the world’s. 

Pray this name by asking God to transform you from the inside out. Praise Him for giving you the power to overcome sin, and to live a righteous life. Ask Him to purify you and make you holy and sin no more. 

9. Yahweh Sabaoth – yah-way-sah-bah-ohth 

This name means the “LORD of Hosts” or “The LORD of Armies.” It first occurs in 1 Samuel 1:3 and appears over 285 times in the OT in verses such as Isaiah 1:24, Psalm 46:7. 

“Therefore saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:” (Isaiah 1:24) 

“The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” (Psalm 46:7) 

Hosts or armies refer to both angels and men; God is Lord over all creations in heaven and on earth. This name indicates God’s sovereignty, power, and authority over the world. 

Pray this name to engage in spiritual warfare. Praise God for giving you the authority over all the power of the enemy. Call upon the name of the Lord of the armies of heaven to deliver you from the evil one and give you victory. 

10. Yahweh Shammah – yah-way-sham-mahw 

It means “The Lord Is There” and occurs only in Ezekiel 48:35. 

“It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there.” (Ezekiel 48:35) 

Jerusalem was given this name as an indication that God had not abandoned Jerusalem. This name shows God’s omnipresent attribute; He is always present and accessible for His children. 

Pray this name to enter God’s presence. Thank God for always being there with you, on the hills and valleys alike. Ask Him to manifest Himself to you, and to experience Him like never before. 

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. (Psalm 8:1) 

Excerpts from Audrey’s blog https://www.wordsoffaithhopelove.com/ 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning, 

God’s names reveal his character. They tell us who He is and what He does. As we study these names, we will have a better understanding of whom we pray to and to whom we serve. 

10 Names of God And How To Pray Them 

1.  El/Elohim – el-oh-heem 

Elohim means God, Creator, and Mighty Strong. It is one of the most common names of God and appears about 2600 times in the Old Testament. Its first appearance is in Genesis 1:1. Elohim indicates God’s strength, sovereignty, and creative power. 

Elohim is often shortened to El and used as part of other names such as El Shaddai (el-shah-dahy) which means God Almighty; and Eloah (el-oh-ah) which means mighty, strong, prominent. 

Pray this name to fall in reverence before God. Exalt His name, His awesome power, and His majesty — Marvel at the work of His hands and His creation. 

2. Yahweh Yireh – yah-way-ji-reh 

It means “The LORD Will Provide” and occurs only once in Genesis 22:14, when Abram was about to sacrifice his son Isaac, but God provided a ram for the sacrifice instead. Yahweh Yireh indicates God’s provision and care for His people. 

“And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.” (Genesis 22:14) 

Pray this name to call upon God’s supernatural provision. Praise Him for caring for you and supplying for all your needs. Ask Him for anything you may lack and trust that He will provide. 

3. Yahweh Rapha – yah-way-raw-faw 

It means the “LORD Who Heals” and it occurs in Exodus 15:26. God called Himself Yahweh Rapha after He healed the bitter waters of Marah so the Israelites could drink from it. He declared He was their healer and would spare them from the diseases He put on the Egyptians. This name indicates God as the source of all healing: body, mind, and soul. 

“And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.” 

Pray this name by acknowledging God alone, heals you, and praise Him for your health. Ask Him to heal and restore you from any illness, scar, or pain in your life, to repair the broken parts of you and make you whole again. 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning, 

God’s names reveal his character. They tell us who He is and what He does. As we study these names, we will have a better understanding of whom we pray to and to whom we serve. 

10 Names of God And How To Pray Them 

Most often, when we come before God, we call Him “Lord” or “Heavenly Father,” but God has a name! The Bible mentions multiple names of God, and you need to know them because names are important and meaningful. 

In biblical times, names were considered to reveal a person’s character or trait and were chosen with great care. For example, if parents named their child Joy, they expected their child to be joyful. We can see this in Genesis 17:5 when God renamed Abram to Abraham, which means “Father of many” after God told Abram would father many nations. 

