He Knows My Name

My local church encourages all who attend services to wear a name badge.  I love this since in the 15 years I have attended, there are still many whom I have not met.  I enjoy knowing the name which goes with each face.  Check this out from Isaiah 43:1-3a.  God doesn’t need a name tag; He Knows My Name and he knows your name too! 

“But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
² When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.
³ For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” [Isaiah 43:1-3, NIV}

On July 26, 2023, I had major lung surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. I felt like I was walking though the blazing fires noted above in Isaiah 43.

After the surgery it took a month to schedule the definitive tests to learn if there was cancer elsewhere in my body, and during this time I told my closest friends that I felt I could soon hear a doctor say I had less than six months to live!  All of the serious perils mentioned in Isaiah 43 above flooded over me while I awaited the testing needed: “when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, the flames will not set you ablaze!” 

It was other words of The Merton Prayer which comforted me, especially during times when my faith waned and I felt fear: “Even though I may seem lost and in the shadow of death I will not fear, for you are ever with me and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”

Tears of joy filled my eyes last week when my ears heard these words from my doctor: “Mr. Denny, I have nothing for you. The tests confirm you are cancer-free!”  I am now left with two daily disciplines:  first, thanking My Lord God for extended life; and second, asking God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit what it is they wish to accomplish with and through me with each new 24-hour gift of life!

He Knows My Name is worth pondering.  How could it be that the Lord God who created the universe has such a personal relationship with me so that He Knows My Name?  The power of Isaiah 43:3, “I am the Lord your God,” and The Merton Prayer’s opening three words, “My Lord God,” complement each other:  the possessive pronouns clearly mean that God belongs to me and you! 

I need to see name tags before I am confident of many people’s names, but the almighty Yahweh who cast the stars and planets into their orbits actually knows my AND your names, without a name tag!  He Knows My Name should and could bring you and me incredibly wonderful comfort every day.

[NOTE:  If your organization, church, or school would like a workshop/presentation on The Merton Prayer please use the contact tab and let me know!  I can Zoom all over the world and have done 90-minute, 3-hour, 5-hour, weekend, or five-day workshops/retreats.]

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