Two Syllables That Will Change Your Life!
A Powerful Lesson at 35,000 Feet
It seems impossible that two syllables will change your life, right? I mean, come on! Well, I had a really scary experience that helped to bring Romans 10:13 to life: For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. I learned a powerful lesson at 35,000 feet.
I have been doing quite a bit of traveling this year. On a recent flight, I was reading a leadership book that included a chapter on the benefits of meditation.
It was tempting to skip over the chapter for multiple reasons, but here are the top three reasons (excuses, really):
- Truth be told, I am not the type of person that can easily just “clear my mind.” I can barely keep up with my own thoughts, they are running at a rapid pace and don’t even seem to stop when I am asleep.
- I don’t sit still…ever. Generally speaking, I am in constant motion. The idea of sitting still and focusing on my breathing makes me chuckle…a lot.
- My preference for my “quiet time” is to be in prayer. I want to release my thoughts, desires, dreams, and fears directly to God. It is possible that some forms of meditation lead one into seek other sources (ie. the universe, self, etc.) for comfort, release, or power, and I have found that a bit dangerous.
However, for whatever reason, I decided to read the chapter, each and every word of it. It described several types of meditation and made suggestions for “beginners.” One such suggestions was, rather than worrying about (or feeling uncomfortable about!) specific chants or mantras, one can simply choose any two-syllable word to repeat. The example given was “nature.”
NA-TURE.
It was actually a really good example for me to comprehend, because I am a big fan of nature and I also find that being surrounded by nature helps me to relax my ever-moving brain and body. Ultimately, I was glad I read the chapter and moved on to the next one.
Later in the flight, we experienced some turbulence. The pilot asked the flight attendants to be seated, warning that we were going to experience even more extreme turbulence. Now, I love to fly and generally feel quite safe on a plane. But I am not a fan of roller coasters. Well, that turbulence was no joke and resembled several terrifying roller coaster memories from my childhood visits to Six Flags. Having my love of flying tainted by my extreme dislike of roller coasters was not ideal.
A cold sweat broke out over my body as I was jolted from side to side.
Before you consider me wimpy, let me tell you that the grown man sitting next to me squealed and accidentally grabbed my hand as he braced for one of our jolts. This was serious stuff.
So, I started to pray.
Please God, make it stop. Be with my family if something happens to me. Please make it stop. I even prayed for God to provide a new wife and mother for my husband and son. (What!?) Yeh, it was bad.
Then I remembered that chapter on meditation. How could I use what I learned to make it through this? What two-syllable word could I meditate on? “Nature” wasn’t going to work…since nature (in the form of dark clouds and crazy wind!) was the cause of my strife. Then it came to me! Jesus.
Je-sus.
The best two-syllable word ever!
So, I allowed the name of Je-sus to roll in my head over and over and over. As I did, all those tense muscles in my body released. My hands (and white knuckles!) even let go of the armrests. (I am sure my neighbor was glad he could have it to himself) Je-sus. Je-sus. Even while my head was being whipped from side to side and my stomach was jolted up and down, I smiled. Je-sus.
Jeremiah 10:6 There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might.
There is power in the name of Jesus!
Well, then, of course, that song came rolling into my head. “There is power in the name of Jesus…to break every chain, break every chain, break every chain.”
What had been a truly scary experience became EXHILARATING!!
My fear was amazingly removed. My prayers went from begging for help and provision to praising God for His power. . and that power came simply through the name of Jesus.
We are taught there is power in the name of Jesus. Honestly, do we really believe that to be true?
Gaining knowledge is different from truly KNOWING something in your heart.
This experience hammered that truth into my head and heart in a most beautiful way!
Romans 10:13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
That euphoria didn’t leave me, either. We made it to our destination (whew!) and I walked off that plane with a hop in my step and a divine smile on my face. That power and peace provided by our Savior stayed with me and continued to help me face other difficulties presented to me on that trip.
Friends, if you have yet to call on the name of Jesus to guide and protect you, to SAVE you, I encourage you to try it. What do you have to lose?
Two syllables. Je-sus.
Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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