Give Him the Name Jesus

Luke 1:26-33

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

²⁶In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. ²⁸The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

²⁹Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. ³¹You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. ³²He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

Other words that come to mind when I hear the name Jesus include Father, Brother, Savior, perfect, Holy, pure, true. I am in a state of excitement, waiting and watching for the changes He is making in me at this very moment. I've never felt this excitement manifest itself physcially before - my heart literally feels like it is going to explode out of my chest. It's a little uncomfortable, and Satan in sneaking in, trying to plant seeds of fear in me that it might really be a physical ailment. But I really think that God has kept this going for almost 24 hours now, because every time I think about it, I think about Him. It's a constant reminder that He is with me, right here, right now. It's almost as if He's pinching my heart to keep me awake to Him!

I would have been literally awestruck to have received the news given to Mary. I can't even imagine the feelings of fear, excitement, joy, and love she must have felt at that time.

Heavenly Father, I can't imagine that you would include someone such as me in Your plans and Your perfect will. I can only wait and watch in wonder as Your will for me unfolds. I ask You to open my mind and heart to Your movement in me. Banish my fears, and continue this feeling of excitement You have given me these last few days, as You mold my heart and my earthly life to reflect Your love for each and every one of us.