Quiet Moments With God -- Whisper His Name

Recently in a devotional I read, the author talked about whispering God's name. I remembered a time, as a young woman, when I was in the midst of darkness and all I could do was say His name. I knew very little about Jesus, but He carried me through days of fear and heartache. I didn't know Him as Savior, but I knew His name was powerful and healing.

I was going through one of the toughest times of my life. I'd recently lost a baby, my father had died from cancer, a dear friend had also succumbed to cancer and I was in the midst of a divorce. I had no strength for battles. But I found myself in the midst of one. I needed a job badly and the place that hired me was in the middle of a strike. Each day I had to cross a picket line going in to work and going out.

That first week Kathy, a friend of mine, stopped to visit me. Kathy told me she was a new believer. To be truthful, I didn't understand and didn't really care. I had "more important things to think about" or so I thought. That evening before Kathy left my house she said something that stuck with me. She said, "I just want to tell you one thing. Jesus loves you."

I didn't know Jesus, but I needed to be loved and I needed someone to stand with me. Every day when I crossed that picket line people hurled obscenities at me, but I repeated over and over, "Jesus loves me. Jesus loves me." Saying the words gave me strength and shut out the foul words and accusations. The Lord loves to hear His name and He knew I needed to hear it too.

My life was in ruins and each day I felt as if I were wading through a river of sorrows. But through my tears I'd whisper, Jesus loves me and I'd go on. He carried me. He lifted me up. And then one day I heard a television minister speak of Jesus. He shared the gospel and I listened. And then I knelt in front of the television and gave my heart to Christ. He lifted me up from a pit of despair and I said His name again and again. His name--His beautiful name. To this day, when I say the name of Jesus it soothes my heart.

Say His name -- He hears and I know He smiles.

Grace and peace to you from God.

Bonnie