This is not unlike when we become a Christian and are adopted into God’s Family. We take on a new name when our identity changes.   We now are ambassadors for Christ carrying His Family name.  Every action and every step should be for  His glory.  It is an honor to uphold the marvelous name of the God who rescued us at such a cost,  I want whatever I do in word or deed to be done in His great name. 

Reflection

Have you forgotten that you are an ambassador for Christ?

Do you desire to do all n His name?

Meditate first thing in the morning on what He has done for you each day for a week.  Journal whether that impacts how you represent His name.  

Prayer

Father, we confess that we forget the power and privilege we have in Your name.  Help us, LORD, to align every word and action in accordance with Your great name.  Amen!

Look at the showdown with Goliath. This giant doesn’t taunt just Israel but God Himself.  The text says in 1 Samuel 17, “when all the men of Israel saw him, the fled and were greatly afraid”. So what was it the pushed David beyond fear? Listen to his own words:

“Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,” 

~ ‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭17:45-46‬ ‭NASB‬‬

We know the end of this story and it doesn’t end well for Goliath.  See the pattern?

Passion for name >>> LORD gives Victory

Looking further into 2 Samuel 7, we see God interacting with David and making His covenant with him.  At the same time, God gently realigns David vision of building the temple.  The end result is a prayer to God and again lifting the name in verse 23:

“And what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, before Your people whom You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from nations and their gods?”

~ ‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭7:23‬ ‭NASB‬‬

David from a place of humility is exulted and just as in the case of his battle with Goliath, victory follows. 

Reflection

What giants are you facing today?

Is your focus on your own strength or upholding the name of the LORD?

Where do you think David’s passion for the name of the LORD came from?

Prayer

Father, for You are mighty and Your name is deserving of all our praise.  Give us an genuine passion for You and for Your name; that every victory will be in Your strength and for Your glory.  In Jesus’ name, Amen!

#truthtalk4life

#knowlivespeaktruth

@brianfriedl

The problem with the self-made man story is that apart from God, the climb to victory is nothing more than a display of selfish ambitions and wickedness that masquerade as a great life.  In my case I was climbing the corporate ladder with my pride around my neck on display for all to see.  Being interviewed by trade magazines and quintupling my salary in 5yrs are only a couple of the accolades I used to justify my greatness. 

At the core of this ambition, I was going to prove to everyone who hurt or bullied me that I was successful.  Afterall success was the best revenge I had been taught.  While at the top of my game, I noticed that I still wasn’t fulfilled. I was still weak and my heart and flesh were failing, though my pocketbook and achievements touted otherwise. 

God opened my eyes and reminded me all the more that He is my strength and portion forever. This truth transformed my desires from making a name for myself, to proclaiming the name of the LORD and all He has done.  My necklace of pride was stripped from my stiff neck and humility began to flourish as I took my rightful place on my knees. 

What we have in Christ is far more precious than anything we can craft in our own strength.  For He is sufficient for all things.  He is our portion forever!

Reflection

What work of your own hands have you been proclaiming in the place of the beautiful work of our Father in heaven?  

Has it really given you the strength and happiness you hoped for or has it left you empty and longing for more?

The next time you’re tempted to be jealous of someone else who seems to have it all by living for themselves remember the Lord is your portion forever. 

The next time you feel the need to brag on yourself and all your achievements brag on your mighty God and all He has done instead. 

Prayer

Father, You alone are our portion forever. The riches of Your love are beyond our comprehension.  Break our pride and fill us with A spirit of humility and contentment in Christ.  Move our hearts to proclaim Your goodness and not accomplishments.  May Your name be made known through our lives as living sacrifices.  In our powerful Savior’s name we pray, Amen!

No weapon formed against us shall prosper for we are His children; joint heirs with Christ.  His Spirit testifies with ours that this is so.  He has apportioned His victory to us.  For He became sin that we might become the righteousness of God.  His love is never failing!

Holy is the name of the LORD, perfect and true.  It is above every name and at it every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is LORD.  He is worthy of our praise.  May our lips be filled with that praise and thanksgiving to His precious name.  For 2017 is His, along with the victory over our enemies!

#truthtalk4life #knowlivespeaktruth

@brianfriedl

The more I walk with Christ the more I see the power in His Name. There been times in my life where all I could utter was “Jesus”. As always, He is faithful and He is been my strong tower that I run into.  Notice that the righteous run INTO it. 

We don’t just join the crowd and watch Jesus, we enter INTO relationship with Him and truly experience His power.  The power to protect us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Praise God that He has given us Jesus who is sufficient in all things.  

Personal Reflection

Are you entering INTO your relationship with God or just watching Him from the outside?   Are you enjoying being in that tower or has your mind been fooled into thinking about what you are missing on the outside?   Know that all you need is found in the Name of the Lord!   Pursue Him with all your heart today!

Prayer Focus

LORD, your name is a strong tower. Teach us that in you we have all we need.  Let us find power in Your Name,O God, to do your will and fulfill the Law of Christ. In His Name we pray, Amen!

@brianfriedl

#powerinhisname #strongtower #truthtalk4life

The Believer

Take refuge in God

Be glad

Sing for joy

Love God’s Name

Exult God

God

Shelter us

Blesses

Surround with favor

As I read this I wondered: We often pray for God to shelter, bless and surround us and others, but do we pray that we/others would take refuge,be glad, sing for joy, love His name, and exult Him?

If we are not participating in the relationship as mentioned above we are missing out on the joy and blessing God has for us. If we would only look to our LORD we would find what we are looking for. 

Personal Reflection

When was the last time you sang to God in worship of Him?  At the top of your lungs or in a quiet voice.  Challenge yourself to make this a daily routine. One of the greatest times of growth in my relationship was my two hour commute to work singing all the way there!

Find a concordance and look up the word Name and start to get a picture of how great the name of God is. 

Prayer Focus

Father we pray for those held captive as a result of their faith.  May their songs of praise be unending. Let their love of your name result in glory to you.  May the freedom they have in Christ overflow all around them.  May your favor and blessing fill them to immeasurable joy. In Jesus Name, Amen!

@brianfriedl

#joy #blessing #truthtalk4life

The Believer

Take refuge in God

Be glad

Sing for joy

Love God’s Name

Exult God

God

Shelter us

Blesses

Surround with favor

As I read this I wondered: We often pray for God to shelter, bless and surround us and others, but do we pray that we/others would take refuge,be glad, sing for joy, love His name, and exult Him?

If we are not participating in the relationship as mentioned above we are missing out on the joy and blessing God has for us. If we would only look to our LORD we would find what we are looking for. 

Personal Reflection

When was the last time you sang to God in worship of Him?  At the top of your lungs or in a quiet voice.  Challenge yourself to make this a daily routine. One of the greatest times of growth in my relationship was my two hour commute to work singing all the way there!

Find a concordance and look up the word Name and start to get a picture of how great the name of God is. 

Prayer Focus

Father we pray for those held captive as a result of their faith.  May their songs of praise be unending. Let their love of your name result in glory to you.  May the freedom they have in Christ overflow all around them.  May your favor and blessing fill them to immeasurable joy. In Jesus Name, Amen!

@brianfriedl

#joy #blessing #truthtalk4life