Daily Journal: 9 May

Made Strong

Days when I read news reports about the chaos and disorder taking place in the world, days when I see sorrow and loss in my work, days when I witness people not coping, relationships in conflict, families struggling… where do I go for comfort and help?

How do I rally myself when what’s expected of me is more than what time, or my own strength and energy allows? How can I rise above and do well when I’m being stretched beyond my limits?

Weeks when I’m barely keeping up, I bring myself into my resting place. In the name of Jesus, is my hiding place, where I am, over and again, made strong.

Acts 3:16 (NIV)

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

If faith in the name of Jesus can heal a lame man and make him strong and cause him to walk, faith in the name of Jesus can strengthen me.

What is it about the name of Jesus?

Matthew 1:21, 23 (MEV)

She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”… and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is interpreted, “God with us.”

Philippians 2:9-11 (NLV)

Because of this, God lifted Jesus high above everything else. He gave Him a name that is greater than any other name. So when the name of Jesus is spoken, everyone in heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow down before Him. And every tongue will say Jesus Christ is Lord. Everyone will give honour to God the Father.

Psalm 144:1-2 (NLV)

Praise and thanks be to the Lord, my rock. He makes my hands ready for war, and my fingers for battle. He is my loving-kindness and my walls of strength, my strong place and the One Who sets me free, my safe-covering and the One in Whom I trust. He brings my people under my rule.

I remember and am comforted by Jesus' name and His almighty presence in my life. I learn to walk in Him, and stand in Him, and speak in His name, and I am able to laugh because His joy fills me. I don’t have to strive. I don’t have to rush. The LORD, He is God and I am His. He equips me and makes the way ahead for me. I am never abandoned. I am owned and cherished. I am upheld by His mighty right hand.

I speak this out loud to remind myself in whose hand I am held.

Colossians 3:17 (NLT)

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.