Insert Your Name Here

“But you are my witnesses, O Israel!” says the LORD.
“And you are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me,
and understand that I alone am God.
There is no other God; there never has been and never will be.”
Isaiah 43:10 NLT
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Dale Carnegie once said, “Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” I didn’t believe it the first time I read it, but after thinking about it more I realized that it’s true. When someone remembers my name after meeting me only once, I instantly become more emotionally invested in the conversation than I would otherwise. It gives me the feeling that the person talking to me really knows me and is speaking to me about something that matters specifically to me.

That same philosophy made a HUGE impact on me in my Bible reading this week. Because I believe – really, truly believe – that God gave us the words in the Bible, I read it. Daily. And when I sit down to read my Bible each day, I treat that time as though I am sitting at my kitchen table having coffee with God and listening to his wisdom for my life that day. I listen as though he is speaking each word to me, Emily.

It sounded like this:

“‘But you are my witness, O Emily!’ says the LORD. ‘And you, Emily, are my servant. You, Emily, have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God; there never has been and never will be.'”

I, Emily, am his witness. I, Emily, am his servant. I, Emily, have been chosen. Hearing the Creator of the Universe speak to me with my own name floods my soul with confidence like none other. It’s an extremely intimate experience.

And I’m not the only one he speaks these words to. It was originally written to an entire group of people – his people – and today it is still written for his people. You. If you are reading this right now, scroll back up to the original passage at the top of this page and read it with YOUR name in it. Hear God talk to YOU with the sweet sound of YOUR name.

We are so much more than a number to him. He knows our names. He knows our every thought. He knows how many hairs are on each of our heads. And he speaks to us every moment of every day. Take a moment to listen today.

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Dear Lord, every time I pause and reflect on the fact that you knew me and considered me even thousands of years ago as you created the words in your book, my heart beats faster. You knew even then that I am your witness, your servant and your chosen one. Thank you for letting me see these things and believe them. Thank you for taking the time to have coffee with me. Amen.