Faith Together: God Calls Us By Name
"Don't fear for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine." Isaiah 43:1
Our names have meaning. How did you get your name? My daughter's names have special meaning to me. Hannah Lynn is named for my grandmother and my middle name. Kerry Elizabeth is named after a favorite book and my mother.
Our names give us identity and may even say something about who we are. And God knows our name. He claims us as his. We are not one of many to God. We are personal to him. Zephaniah 3:17 even says he rejoices over us with singing.
A speaker at a recent webinar talked about parenting in an anxious world. She pointed out In the midst of anxiety we need support, structure, and shepherding. Where do we get these things? We can intentionally build a support group (such as our family pods). We can use structure in such things as our Faith Together at Home. We gain shepherding through relationships with friends either in or outside of the church. Where else can we turn?
Consider these verses.
Support -
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; Psalms 55:22
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalms 121:2
Structure -
You hem me in behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me. Psalms 139:5
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind Romans 12:2
Shepherding -
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. Psalms 23: 1-3
Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12: 32
In the midst of the anxiety we may feel about the pandemic, school issues, politics, tragedies we see in the world, God walks with us and can be trusted. He provides our support, our structure, our shepherding. And it is not just generic. He knows what we and our families need. He knows us by name. He knows where we've been and where we are going. And he is calling us.
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
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