He Knows Your Name

This morning I read a portion of the small but powerful book, 'He Knows My Name' by Tommy Walker to our pastors, as we gathered for prayer. As many of you know, I have been honored to host a pastor's prayer meeting the first Tuesday of each month at LFC and have done so for the past 6 or 7 years. I thought it appropriate since Tommy is coming to Lompoc and his heart is really to be a blessing to our community, the local churches here and hopefully see some nonbelievers open their lives to Jesus. Allow me to share a few portions from Tommy's book here and also add some of my thoughts as well.
He Comforts Me

Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4

'This earthly Christian life can seem to be never ending struggle of running to the crumbling comforts of this world and then back to the rock-solid, never ending comfort or our eternal God.' Tommy shares the story of singing at his cousins funeral. She was about his age and had two young children of her own. Though Tommy's family 'prayed and prayed she was never healed.' To this day, Walker says: 'I don't know why God heals some and doesn't heal others. But one thing I do know; He's always available to bring comfort! Jesus gave His followers the promise that the Comforter - the Holy Spirit - would be with us forever. (John 14:16)
Jesus is releasing and encouraging us to be joyful even when we find ourselves in the midst of life's challenges, struggles and tragedies.
How people deal with their lives and the day to day struggles they face is beyond understanding - how can they do this on their own strength? Psalm 46:1 reminds us that God is with us and available. Today's bible reading in Psalm 138 reminds us of a God who is there and cares for us more than we know.
6/ Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar. 7/ Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me. 8/ The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands. (NIV)

Think about our God - though He is high, He looks on us that are low.
Though we are in the midst of trouble - He preserves our lives.

These are amazing truths about our God that while even though simple, we must not loose sight of. Jesus, as Walker points out, told us that this world would have trouble in it. But that Jesus promises to be with us. It is the basis for his song: He Knows My Name. I know you have sung it as I have, but today I read the words afresh and shared them with our pastors as we began to call upon God in prayer. May you read them as well and consider a God who knows you right in this moment and hears you and can handle your fears, tears, obstacles and joys.
(He Knows My Name)
I have a makerHe formed my heart

Before even time beganMy life was in his hand

Chorus

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call
I have a FatherHe calls me his own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go
(Tommy Walker)
Though we may not totally grasp the depth of meaning in regards to Jesus always being with us, what we can know is that Jesus is releasing and encouraging us to be joyful in the midst of life's challenges, struggles and tragedies. Walker says that; 'during these times, we can still, by His grace and indwelling Holy Spirit, be cheerful - even to the point of rejoicing! This is important in the way we express our faith, and it also helps defeat the strategies of our enemy (the devil), our weak flesh and the pull toward discouragement and fear. Certainly there are times to mourn,. Jesus not only acknowledges those times when He says, "Blessed are those who mourn" but He also instructs us to empathize with others - to 'mourn with those who mourn (Rom. 12:15). IN this way, we comfort others as we ourselves have been comforted. Some times the greatest comfort comes in knowing this world is not the end of the line for us.' May the God of Comfort touch your life today - right now and may you rejoice because the Lord is with you, He knows your name and He'll never leave you - no matter where you go.