Have you ever been struck with fear, anxiety, or the need to control everything? Call on the name of the Lord. His power is not just around us but WITHIN US. How can we even grasp that?! Read along with Elle Limebear as God’s goodness in unraveled through all our feelings and in all situations. Provident
Day 1
Scriptures: 1 John 5:14-15, Mark 11:24
‘I know Your silence is not Your absence’
1 John 5:14-15 – “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”
We’ve all got those people in our lives where we can totally let our guard down, be completely ourselves, chat chat chat, but then be silent and the silence isn’t even ‘awkward silence’. We’re just comfortable in each other’s company not talking. I love those friendships.
Sometimes I think our relationship with Jesus can be similar. Some days I chat chat chat, let it all out, telling Him all my thoughts and questions and He’s also more vocal and I can hear His voice loud.
Then other times I might not hear much but I know He’s there. I know this can be disheartening at times when we want an answer, clarification, or purely for Him to speak but I know He’s listening. I know He hears every single thing I say and think. I know He’s not going to ‘peace out’ because I’m talking too much or too little. He doesn’t get bored or move on to a more interesting ‘have it all together’ person, or look for ways to get out of the conversation. (Don’t say you haven’t done the same to someone.)
It may seem like silence but His presence doesn’t disappear. Like it says in 1 John – We can take comfort and be confident in that silence. He will speak at the right time. We don’t have to get our knickers in a twist worrying if He’s there anymore. He is and will always be there. Keep speaking and bringing Him all you are, all your thoughts, worries, dreams, questions, agitations, gratitude, admiration, problems, prayer requests, and stories. He wants to hear it all.
Mark 11:24
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I thank you for today. Thank you that you never leave me. That you’re always close even when I can’t feel you. Please forgive me for the times I’ve doubted your presence. Remind me in times of doubt or confusion that you’re listening. I will have confidence in You and the timing of when you speak. Amen.
Day 2
Scriptures: Lamentations 3:55-57, Psalms 145:18, John 14:6
‘I will call on Your name.’
Lamentations 3:55-57 – “I called on your name, Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: ‘Do not close Your ears to my cry for relief.’ You came near when I called you, and you said, ‘Do not fear.’”
In times of trouble and panic, Who you gonna call? “Ghostbusters!”
Probably not. But the page on the contacts app where it says ‘Favorites’ are my go-to people. Easy to get hold of, they know me, they wouldn’t be phased about anything, they would drop everything if I really needed them. Those are my people.
We may not have God’s digits, we may not be able to FaceTime Him.
Anyway, we may not be able to send him emojis or 5-minute voice memos, BUT we do have a direct line to Him, a hotline, and it’s called PRAYER.
This sort of communication isn’t where you have to put your pennies in the phone box. You don’t have to check the time difference to not wake Him up. He’s not taking holiday leave. He doesn’t switch to airplane mode at night.
Prayer is open and available 24 hours, 7 days a week, midnight, morning, breakfast time, afternoon coffee time, sunset, late at night. Through Jesus, we can speak to God and not just for an emergency but ALL.THE.TIME. And we get the privilege of this because we are His children.
Make use of this hotline, take advantage of being in two-way communication with the creator of the universe, both speaking to God in prayer and listening to His words. How special.
Psalm 145:18 – “The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”
Isn’t that just amazing?! In times of trouble, fear, panic, worry, the need for direction, or even joy and delight, we can speak to Him and pray to Him. We can’t forget that. Communication is vital in relationships and especially with God.
For me there have been many times where I have been stifled by fear, many times at night not feeling I can even move. In these moments I know that only one thing can shift the atmosphere, can shift my perspective, can shake me out and that is calling on the name of Jesus. It’s all I can say sometimes. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.
I know that simply saying and calling on His name changes everything.
I love the song “Tremble” where the lyrics are “Jesus, Jesus, you make the darkness tremble, Jesus, Jesus, you silence fear.” It’s so true. Sing it over yourself.
I don’t have to say an elaborate, long-winded monologue to get everything across. In those moments, I know that just saying His name is enough. His name is powerful, beautiful, name above all names, strong and mighty.
John 14:6 NIV – “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
So today
Call on the name of Jesus because he hears you.
Call on the name of Jesus because he is near.
Call on the name of Jesus because he is the comforter.
Call on the name of Jesus because he is bigger than all your fears.
Amen.
Day 3
Scriptures: 1 John 4:4, Ephesians 1:18-21, Romans 8:26, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Philippians 2:9-10, Matthew 11:28, Psalms 37:7
“Your love breaks like the light of day, Your presence here like a mighty wave.”
1 John 4:4 NIV – “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
I love this verse. I’ve grown up with my mum declaring this over our lives as kids and still as adults. The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. Did you hear that? The one who is in you, the Holy Spirit that is alive in you, is greater, more powerful than anything that is in the world.
Here’s some more truth if it’s not sinking in yet:
Ephesians 1:18-21 NIV – “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.”
We have the same power that raised Jesus up from the grave.
We have the authority to speak out against the darkness, fear, sickness, death.
It’s Him in us who makes us strong.
It’s Him in us who makes us brave.
It’s Him in us who gives us confidence.
It’s Him in us who gives us eyes to see a hopeful future.
It’s Him in us who allows us to not worry.
It’s Him in us who gives us the tools to fight battles bigger than ourselves.
It’s Him in us who helps us to overcome darkness.
It’s Him in us who gives us joy, even in mourning.
So when you feel fearful, in panic, overcome by darkness, know that it’s Him in us who can tackle and overcome all things, not by our strength but His strength in us.
Romans 8:26 TPT – “And in a similar way, the Holy Spirit takes hold of us in our human frailty to empower us in our weakness. For example, at times we don’t even know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words.”
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 TPT – “But he answered me, ‘My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.’ So I will celebrate my weaknesses, for when I’m weak I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ living in me. So I’m not defeated by my weakness, but delighted! For when I feel my weakness and endure mistreatment—when I’m surrounded with troubles on every side and face persecution because of my love for Christ—I am made yet stronger. For my weakness becomes a portal to God’s power.”
WHAM BAM. Now isn’t that incredible!!
If you take just one thing from this devotional it would be: Call on the name of Jesus. It’s more powerful than you think.
Lord Jesus, I thank you for this truth, I thank you that you’re listening, that you’re closer than I know. Thank you that I can talk to you at any time of the day.
Your Holy Spirit that lives in me is my greatest weapon. With your strength, I can overcome anything. Amen.
Philippians 2:9-10 NIV – “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, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”
Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Psalms 37:7 NIV – “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”