Some names were also chosen due to circumstances surrounding the child’s birth. Such as Abraham and Sarah, who named their son Isaac (to laugh) because they both laughed when God said they would have a child in Genesis 17:17, Genesis 18:12 respectively. 

Also, Eli’s daughter-in-law named her son Ichabod which means “no glory” for the Philistines had captured the Ark of God, and Eli and her husband had been killed (1 Samuel 4:21). But names also had simple meanings. For example, Isaac and Rebekah named their first-born Esau (hairy) because he was born hairy (Genesis 25:25). 

Likewise, the names of God reveal His character and nature. When we pray His different names, we meditate on Who He is and see Him in a more personal way. It deepens our relationship with Him and enhances our prayer life. 

I once did a study on the different names of God to write a poem and then learned how to pray them. It was refreshing, powerful, and I experienced greater intimacy with God. Here are ten of His names and how you can pray them to fire up your prayer life. 

0. YHWH/Yahweh – yah-way 

It is the name God gave Himself when Moses asked for His name in Exodus 3:14. It is translated in English Bibles as “LORD” all caps, not to be confused with Adonai which means Lord. 

“And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.” (Exodus 3:14) 

Yahweh means “I Am that I Am,” or “He Will Be,” and it’s the only proper name of the God of Israel. It indicates God’s transcendent and self-existent nature. He was, is and will be. Almost all the names of God on this list is an extension of Yahweh. 

Fun fact 

Ancient Israelites had a high reverence for God’s name and never said it aloud. When reading scriptures, they would say Adonai instead of Yahweh. Later, Jewish scribes created a hybrid name by combining the consonants of Yahweh with the vowels of Adonai to create Yahovah. It served as a reminder to say Adonai and to prevent an accidental pronunciation of Yahweh. 

However, many years later, Christians scribes who didn’t know Hebrew thought Yahovah was God’s divine name. They began to pronounce it and translate it. As a result, it entered Christianity and became Jehovah. Many people still use it today and believe it’s God’s name. 

Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. (Psalm 148:13) 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

What are God’s attributes? When we talk about the attributes of God, we are trying to answer questions like, Who is God, What is God like, and What kind of God is he? An attribute of God is something true about him.  

When we pray, it is helpful to know to whom we are praying. This series of devotions will enhance our perspective of God. 

8. God Is Gracious – God Is Infinitely Inclined to Spare the Guilty 

” The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.” (Psalm 145:8) 

If mercy is not getting what we do deserve (damnation), grace is getting what we don’t deserve (eternal life). “As mercy is God’s goodness confronting human misery and guilt,” Tozer writes, “so grace is His goodness directed toward human debt and demerit. It is by his grace that God imputes merit where none previously existed and declares no debt to be where one had been before.” 

Because grace is a part of who God is and not just an action he bestows, it means we can trust that grace is eternal. His grace is something we do not earn or lose (“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Eph. 2:8). His grace is also sovereign. “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.” (Exodus 33:19). 

9. God Is Loving – God Infinitely, Unchangingly Loves Us 

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8) 

“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth:” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a) 

10. God Is Holy – He is Infinitely, Unchangingly Perfect 

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty” (Revelation 4:8) 

“Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy.” (Psalm 99:9) 

The word holy means sacred, set apart, revered, or divine. And yet none of those words is adequate to describe the awesome holiness of our God. That God is holy means he is endlessly, always perfect. And his standard for us is perfection “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”  Jesus says in Matthew 5:48. That’s why we need Christ. Without Christ taking the place for us and dying for our sins, we would all fall short of God’s holy standard. Thankfully, the Christian will never have to experience God’s holy wrath poured out. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, the penalty for our sins was paid and we were imputed (credited) with Christ’s righteousness. Now, when God looks on us, he sees Christ’s perfect holiness. Hallelujah! It is only in this that we can hope to stand in the presence of the blindingly pure, perfect, Holy One of Israel. 

