Do you know the meaning behind your name? Do you know how your parents picked out your name? Were you named after someone famous or perhaps a family member? If you have had children, you have undoubtedly searched for that perfect name, the name that would describe the precious baby you were expecting. But have you ever given any thought to what is God’s personal name? Up until this past week, I hadn’t ever really thought about it.

I know that when I met my husband, his name suddenly became very important. My feelings and emotions were connected to his name and just hearing it brought a smile to my face. We shared a connection. The same is true when I hear him say my name. The intimacy we share begins with knowing each other’s name. Which brings me to the name of God. I have grown up in church, I know the bible fairly well and I know the various names given to God, Jehovah, Lord, King of Kings, Prince of Peace. But, up until this past week at bible study, I have never understood that God, the creator of the heavens and earth, had a personal name. The thought struck me! How am I to have a close personal relationship with God, if I don’t know His personal name? How have I missed this all these years?

In the book of Exodus, chapter 3, Moses encounters God and He speaks to him through the burning bush. “Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”  God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.” Here in this moment, God introduces Himself to Moses and to the people of Israel as Yahweh. Yahweh is the name that the God of the universe, has given to Himself. Yahweh means, “I AM”. Can you think of a better name that would describe our all-powerful God?

Now that we know that God has a proper name…what’s next? I propose that this knowledge opens the door to real intimacy within our relationship with God. One cannot have a close personal relationship with another, without first knowing what to call them—what’s their name. It’s so simple that I can’t believe I have missed it all these years! When I pray, I am not praying to some nameless being. I am not worshipping a nameless God. His name, Yahweh, denotes who God is. It evokes His very being, His eternality. He is sufficient to Himself, independent of anything outside Himself. He is not contained by time or space or matter. But with all that unimaginable power and majesty, He has still given us a name that we can call Him, so that we are able to have that personal, intimate relationship. We are given His name so that we can know Him.

I challenge you to shift your thinking, as I am trying to do. The next time you pray, the next time you worship, think about who God is. Now that you know His name, won’t your prayer and worship time be even sweeter? The name Yahweh should bring a smile to your face. Yahweh should invoke your emotions—He is your God, and He knows you and He wants you to know Him!