She
will give birth to a son,
and
you are to give him the
name
Jesus, because he will
save
his people from their sins.
Matthew 1:21 NIV
The
name Jesus means “The LORD Saves,” but those who
have known Him over time recognize that He does much more. Over my fifty-seven
years of walking with Jesus, I have encountered Him in a myriad of
circumstances.
I
remember standing on the south rim of the Grand Canyon, awestruck by the
majesty of God and breaking out in song. “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus; there’s just
something about that name.” I recognized the truth of John 1:3 spread out
before me in a beautiful display as ever-changing shadows danced across the canyon’s
surface; knowing “Through Him all things were made; without him nothing was
made that has been made.” Jesus!
I
remember standing by my son’s crib after the doctor said, “He will need surgery
to correct his severely bowed legs.” Placing my hands on his tiny legs and
whispering the name of Jesus, I asked for mercy and healing. “For he had healed
many…” (Mark 3:10) Healing happened. Surgery did not. Jesus!
I
remember sitting alone at the foot of my dying father’s bed; turning the pages
of my Bible. Hoping for answers. Whispering Jesus. John 14:27 found me, “Peace
I leave with you; my peace I give you…” Jesus!
Over
the decades, I have found these things to be true:
Speak the name of Jesus, and the
storms cease as the dark clouds open to allow the Son to shine through.
Speak the name of Jesus, and my
troubled heart calms as the raging battles of life swirl around me like a
whirlpool trying to suck me in.
Speak the name of Jesus, and
bitterness, fear, and anger crack, break, and fall away as the warmth of His Presence
covers me.
Speak the name of Jesus, and the
peace that passes all understanding calms my troubled soul.
Today, I invite you to join me in
speaking His Name, the Name above all Names, Emmanuel. God with Us. Prince of
Peace. The Bread of Life. The Spring of Living Water. Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!
©
Joyce Powell
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