Hi, I'm Joni Eareckson Tada with a word about the names of Jesus.
And don’t you just love his name? For me there’s something so soothing and comforting about it; something secure and safe about the name of Jesus. It’s why nearly every morning as I'm driving to work, I fill the van with singing and praise. The various girls who drive me to Joni and Friends every day know that when they climb into the white Toyota van with me, we are going to pray and praise and bless and sing and maybe even recite the names of the Savior, like: Jesus, Name above all Names, Beautiful Savior, Glorious Lord, Immanuel, God is With Us, Blessed Redeemer, Living Word. And all the way down the 101 Freeway from my home in Calabasas to Agoura, we turn that white van into a sanctuary. And to me, driving along, that feels so comforting; it makes me feel so safe and secure.
Because for the 20 minutes it takes to drive from home to the Joni and Friends International Disability Center, I’m convinced no harassing spirit, no demon of discouragement or despair, no minion of misery, no scheme of the adversary can touch us. That’s because we are happily filling that van with proclamations and songs of praise about Christ. And nothing drives the devil and his hordes away quicker. Nothing irks the powers of darkness more than to hear you and I lift up the name of Jesus in song and in prayer. They cannot stand to be around God's people when we exalt the name of Christ. In fact, I have on occasion said to my girlfriend who drives me, “Isn’t it nice to know that right now, inside the space of this vehicle, we can know for certain that it is clear of any demonic activity? I mean, isn’t it wonderful to know that the air is clear and we’re safe and protected? No power of darkness can stand to be around us right now ’cause we’re praising the Lord!”
You know, it’s pretty much the same thing when my husband Ken drives me home every evening. We do the same thing. He may not sing, but we pray on and off and ask God to seal everything that was done at Joni and Friends that day. And because we speak adoringly of the name of Jesus, Ken and I have the confidence that, once again, the interior of the white Toyota van is a sanctuary, safe and secure. Psalm 5 says, “But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” Friend, when you lift up the name of Jesus, God's favor surrounds you like a shield, protecting you from any scheme of the adversary. When you exalt the name of Christ, God spreads his protection over you, warding off depression and doubt and fear. Like it says in the Bible, the name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and they are safe.
So friend, whether you drive a white Toyota van or a Dodge ram truck, or a Volkswagen or a Cadillac Escalade – whatever – next time you head down the interstate, put in a praise CD and sing along at the top of your voice, or recite verses, or just pray out loud. You’ll be making your vehicle a sanctuary of praise where no dark spirit can trouble you. And if you need help getting started, I’ve got a wonderful 12-page foldout listing many names of Jesus that I’d like to send you. Just visit my radio page today at jonradio.org and ask for the names of Jesus. Join me in praising his name and God’s favor will surround you just like a shield.
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
© Joni and Friends