When does God become more than a name?
A name we call when we want something…A name we speak in a prayer…A name we sing on Sunday?
When you speak the name of God, do you feel His presence? Do you give Him the glory and praise? Do you acknowledge His grace and mercy? Are you filled with His love? Are you humbled by His power? Are you WILLING to listen to what He speaks to your heart?
Or has it become just another word that ritually slips off of your tongue?
Everyone who knows me knows how very important the relationships are in my life. When I think of others, I am filled with many emotions…joy for the wonderful memories, gratitude for all they teach me, blessed for their presence in my life. And so I ask myself where does my relationship with God stand? Where is that intimacy? What emotions come from even a whisper of His name?
I can’t count the many times I spoke to God with a heart full of distractions or desires that are not from Him. How many times have I doubted or limited His power and love? I am so blessed to be a part of the World Race and the team that is quickly becoming family. I have been asked, why this program? Why missions? And sometimes I ask myself, Why me?
And my answer, because God is more than a name! It is time to put complete trust in Him and to live for Him…the only One in which joy and hope is found, whose love is abundant, and whose grace and mercy is so graciously given. It is time to put faith into action. So I stand here, working on removing the box I have put God into, so that His love and power can be felt, be seen, and be praised in all actions….even by just the gentle whisper of His name.
Colossians 3:16-17
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
