The power of My Name to bless both you and Me
is beyond your understanding.
— Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
One of my most invigorating memories is when I visited Christian author and good friend Mary Connealy in Omaha one summer, and we went out to lunch. Well, we were having so much fun chatting, that would you believe we went down not just one, but TWO one-way streets! The wrong way. Twice. Talk about a thrill! Uh, I won’t tell you which one of us was driving …
I never really could understand the concept of one-way streets because I know they’re supposed to help traffic flow, but frankly, they bother me because they’re not the norm where I live and they mess me up royal when I’m driving. In fact, I don’t really like anything that’s one way because to me — a cause and effect type of gal — it’s not natural. If a ball goes up, it should come down. If someone opens a door for me, I should say thank you. If someone sneezes, I should bless them. Be it gravity, manners, or love, one way is not my mode of choice.
Which is why our quote today so fascinated me. Now all of us are well aware that the Name of Jesus is powerful. The Bible repeatedly talks about asking in Jesus’ Name, binding and loosing in Jesus’ name, healing in Jesus’ name, etc., so it’s the one word in our lives that packs the biggest wallop. Which I suppose some people like to take it in vain — for effect. It’s the precious Name of Jesus that unleashes countless blessings into our lives, just as the quote above says. But the one thing that hit me when I read this quote this time was … the Name of Jesus is NOT a one-way street.
You see, when I stub my toe or something scares me or gratitude floods my eyes, the first word that comes to my lips is “Jesus”! That precious, powerful name that says it all, and trust me, I say it A LOT! But what I didn’t fully realize is that the power of the Name of Jesus not only blesses us, but it blesses God as well when we speak it into the universe, which pretty much blew me away.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
— Psalms 103:1
The fact that I could bless the God of the Universe by simply saying His Name — reverently, gratefully, beseechingly — wrings tears from my eyes because I want to bless Him. I want to thank Him. I want to let Him know just how much I love Him. How much I appreciate Him. And since I can’t do that by being perfect since none of us are perfect, then I can proclaim everything I feel in that one holy, miraculous, trustworthy Name, which like His love, never fails.
And so I am reminded today, not to take lightly the power of that Name in our lives, but to realize the effect it has in God’s life as well, and to say it and savor it as many times as I possibly can. And I encourage each of you to do the same as a means of whispering love into Almighty God’s ear. Because our God is not a one-way street, and He will bless the socks off of you every single time you do.
So with great reverence and awe, I say, “Thank you, Jesus, for all you have done for each of us — today and forever!”
Hugs and Happy Weekend!
Julie
ON SALE!
Hey, guys, my Irish love story, A Light in the Window, is once again ON SALE FOR THE LOWEST PRICE EVER AT 99 CENTS, so I’d really appreciate it if you would spread the word about the sale and the video! Both links are below and I THANK YOU!!
VIDEO FOR A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW
LINK TO PURCHASE A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW
