Day 31

The God Who Is Near

“The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” — Psalm 145:18 (KJV)

Morning Devotion

Here we are at the end of thirty one days, each one lifting a different name of God, each one pulling back the curtain a little more on who He is and how deeply He loves you.

We have walked through the Names of God like someone strolling through a garden at sunrise. We have stood on Abraham’s mountain and watched Jehovah Jireh provide. We have sat in the quiet with the Prince of Peace. We have leaned on the Mighty God, rested in the Everlasting Father, and run into the Strong Tower.

Every name has shown us something true, something steady, something sure.

But now, at the end of this journey, there is one more truth to hold in your heart:

He is near.

Not far off.

Not hard to find.

Not watching from a distance.

The God who revealed Himself through all these names is the same God who sits beside you this very moment. His power is great, His titles are mighty, but His presence is personal.

You have met Him in His names. Now meet Him in your day.

A Porch Story

I remember a morning on my porch when everything in life felt loud. The world was waking up fast, but my heart felt slow and tired. I could feel the weight of decisions, responsibilities, and worries trying to settle in like unwanted guests.

I bowed my head and whispered, “Lord, I just need to know You are close.”

I did not hear a voice. I did not see a sign.

But I felt a nearness.

Not dramatic. Not overwhelming.

Just steady.

Just real.

Just God doing what He always promised to do:

Draw near to those who call on Him.

The breeze moved gently. The birds started singing again. My breathing slowed.

The problems did not disappear, but the presence of God made them lose their power.

And I realized again that day what I want you to realize today:

The God of every name is the God who knows your name.

He is near because He chooses to be.

The Journey Was Not About the Names

You may think this thirty one day journey was about learning the names of God.

But it was never just about information.

It was about revelation.

It was about relationship.

Every step was meant to guide you closer to Him.

Not to head knowledge, but to heart confidence.

Not to facts on a page, but to faith in a Person.

The God who provides is also the God who stays.

The God who speaks peace is also the God who holds you.

The God of power is also the God of presence.

And presence is the greatest gift of all.

A Little Porchside Theology

Psalm 145:18 tells us, “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him.”

That means the distance between you and God is measured by your desire, not by your worthiness.

You do not earn His nearness.

You do not perform your way into His presence.

You do not climb some spiritual ladder to get to Him.

You call.

He comes.

That is the heart of God.

The names we studied reveal His character. His nearness reveals His compassion.

You do not have to wonder if He hears you.

You do not have to fear that He has forgotten you.

Every name has shown you who He is. His nearness shows you who He is to you.

Life Application

Take a moment today and do something simple.

Sit in stillness.

Open your hands.

Close your eyes.

Say softly, “God, thank You for being near.”

Then breathe.

Let that truth settle deeper than your stress, deeper than your fear, deeper than your questions.

Write this in your journal:

“God, I welcome Your presence in every part of my life.”

If you want to carry this journey forward, write down the one name that held you the closest. Place it somewhere you will see it every day. Let it remind you that the God who carried you through these thirty one days is the same God who will carry you through the rest of your life.

Prayer

Father,

Thank You for revealing Yourself in so many ways.

Thank You for showing me that You are powerful, faithful, and kind.

Thank You for being near to me, not only in the quiet moments, but in the chaos, in the questions, and in the places where I feel most unsure.

Draw me close to You every day.

Teach me to trust Your names and rest in Your presence.

Let Your nearness be my confidence, my comfort, and my peace.

I give You the days ahead, just as I have given You the days behind.

Be near to me, and let my life honor Your name.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection Question / Journal Prompt

Of all the names you have explored in this devotional, which one will you cling to in the season ahead?

Write why it means so much to you.

Then thank God for revealing Himself to you through it.

End your journal entry with this sentence:

“Lord, thank You for being near.”

Evening Reflection

Tonight, as the day settles and the porch grows quiet again, take one last slow breath of this journey. You have searched His names, felt His heart, and discovered His character. But the greatest truth of all is this:

He is with you.

He was there on the first day.

He is here on the last day.

And He will be there in every day to come.

Before you turn out the light, whisper one more time, “Lord, thank You for being near.”

Let that truth rest on you like a warm blanket.

You are not alone.

You are not forgotten.

You are not walking through the world hoping God might find you someday.

He already has.

Sleep well tonight.

The God who is near holds every one of your tomorrows.

Some verses feel like they were written for quiet mornings and tired hearts.

Proverbs 18:10 says,

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”

I picture it like this…

An old front porch.

Rocking chair creaking.

Coffee in hand.

Life already loud before the sun fully rises.

And God whispers, “You’ve got somewhere to run.”

Not somewhere to hide.

Not somewhere to escape.

Somewhere to be held.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower.

Not a weak fence.

Not a flimsy shed.

Not a temporary shelter.

A tower.

Tall enough to rise above the chaos.

Strong enough to stand when everything else shakes.

Wide enough to welcome anyone who comes running.

Notice the verse doesn’t say the righteous stroll.

It says they run.

Because sometimes life hits hard.

Sometimes the phone rings.

Sometimes the doctor speaks.

Sometimes the burden gets heavy.

And you don’t have fancy prayers.

You don’t have polished words.

All you can say is,

“Jesus.”

“Lord, help.”

“God, I need You.”

And friend, that’s enough.

