In Kay Arthur’s book, Lord, I Want to Know You, she asks, Where do we run for help? What’s our first instinct? Do we trust and boast in the name of God as our defender, or do we trust and boast in human strength?

I have to admit far too often my first thought when I face an overwhelming problem is to either try and solve it myself, or run to someone I feel can. While there are times when either of these actions may be the prudent thing to do, the problem I see is defaulting to humans before we seek God.

In biblical times chariots were a means of protection and escape. They were a measure of an army’s wealth and power. We don’t need to look further than the exodus account to see how useless Pharaoh’s chariots were against the power of Israel’s Jehovah-nissi when his people reached the Red Sea (Exodus 14).

While we don’t have chariots pulled by horses these days, far too often there may be things or people we trust and boast in perhaps more than we trust and boast in the name of God.

In her book Kay Arthur asks, “Why don’t we take an aggressive stand in the face of fear?” She suggests it is because we don’t trust and boast in the name of our God. She suggests we write down our fears, troubles, insecurities. As we consider our list, she says to ask God to show which of his attributes will meet that need.

Recording God’s attributes and names in a journal as I read through the Book of Psalms helps me see God as so much more than a single faceted divine being. The first attribute I recorded in my journal is filled with fierce fury against those who plot against him.

From there my list includes ruler of all nations, my shield, my only hope. God is the lifter of my head. That’s an attribute and name I boast in often.

God is righteous, the perfect judge, majestic, creator, everlasting, refuge, merciful. He is the helper of the helpless, father to the fatherless, healer, trustworthy, shelter in the time of storm, redeemer, strong and mighty in battle.

And that’s just the beginning.

In our time of trouble and need there is nothing better than to boast in the name of God. When we run to him in full trust, believing he is more than capable to do exceedingly more than we could ever dream, hope, or imagine, we find he alone is worthy to be praised.

I’d love to hear what names of God you boast in.

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Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God. Psalm 20:7 (NASB)

You can find my October Inspire a Fire post here. Please stop by and read it.

I wish you well.

Sandy

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