Calling on the Name of the Lord to be Rescued from Trouble and Distress

In troubling or distressing situations, people are often perplexed or unclear how to respond. Many turn to prayer in such times, but what do we pray for, and how do we pray? An especially simple and helpful way is to call on the name of the Lord as recorded in the Bible (Rom. 10:13). Calling is a particular kind of prayer; it is not merely a request or communication but an exercise of spiritual breathing that makes us living and maintains our spiritual strength.

“I called upon Your name, O Jehovah, From the lowest pit. You have heard my voice; do not hide Your ear at my breathing, at my cry.” Lam. 3:55-56

In the above verses, Jeremiah says that to call on the Lord (Jehovah) is to cry out to Him and to breathe the spiritual air. To call on the Lord’s name in this way immediately rescues us inwardly from our trouble and distress.

In Psalm 118:5 the psalmist testifies that “Out of my distress I called upon Jehovah; Jehovah answered me and set me in a place broad and free.” Also, in Psalm 50:15 we read, “And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you will glorify Me.” These verses emphasize calling as a way to experience deliverance from trouble and distress.

“Another reason for calling on the Lord is to be rescued from distress (Psa. 18:6; 118:5), from trouble (Psa. 50:15; 86:7; 81:7), and from sorrow and pain (Psa. 116:3-4). People who have argued against calling on the Lord have found themselves calling on Him when they were subject to a certain trouble or illness. When our lives are free from trouble, we may argue against calling on the Lord. However, when trouble comes, no one will need to tell us to call on Him; we will call spontaneously.”
Basic Elements of the Christian Life, Volume 1, pg. 34*

The practice of calling on the name of the Lord is not new. We find it throughout the Bible (Gen. 4:26, Gen. 12:8, Acts 22:16, 2 Tim. 2:22). But this practice has been lost over the centuries and is even misunderstood by some. In the book of Acts, it was so common among early Christians that they could be easily identified by the practice of calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 9:14, 21). Whether we are passing through times of trouble and distress or not, we can practice calling on the name of the Lord in every situation and in every place (1 Cor. 1:2).

Acts 2:21 says, “And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you want to be saved right now, call on the name of the Lord Jesus and tell Him:

“O Lord Jesus! O Lord Jesus! O Lord Jesus! Thank You for making it so simple for me to call on Your name. Thank You for hearing my voice. Come and save me. I open to You. I call upon Your name, O Lord Jesus! I love You.”

Furthermore, in Romans 10:12 we see that Jesus is the Lord of all and rich to all who call on His name. By calling on the name of the Lord we can continually experience how rich He is. Just as with our physical breathing, calling is the way to experience our rich God in every situation and in every place.

You can read more about calling on the name of the Lord in the chapter entitled, “Calling on the Name of the Lord” in Basic Elements of the Christian Life, Volume 1. Request your free copy.

*All quotes © by Living Stream Ministry. Verses taken from "The New Testament Recovery Version Online" at https://online.recoveryversion.bible