In this post, I wanted to simply share a short testimony with you guys of what I experienced this week - a living proof of God's reality and work in my life.
On Thanksgiving Eve, I was going to bed and my heart was in distress. Even though I had a great productive day, did everything that I planned, and was expecting a nice holiday the next day, my mood didn't reflect these facts. I was sad and upset with my husband for no reason, wanted to cry, and everything irritated me. The Thanksgiving celebration the following day wasn't bringing me joyful excitement but instead filled my heart with anxiety because of my participation in the service and made me miss my old church and my family.
I think many of us felt moments of sadness and a crushed spirit, and usually, there are valid reasons behind them: tiredness, anxiety, circumstances, or even PMS - anything can influence it. But that evening I was convinced that my bad mood didn't have a specific reason. It just came out of nowhere.
But then I remembered a bible verse and a thought that I was preparing to share with students in my Sunday school class.
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Pet. 5:8)
I wanted to tell the kids that these "lion's" attacks can be subtle and covered by different people or circumstances (and even our own thoughts) but this is exactly what he's trying to do - to disarm and devour us. Suddenly I realized that my weird mood that day was nothing else but an attack from my adversary, and I had to resist it.
The next verse of this letter says, "resist him, firm in your faith" (1 Pet. 1:9). I once wrote a whole post on how to resist the devil and how this firm faith works practically.
But at that moment I felt the desire to simply proclaim the name of Jesus. So in the silence of the night, brushing away tears, I kept repeating in my heart "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!" In my thoughts, I was proclaiming Christ's victory over the devil, his authority over my heart, and His healing for my soul. And all this time in my mind I was repeating this name, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!"
At that moment something supernatural happened - I felt what people experience when they say that the name of Jesus is sweet on their lips. His name in my heart turned into a warm river of grace and peace. It's really hard to find words to describe this feeling, but I experienced the amazing beauty of the spiritual world, His name filled and surrounded me, making my heart shine with peace and joy. I didn't say any special words but simply called His name and felt His closeness to me in a special way that evening. Filling me with His presence, Jesus showed me - He's near.
That night I slept very well, but the next day this amazing grace didn't end. All morning my heart was beating in a special rhythm of joy and love. I admired my family, smiled at friends, enjoyed the atmosphere of celebration and preparation, the atmosphere of unity and family in the church that I sometimes struggle to call my own, and rejoiced during worship time. Jesus' presence covered me as a cloud that Thanksgiving day and my heart was grateful for His closeness, joy, and reality in my life.
As time passed this delight and beauty faded and intertwined with everyday worries, but my heart still remembers this feeling very well, and the name of Christ truly is sweet on my lips. And I really want to share this feeling with you and leave you a reminder!
"everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Rom. 10:13)
In the name of Jesus, there is salvation from eternal punishment, from judgment, from the dangers, from the devil's attacks. Salvation from your sinful self, salvation from the darkness of this world, salvation from everything you're trying to run from.
"The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" (Luke 10:17)
We as Christians have power over demons through the name of Jesus. I believe we can and we should proclaim His name when we face the spiritual world. We have His seal and His mane on us, so the devil doesn't have any authority over us!
"If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." (John 14:14)
This rule has conditions, but think about it, if you ask Jesus for peace, joy, healing, and grace, would He refuse to give it to you?
"But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" (Acts 3:6)
I am not an educated preacher, superspiritual prophet, or a theologist with a degree. And I can't guarantee you that if you start repeating the name of Jesus through tears, your worries will melt away. Basically, I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I want to give you - my testimony, my experience, and the knowledge that the name of our Lord holds the power! And you should call on Him because in Him you can find salvation, healing, and eternal life.
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