when i was a kid, i was fortunate to have my grandparents live nearby. my mother's mother actually went to Heaven when i was 10 years old or so, but my grandpa remarried a couple years later and we quickly grew to love our Grandma Mae. Grandma Mae was a spritely firecracker of a gal. she played the piano with passion! and she LOVED Jesus!! my cousin, Shelly, and i used to really get in trouble when we'd all pray together as a family. you see, we'd all get in a big circle and hold hands, then everyone would pray as they felt led. this went on for a while sometimes, and after EVERY prayer, or i should say during, Grandma Mae would squeeze the hands she was holding and say, passionately, 'Thank You Jesus!!' or 'in the name of Jesus'. this was new to us and Shelly and i thought this was pretty comical, hence the giggling, hence the getting in trouble.
i was reminded of this the other day on a plane. when our aircraft had come to a complete stop and the seatbelt light had been turned off, the gal i was seated next to got a phone call. as she spoke with the person on the other end, she said...'in the name of Jesus we pray for complete healing'. i thought of course, that's what Grandma Mae would've said. and i began to meditate on what that really means. clearly as an 11 or 12 year old, i didn't fully understand. but now, as a 'grown-up' , although i don't always feel so grown-up, with kids of my own, i get it. i get it, i get it.
the Bible says in Philippians 2 that...
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, to the glory of God the Father.
i was reminded of this the other day on a plane. when our aircraft had come to a complete stop and the seatbelt light had been turned off, the gal i was seated next to got a phone call. as she spoke with the person on the other end, she said...'in the name of Jesus we pray for complete healing'. i thought of course, that's what Grandma Mae would've said. and i began to meditate on what that really means. clearly as an 11 or 12 year old, i didn't fully understand. but now, as a 'grown-up' , although i don't always feel so grown-up, with kids of my own, i get it. i get it, i get it.
the Bible says in Philippians 2 that...
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, to the glory of God the Father.
THAT is the name we pray in!!! there is complete power in that name!! if we pray by ANY other name it's pointless!! and when we DO pray all in the Name of Jesus, he hears, he knows, he heals, he protects...
i'm so very grateful for the example that Grandma Mae set for me, even if i did giggle at the passionate way she demonstrated it. she is reaping a reward beyond measure in Heaven today for her faithful example. i hope that my kids and grandkids will learn from the sweet and passionate example of my mom, their grandma, and hopefully their mom too :) and they'll grow old teaching their children the importance of Jesus' name. Acts 4:12 says...
'Salvation is found in no one else, for there is NO OTHER NAME under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
i pray, in the name of Jesus, today on Christmas eve, that eyes would be opened and hearts would be softened to the power of the name of Jesus!
merry CHRISTmas!!
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