1000 Names

“I am lost in wonder at all You do,” sings Phil Wickham in today’s addition to our practice of praise. The modern hymn, 1000 Names helps us get good and lost.

What a great way to get lost, don’t you think? Losing ourselves, casting off our worries and cares, running instead into the reality that is “Christ in me, the hope of glory.”

Indeed, the more we reside near to the Person of Christ, recalling His gracious dealings, His amazing, sacrificial love and His indwelling presence, the more we are lost in Him.

Lost in wonder.

27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

28We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfectf in Christ.

Colossians 1:27-28 Berean Standard Bible

The Names of Jesus

Here are some of the awesome names for our Lord that taken from scripture included in today’s worship hymn:

Maker

Healer

The I AM

King

Son of Man

Lion of Judah

Second Adam

Lord

Risen Lamb

Alpha and Omega

Yahweh’s Glory, revealed in flesh and bone

Messiah

One True God

Here’s the thing, though. Unless we are saturating ourselves in His presence by abiding in the Word of God, the Bible, we can’t quite jump in to worship with both feet. Why do all these names mean much, anyway? Do you see others getting a lot out of worship, and yet it doesn’t quite feel totally real to you? If that is the case, ask yourself:

• Do I consider my relationship with God a relationship that requires effort and commitment?
• Have I surrendered my will in obedience to God, since I name Jesus as my King?
• Are my decisions regarding how I spend my time within God’s grasp? Or do I hold back?

Read your Bible, my friend. Saturate yourself in His words. Become a student of God. As you do, He works within you, opening your eyes to Himself. Obedience is easier, your ability to love God and others begins to grow, and worship becomes your favorite place to get lost.

Power in Praise

Part of the power inherent in worship lies within the practice of stating out loud the truth of Who God is.

When we sing out the names of God, we proclaim truth, not only to our great and good Lord, but to our sluggish and reluctant souls as well. The qualities of His character are firmly represented by the names of God. As we sing the truth, our focus changes. And how badly we need to get our eyes off our selves, and unto Him, instead.

In worshipping God, we are privileged to be among those who state the eternal truths of the majesty and perfection of Himself, our glorious God. Such an honor given to us!

God is blessed, and we are changed, when we wield this powerful instrument of praise.

But there is more taking place! Taking notice are the unseen powers in creation, “the spirits in the air” as Paul calls them. We strike a blow to God’s enemy and ours. We praise Him anyway. Like Job. Despite loss after searing loss, here is what Job did and said:

20Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, 21saying:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,

and naked I will return.

The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away.

Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

22In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.

Job 1:20-22

1000 Names

Here is the chorus of Wickham’s hymn:

I know You by a thousand names

And You deserve every single one

You’ve given me a million ways

To be amazed at what You’ve done

And I am lost in wonder at all You do

I know You by a thousand names

And I’ll sing them back,

I’ll sing them back to You

Oh, back to You Back to You, God

Phil Wickham, 1000 Names

This particular rendition of Phil Wickham’s song presents a lovely acoustic work, complete with a sunset filmed over the Pacific Ocean. May today’s song help you get good and lost, in worship and praise to the Almighty.