When I was in Cambodia I started off most days in the presence of the Holy Spirit. My prayer was always “Lord speak to me so loudly that I know that it’s you”. Well, not to my surprise, HE SHOWED UP! At some point during the day I would hear a tender whisper that said, “Karlie”. I would always look around the room to see who was talking to me and the majority of the time I would be alone, no one in sight.
I have heard Him speak to me audibly before but this time it was different. This time he was saying MY NAME. How cool is that?! My whole life He has gently and tenderly been calling my name, doing everything to get my attention but I keep drowning Him out with my own noise.
It’s like if you are in the car road tripping with friends, windows rolled down and you’re blasting your favorite song. When you are singing at the top of your lungs and someone in the back seat whispers… YOU AREN’T GOING TO HEAR THEM. It’s the same concept with God. If we crowd our heads with lies about ourselves, other people’s opinions, or the chaos of life, it is no wonder we can’t hear God. We have all of these other things turned up.
Okay, okay, so He said your name Karlie. So what?
Well, have you ever worked some where and had to wear a name tag? Say you worked at In-N-Out and you put your little name tag on everyday before going out and taking orders. How many of those customers would actually address you by your name? Probably none of them, which is fine, they don’t know you! But lets say your best friend comes into the store. Are they just going to start telling you their order and act like they don’t even know you? Of course not! They will probably say something like “hey _____ (fill in your name). How are you doing?”
You see, there is something inside all of us that loves being called by name. It makes us feel seen, valued and important. To call someone by their name means, hey, I acknowledge you. If you were to put a group of strangers in front of me and told me to tell you their names I can almost guarantee you I will get all of them wrong. That doesn’t make me a bad person, I just don’t know them! So when God called me by name He was essentially saying Karlie, I see you. I value you. You are important to me. I know you. Goodness if that doesn’t give you chills I don’t know what will. The God of the universe who brings the stars out every night and the sun every morning knows me. In Isaiah 43:1 it says, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”
I would love to challenge y’all in something. Next time you are in public and see someone wearing a name tag, simply call them by their name, acknowledge them. It doesn’t have to be weird, just a simple, “Thank you Mark” or “Thank you Elizabeth”. Whoever it may be I am sure it will make their day. I know it always made my day when God whispered my name.