(Excerpts from15 Amazing Attributes of God: What They Mean and Why They Matter Compiled & Edited by BST & Crosswalk Staff January 06, 2023)                    

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

What are God’s attributes? When we talk about the attributes of God, we are trying to answer questions like, Who is God, What is God like, and What kind of God is he? An attribute of God is something true about him.  

When we pray, it is helpful to know to whom we are praying. This series of devotions will enhance our perspective of God. 

5. God Is Omniscient – He Is All-Knowing 

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” (Isaiah 46:9-10) 

“For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.” (Psalm 139:4) 

God is omniscient, which means he knows everything. Because God is all-knowing, we can trust that he knows everything we’re going through today and everything we will go through tomorrow. When we meditate on this truth, especially in light of his other attributes of goodness and love, it makes it easier to trust him with all we have going on in our lives, from the very serious to the silly and mundane. 

6. God Is Omnipresent – He Is Always Everywhere 

“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139:7-10) 

“Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.” (Jeremiah 23:23-24) 

To be omnipresent is to be in all places, at all times. Nevertheless, he is with us, the fullness of his presence is all around us. “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” The psalmist proclaims God’s omnipresence in Psalm 139. 

This ought to bring deep comfort to Christians who struggle with loneliness and deep sorrow. In a very real way, God is always near us, “closer than our thoughts,” writes Tozer. “The knowledge that we are never alone calms the troubled sea of our lives and speaks peace to our soul.” 

7. God Is Merciful – He is Infinitely, Unchangeably Compassionate and Kind 

“For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”  (Romans 9:15-16) 

Without the mercy of God, we would have no hope of heaven. Because of our disobedient hearts, we deserve death. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” and, “the wages of sin is death.” But because of mercy, we don’t get what we deserve. Instead, because of the mercy of God, we get life through faith in Christ. 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

10 Attributes of God 

For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. (Malachi 3:6) 

What are God’s attributes? When we talk about the attributes of God, we are trying to answer questions like, Who is God, What is God like, and What kind of God is he? An attribute of God is something true about him.  

When we pray, it is helpful to know to whom we are praying. This series of devotions will enhance our perspective of God. 

1. God Is Infinite – He is Self-Existing, Without Origin 

” And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:17) 

“Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.” (Psalm 147:5) 

“In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1) 

2. God Is Immutable – He Never Changes 

“For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6) 

God does not change. Who he is never changes. His attributes are the same from before the beginning of time into eternity. His character never changes – he never gets “better” or “worse.” His plans do not change. His promises do not change. This ought to be a source of incredible joy for believers. 

3. God Is Self-Sufficient – He Has No Needs 

“For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;” (John 5:26) 

As limited humans, we have incredible needs, which left unfulfilled, result in death. God, however, has never once been in need of anything.  

“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;” (Ephesian 3:16) 

“For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.” (Psalm 50:10-12) 

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” (Ephesians 3:20) 

4. God is Omnipotent – He Is All Powerful 

“By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.” (Psalm 33:6) 

Omnipotent means to have unlimited power (omni = all; potent = powerful). God is able and powerful to do anything he wills without any effort on his part. 

It’s important to note the “anything he wills” part of that statement, because God cannot do anything that is contradictory or contrary to his nature. Scripture is clear that God is strong and mighty (Psalm 24:8). 

“Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” (Psalm 24:8) 

 Nothing is too hard for Him to accomplish (Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17, 27; Luke 1:37).  

“Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:” (Jeremiah 32:17) 

“For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37) 

Often God is called “Almighty,” describing Him as the One who possesses all power and authority (2 Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 1:8). In fact, Paul says that God is ” able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think ” (Ephesians 3:20).” 

5. God Is Omniscient – He Is All-Knowing 

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” (Isaiah 46:9-10) 

“For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.” (Psalm 139:4) 

God is omniscient, which means he knows everything. Because God is all-knowing, we can trust that he knows everything we’re going through today and everything we will go through tomorrow. When we meditate on this truth, especially in light of his other attributes of goodness and love, it makes it easier to trust him with all we have going on in our lives, from the very serious to the silly and mundane. 

