Speak the Name of Jesus
The other day, I was rocking my three-month-old daughter, feeding her as a soft worship song played in the background. The lyrics repeated, “I just want to speak the name of Jesus…” and as I whispered His name, my eyes filled with tears. There was something so sacred about that moment — the stillness, the sweetness, and the power of His name filling the room.
I thought about how easy it is to forget that the name of Jesus carries authority, healing, and peace. Scripture tells us, “Therefore 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” (Philippians 2:9-10). That name is not just for Sunday mornings — it’s for the hospital rooms, the dinner table arguments, the broken homes, and the hurting hearts.
So I began speaking His name — over cancer, over divorce, over addiction, over SNAP benefits being withheld, over the vitriol and division in our country, and over every weary soul feeling unseen. Because when we speak His name, Heaven listens.
He Is Near to the Brokenhearted
The Bible reminds us in Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” That truth isn’t for a select few — it’s for all of us. Our country is heavy with grief, conflict, and fear. We see families struggling to make ends meet, children going hungry, communities divided by politics, and people shouting over each other instead of standing beside one another.
But maybe — just maybe — this is the moment where the church can rise, not with more noise, but with compassion. Jesus didn’t shy away from the broken; He drew near to them. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, and loved without condition.
Banding Together in His Name
In a time when everything feels polarized, unity feels like a miracle — and maybe it is. But miracles happen when we invite Jesus into the middle of it all.
When we band together in His name, we can turn chaos into compassion. We can fill food pantries, comfort the lonely, show up for single parents, and pray for our leaders — even the ones we don’t agree with. Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).
That verse isn’t a suggestion; it’s a call to action. When we serve “the least of these,” we aren’t just helping people — we are honoring Christ Himself.
Choosing Jesus Over Outrage
I’ll be honest — I’ve been guilty of scrolling social media, getting riled up by the news, and letting frustration shape my words. But lately, I’ve felt the Lord asking me to trade reaction for reverence. To speak His name instead of my opinion. To pause before posting and pray instead.
Because outrage might stir people for a moment, but only Jesus can heal a nation.
When we speak His name over our families, our schools, our communities, and even over those who oppose us — we release Heaven’s power into the atmosphere. It’s simple, but it’s not small. His name still changes everything.
A Prayer
Jesus, we speak Your name over our nation — over the hungry, the weary, the sick, and the brokenhearted.
We speak Your name over division, anger, and fear.
We speak Your name over every home, every hospital, every classroom, and every heart that feels forgotten.
Bring unity where there’s discord, peace where there’s pain, and hope where there’s despair.
Remind us that Your love is stronger than any headline, and Your kingdom cannot be shaken.
In Your holy name, we pray — amen.