His name carries power.

His name carries protection.

His name carries peace.

When you run to Him, you don’t find locked doors.

You don’t find judgment.

You don’t find disappointment.

You find safety.

Not always explanation.

Not always instant answers.

But real, holy, steady safety.

So today, if your heart feels overwhelmed…

If your mind feels cluttered…

If your soul feels weary…

Run.

Run to the name of the Lord.

Pull up a chair in the shadow of that strong tower.

Rest a while.

Breathe again.

You are not alone.

You are not forgotten.

You are not unprotected.

The name of the Lord is still strong.

And you are still safe in Him.

Day 30 

The Strong Tower: The Power of His Name

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” — Proverbs 18:10 (KJV)

Morning Devotion

Every person runs somewhere when life shakes.

Some run to people, some to panic, some to pills or distractions. But the wise learn where true safety is found: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”

A tower in Bible times was not a decoration. It was a fortress. It stood tall above the chaos, giving perspective when the battlefield below felt overwhelming. Soldiers did not build towers during the fight. They built them before the fight so when trouble came, they knew exactly where to go.

That is what the name of the Lord is for us, a refuge we can run to when the winds howl and the ground shakes. It does not remove the battle, but it protects the heart of the one who knows where to hide.

A Porch Story

One afternoon last fall, a thunderstorm rolled across our little town. I was on the porch watching the sky turn that strange green gray color that says, “You had better get inside soon.”

The wind picked up, trees started swaying, and the first drops hit like tiny hammers on the tin roof. I called out to Joy, “Looks like it is coming fast!” She peeked out and said, “Then stop watching and start moving!”

I laughed, but she was right. The porch is a great place for reflection, not for riding out a storm. So I stepped inside just as the rain unleashed.

I stood by the window and thought about how fast safety changes. One moment you are dry and relaxed. The next, you are one gust away from getting drenched.

That is when Proverbs 18:10 came to mind. The name of the Lord is not just a phrase to admire; it is a place to abide. You do not just look at the tower. You run into it.

What It Means to Run In

Running into His name means you do not rely on your own strength, your own logic, or your own defense.

You lean completely into who He is: His faithfulness, His power, His mercy, His love.

When you say, “Lord, I run to You,” you are not escaping reality. You are entering refuge.

Inside that tower, fear loses its footing. Lies lose their volume. The storm still rages outside, but inside, you are safe.

Safety does not mean silence. It means security.

The thunder may roll, but you are under His covering now.

A Little Porchside Theology

The Hebrew word for “safe” in this verse means “set on high, inaccessible to danger.”

That means when you run to the Lord, He does not just shelter you. He lifts you.

He raises your perspective so you can see above the chaos.

From that tower view, what looked massive on the ground looks manageable from His height.

You stop saying, “The storm is big,” and start saying, “My God is bigger.”

Building Your Tower Before the Battle

The wise do not wait for the storm to prepare. They build habits of refuge before trouble hits:

• Daily prayer, so running to Him becomes instinct, not last resort.

• Scripture memory, so truth rises faster than fear.

• Worship, so your heart stays tuned to hope even when the world sings panic.

You do not build faith in the middle of the lightning. You build it on sunny days so you will know where to run when the clouds gather.

Make His name familiar ground. The more you dwell there, the faster you will find it when you need it.

Life Application

Pick a short “run in” prayer, something simple, something ready. Maybe:

“Father, I come.”

“Lord, You are my refuge.”

“Jesus, hold me close.”

Say it when pressure rises, when fear flashes, or when temptation knocks. Make it your spiritual reflex.

You might also write His names from this 30 day journey, such as Elohim, Jehovah Jireh, Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and others, on index cards. Keep them where you will see them: the dashboard, bathroom mirror, Bible cover.

Each one is a tower wall, and together they make a fortress that will not fall.

Prayer

Strong Tower,

You are my refuge and my strength,

my shelter in every storm,

my peace in every battle.

Teach me to run to You first and fastest.

When fear comes knocking, let faith answer from inside Your walls.

When the winds rise, remind me that Your name still stands tall above it all.

Thank You for being my safety, not just from danger but from doubt.

Lift my eyes above the flood and set my feet on solid ground.

In Your strong and saving Name, Amen.

Reflection Question / Journal Prompt

Where do you usually run when life gets hard: to worry, to work, or to the Word?

Write this in your journal:

“Lord, teach me to run into Your name.”

Then circle the three names from this devotional series that spoke deepest to your heart. Keep them close and pray them often. They are more than names. They are shelter.

Evening Reflection

The storm outside has passed now. The air smells like rain and renewal, and the porch boards are slick with a fresh shine. The tower held.

That is what running to God feels like at the end of a long, hard day: knowing the storm did not win, the structure did not fall, and you are still standing under His protection.

Before you close your eyes tonight, whisper your “run in” prayer one more time:

“Lord, I run into Your name and rest in Your strength.”

Let peace settle like a warm blanket.

The Strong Tower is not a place to hide from purpose. It is a place to be armed for it.

You have spent 30 days learning who He is, name by name, truth by truth.

Now go live from that strength.

Run in when the thunder rolls.

Rest up when your spirit tires.

Then step back out, covered, confident, and calm, carrying the peace of the One whose name still holds you.

Sleep well tonight, friend.

The Strong Tower still stands.