6. God Is Omnipresent – He Is Always Everywhere 

“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139:7-10) 

“Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.” (Jeremiah 23:23-24) 

To be omnipresent is to be in all places, at all times. Nevertheless, he is with us, the fullness of his presence is all around us. “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” The psalmist proclaims God’s omnipresence in Psalm 139. 

This ought to bring deep comfort to Christians who struggle with loneliness and deep sorrow. In a very real way, God is always near us, “closer than our thoughts,” writes Tozer. “The knowledge that we are never alone calms the troubled sea of our lives and speaks peace to our soul.” 

7. God Is Merciful – He is Infinitely, Unchangeably Compassionate and Kind 

“For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”  (Romans 9:15-16) 

Without the mercy of God, we would have no hope of heaven. Because of our disobedient hearts, we deserve death. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” and, “the wages of sin is death.” But because of mercy, we don’t get what we deserve. Instead, because of the mercy of God, we get life through faith in Christ. 

8. God Is Gracious – God Is Infinitely Inclined to Spare the Guilty 

” The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.” (Psalm 145:8) 

If mercy is not getting what we do deserve (damnation), grace is getting what we don’t deserve (eternal life). “As mercy is God’s goodness confronting human misery and guilt,” Tozer writes, “so grace is His goodness directed toward human debt and demerit. It is by his grace that God imputes merit where none previously existed and declares no debt to be where one had been before.” 

Because grace is a part of who God is and not just an action he bestows, it means we can trust that grace is eternal. His grace is something we do not earn or lose (“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Eph. 2:8). His grace is also sovereign. “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.” (Exodus 33:19). 

9. God Is Loving – God Infinitely, Unchangingly Loves Us 

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8) 

“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth:” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a) 

10. God Is Holy – He is Infinitely, Unchangingly Perfect 

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty” (Revelation 4:8) 

“Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy.” (Psalm 99:9) 

The word holy means sacred, set apart, revered, or divine. And yet none of those words is adequate to describe the awesome holiness of our God. That God is holy means he is endlessly, always perfect. And his standard for us is perfection “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”  Jesus says in Matthew 5:48. That’s why we need Christ. Without Christ taking the place for us and dying for our sins, we would all fall short of God’s holy standard. Thankfully, the Christian will never have to experience God’s holy wrath poured out. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, the penalty for our sins was paid and we were imputed (credited) with Christ’s righteousness. Now, when God looks on us, he sees Christ’s perfect holiness. Hallelujah! It is only in this that we can hope to stand in the presence of the blindingly pure, perfect, Holy One of Israel. 

(Excerpts from15 Amazing Attributes of God: What They Mean and Why They Matter Compiled & Edited by BST & Crosswalk Staff January 06, 2023)                    

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

What are God’s attributes? When we talk about the attributes of God, we are trying to answer questions like, Who is God, What is God like, and What kind of God is he? An attribute of God is something true about him. 

 When we pray, it is helpful to know to whom we are praying. This series of devotions will enhance our perspective of God.

3. God Is Self-Sufficient – He Has No Needs 

“For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;” (John 5:26) 

As limited humans, we have incredible needs, which left unfulfilled, result in death. God, however, has never once been in need of anything.  

“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;” (Ephesian 3:16) 

“For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.” (Psalm 50:10-12) 

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” (Ephesians 3:20) 

4. God is Omnipotent – He Is All Powerful 

“By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.” (Psalm 33:6) 

Omnipotent means to have unlimited power (omni = all; potent = powerful). God is able and powerful to do anything he wills without any effort on his part. 

It’s important to note the “anything he wills” part of that statement, because God cannot do anything that is contradictory or contrary to his nature. Scripture is clear that God is strong and mighty (Psalm 24:8). 

“Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” (Psalm 24:8) 

 Nothing is too hard for Him to accomplish (Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17, 27; Luke 1:37).  

“Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:” (Jeremiah 32:17) 

“For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37) 

Often God is called “Almighty,” describing Him as the One who possesses all power and authority (2 Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 1:8). In fact, Paul says that God is ” able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think ” (Ephesians 3:20).” 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com