Power In The Name Of Jesus
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This week two of the lady carers visited with Floyd. He hadn't seen one of the ladies for a while, and he was visibly moved when he saw her. She had a word for him that brought tears. I think the visit was very encouraging to him.
His condition continues to go up and down. I have no idea what is ahead, but I keep trusting God's plans and purposes in Floyd's life and in my life on our unexpected journey. I rest secure in His loving hands. I pray for strength and grace for both of us. I look to God to help me!
There are times when I have limited energy to pray. There are times when I don't know what to pray/how to pray. One of the things that has helped me in these times is simply to call on His name – Jesus! I say His name. I sing His name. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus help me. Jesus I need you. Jesus I can't make it alone. Jesus you are my hope.
Or I turn it into speaking out His promises. Jesus you are my strength. Jesus you are my refuge. Jesus you never leave me. Jesus you are my help. Jesus you are my provider. Jesus you are my source of wisdom. Jesus you are my comfort. Jesus you are my peace.
There is power in the name of Jesus!!
He has walked the road we walk. He endured the stripes on His back for our healing. He was mocked and slandered. He had to battle the lies and temptations of the enemy in the desert. He felt the pain of a close friend turning on Him. He knew what it was to be alone when His disciples couldn't stay awake to be with Him. He wore the horrible crown of thorns, and died a horrendous public death on the cross. He endured all this - and more - for us......so that we could walk in His provision.
A friend sent me a list of the things that Jesus is to us. I attach it below. I've prayed the list, thanking Jesus that He is all those things to me. I don't even think the list is complete! Jesus is everything I need. His help and provision is limitless. He's available 24/7, 365 days a year. He never sleeps or slumbers. He never goes on vacation. He is simply a whisper away - Jesus!
I'm so thankful for the powerful name of Jesus.
"Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord." Philippians 2:9-11
"The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!' " Luke 10:17
"And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.' " Matthew 28:18
"If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." John 14:14
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Colossians 3:17
"The men were amazed, and said, 'What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?' " Matthew 8:27
John Piper has said that "the Greatest Person made the Greatest Sacrifice for the Greatest Gift to the least deserving." That's you and me! But Jesus has provided for our every need. I'm so grateful that I can speak His name when I'm needy, when I'm weak, when I don't know what else to do. He is there always - and He is so faithful!
Some of the things I've learned on this unexpected journey circle back around again. I guess it's like that all through our lives. We think we've learned something - and then it pops its head up again.....sometimes repeatedly. I've come to understand that it's God's way of taking lessons deeper. It doesn't mean we've failed when the same issues come up again! There are just some lessons that He wants to implant deep into our hearts, our lives, our character. But if He did it all at once, it would overwhelm us. It would be too much. So He teaches us a little bit - and then a while later, He lets the same issue come up - and He teaches us a bit more. I'm so grateful for His gracious, patient way of teaching us and growing us.
He has been doing that for me on this journey. There are two things that seem to come up over and over and over again! One is being thankful in any and every situation. The other is trusting God with whatever may come my way. Thankfulness and trust are best friends! When they link arms together, they are powerful in making it through hard times.
It's easy to have a heart of thankfulness when things are going good. The difficulty comes when trials, challenges, and suffering come our way. The enemy will do his best to point out all the negatives. He'll try to get us to focus on the problems instead of focusing on God's goodness.. He doesn't want us to be thankful because he understands what a powerful weapon it is in surviving the hard times. Thankfulness and gratitude keep our spirits sweet, and our hearts focused on the awesomeness of God.
I've said it before, and I'll say it a thousand times more - there is ALWAYS something to be thankful for. In fact, there are always many, many things to be thankful for. If we can't see them, we must stop - take a deep breath - look around us - and take time to make a list of all the good things in our lives......starting with God's goodness and faithfulness. I admit that there are some days when the problems are so huge that they dominate my vision. But once I stop and ask God for His perspective - then I see all the wonderful things that I have to be thankful for!
Trusting God in the midst of hard situations is perhaps more challenging, but it is so, so important. In fact, it's in the hard times that we need to increase our trust in God - not let it waver or lessen. If the enemy can undermine our heart of trust in the Lord, it gives him an open door to try and weaken all our other foundations.
I find it helpful as I go about my day to continually speak out "I trust you Lord." I can be more specific - "I trust you Lord to give me wisdom in this situation." Or I can just state the 4 simple words of trust. God isn't looking at our words, He's looking at our heart attitude.
I tell the Lord that I know He's with me - and I trust Him. I tell Him that I know He has answers for everything I'm facing. I tell Him that I trust Him even when I'm feeling overwhelmed with the situation I'm in. I tell Him I trust Him for strength and fresh courage when I'm so exhausted that I can hardly stand upright. I tell Him I trust Him when I can't see how things will fit together in the time to come. I tell Him I trust His protection when it feels like arrows are coming my way from every direction. Whatever the situation - we can state it, and tell Him we trust Him!! This allows our heart of trust towards Him to grow and expand.
If I choose to trust God in any and every situation - and to thank Him whatever comes my way......I'm well on my way to victory over whatever the trial is I'm walking through. I choose to keep the good friends of thankfulness and trust right by my side!
"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
"Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you." Psalm 9:10
"I will give thanks for you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds." Psalm 9:1
"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." Psalm 56:3
Thankfulness and trust are meant to be interwoven daily into our lives just as these verses go back and forth. A strong "cord" is woven from our heart to the Father's as we choose to walk daily in them.
