The Name Above All Names

Here’s a little secret: I love kids. And not just my own kids or grandkids. I love them so much that I get mushy around them. I especially love the kids we serve here at Western Carolina Rescue Ministries. I like to make a point to take off my, “Executive Director Hat,” and put on my, “Dad Hat.” I go up to Abba’s House where our young women in addiction recovery live with their babies and take time out to hold and rock the babies.

Those are special times for me, not because kids are cute or cuddly – which they are. It is special because I use those opportunities to pray over every child we serve.

As I hold each of them I am invoking the authority Jesus has given us as their spiritual caretakers and stewards (and especially myself as a spiritual grandfather). I am not praying for their here-and-now lives as much as I am lifting up their futures. I am praying for favor in their lives. I am praying against evil strategies. I am setting the enemy on notice that he has no authority in their lives. I declare that in the name of Jesus, evil attacks are futile.

I also want these children who are being raised by single moms to hear the voice of a godly man in their lives as early as possible. More importantly, I want them to hear the name of Jesus as it is being spoken over them. I pray for them in the name of Jesus because I understand there is power in His mighty name. I pray the name of Jesus over them because we must actively call forth God’s best for them.

When my youngest son was about six months old, he had serious health issues. The doctors did not have a specific diagnosis for his problems. Although we were taking great care of him and feeding him well, all indicators said the opposite. Finally one day at the end of myself I asked the doctors, “Can you not just give this problem a name?” In my young and simple faith, I needed them to name the problem so that I could speak the name of Jesus over that name. Friend, I believed then as I believe now that the scriptures are trustworthy when they tell us that the name of Jesus is above every name (Philippians 2:9).

Doctors were talking about the possibilities of prescribing long-term breathing treatments and limiting all his physical activities. But finally, they named it. They simply called it “failure to thrive.” With that name and that diagnosis, I was finally able to go to battle for my son the only way I knew –worship through prayer – in Jesus’ name. For months we bathed our house in prayer. In our minds and hearts, we placed the name of Jesus over the name of our son’s problems. We knew some people were critical of our faith, but we were undaunted. Our house was full of worship, and we believed God for a miracle. Our faith was all we had.

Sometime later, we were walking in the grocery store and we saw our son’s doctor. He said hello and asked if he could take a look at him. Shortly after looking at our boy, the doctor’s eyes welled up with tears. “I was convinced he wasn’t going to live,” he said. “What did you do?” I told him, “We believed in the name of Jesus.” All I could say then, and all I can say now is that Jesus healed our son.

Friend, we are in an eternal struggle. It is a struggle where the enemy wants to ruin as many lives as he can. That’s why I speak the name of Jesus. God’s love for these little children here at the mission is as strong as his love for my son. So I pray His name. I trust that God’s plan for these children is stronger than any idea the enemy could imagine. I call forth blessing upon them. I speak words of life and hope.

In this world, we will have troubles, struggles, heartbreaks, storms, disappointments, and tragedies. But this I know, only God has the authority to dictate what happens in the lives of believers. 1 John 5:3-5 says this: “…this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Everything we do is in Jesus’ name. We rescue, recover, and restore in Jesus’ name. We have always lifted His name high, and we always will. The name of Jesus is more powerful than every addiction, every hurt, and every heartache. Please continue to join us as we minister to Western North Carolina – always in Jesus’ name.