The different emphasis of the words “God”, “Lord” and “Krishna”
In this first section [of the Chaitanya Shikhsamrita] the words “Lord”, “God” and “Krsna” have all been used. The reader should not think that these words refer to separate entities. Krsna is the only form, the only object of worship by the soul. Krsna is the complete revelation of sweetness in God. When we consider Krsna in relation to other objects and need to emphasize his lordship, we use the word “Lord.” That is why in the beginning the word “Lord” was used instead of Krsna. Lordship is nothing more than the natural control that Krsna displays towards the objects of his creation. In enumerating, the objects of existence, the word “Lord” is thus used: cit (conscious entity), acit (matter) and isvara (Lord, controller of both).
Chaitanya Shikshamrita, Bhaktivinoda Thakura