Preface
This article aligns with my article submission for the Young Writers Program, managed by Press Services International. This program helps to provide a ready-source of content for the magazine publication Christian Today Australia.
The PSI/Christian Today article – my 36th – was first published Friday 10 June 2022 and is available here.
View the full list of my articles here.
This is the title of a song released by a band called Here Be Lions. The likes of Darlene Zschech helped to propel it to prominence amongst the Christian community in 2021. The first time I heard this song the impact and deep meaning of all the lyrics brought me to my knees.
While I may be privileged not to suffer from mental illness, I have worked with a lot of people who do, and this song really makes my heart bleed for them. Check it out on YouTube:
See, just like the song –
I just want to speak the name of Jesus.
I want to speak it over every heart and every mind.
The name of Jesus is above all things. He belongs on the thrones of our hearts. He calls us to worship God with everything – to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, all our minds and all our souls.
The song starts with a desire. God wants us to desire Him. To set our hearts on Him. Jesus is the key to unlocking every heart and every mind. As we speak Jesus over every heart, allow God to soften your heart and let Jesus enter in.
The mind is a great battlefield too. The name of Jesus however is a powerful tool available to call upon to help us defeat the lies and negative thoughts that we may find ourselves afflicted with. With Jesus’ help – we can not just face the struggles of life, but conquer them. Since Jesus conquered death on the cross, He can conquer anything.
I know there is peace within your presence; I speak Jesus
Jesus is the Prince of Peace. When we invite him into our lives, and His presence fills our homes, we can take comfort that He brings peace into our lives.
When two or three are gathered in the name of Jesus, His presence can be felt. Jesus alone will judge us one day, but even with this fact, His judgement brings peace. Jesus said He didn’t come to condemn the world, but to save the world – He brings us an eternal peace and unity with God.
Jesus is the ultimate peacemaker.
I just want to speak the name of Jesus, until every dark addiction starts to break.
The name of Jesus can break and shake up the control that addiction brings with it. Addiction brings a darkness with it, trapping us and fooling us into thinking we need more of whatever the vice is. But we can call upon Jesus to help us overcome it.
When was the last time you saw a song speak into dark addictions explicitly? I know of people trapped in cycles of negativity and hopelessness – the darkness can be paralysing and stifling – but Jesus can break those vicious cycles!
The thoughts and temptations of wanting to sin – Jesus can really get in the way of them – and help us break those bad habits. Feel the need to turn to drugs or alcohol? Turn to Jesus and call upon His name to break those desires. I have heard the thinking that people turn to those substances to help numb the pain, to help them feel alive or give them the boost they need – but they are only ever temporary, and they come with a cost. Turn instead and speak the name of Jesus – because He can satisfy and give you the same boost without consequence.
Declaring there is hope and there is freedom, I speak Jesus
Jesus is the ultimate source of hope, offering us salvation and freedom from addiction. Jesus is our God of hope. Jesus is our salvation. Jesus came to give life to the dying, and healing to the sick. And not just the physical sicknesses, but the mental health issues even more so – Jesus gives you hope and light at the end of those tunnels.
We may turn to people for help, but Jesus is the ultimate form of help – he cannot let us down. Jesus has the ultimate victory over death and his offer is eternal life.
Jesus is our freedom. When we place our identity in Christ and not in occupations, or hobbies, or other people, there is freedom. It is better to please God rather than man. If we do try to please other fellow brothers or sisters, we will invariably be let down. But God/Jesus cannot let us down, He cannot fail you. Jesus frees us from sin and the penalty of that previous sinful life – we just need to follow Him, obey Him and seek His Kingdom first.
I just want to speak the name of Jesus, over fear and all anxiety
When we speak the name of Jesus, with his authority and conviction, the devil has to obey and flee. All fear, doubt and anxious thought can be calmed and laid to rest at the feet of Jesus.
Jesus offers us His perfect love which drives out all fear. (1 John 4:18). Fear comes with punishment, but that’s part of our previous sinful nature – the penalty of sin is death. But Jesus frees us and saves us from that eternal condemnation – and in offering us eternal salvation, breaks and conquers that primal fear. We don’t want to die; we all want to live; Jesus came to give abundant life so we can live not in fear, but in His victory.
Anxiety is a whole area of mental health – and whilst some anxious thoughts may cross our minds, it is when they take hold and are severe to the extent of being debilitating that we really need to address the root cause of that thought. And Jesus – He sees our hearts and those roots. He can transform your heart to unshackle yourself from those roots and anxiety.
Jesus/God is love. And when we live in unity with Him, we live in love and God lives within them. This is how love perfects us and makes us complete. We can have confidence in Jesus and His name.
To every soul held captive by depression, I speak Jesus
Depression is an increasing mental health issue affecting more and more people, particularly given the events of the last two years. How awesome is it that we have this song that speaks directly against addiction, anxiety and depression?
No matter what affliction there is, the name of Jesus is an antidote like no other! When we set our hearts and minds on Jesus, and allow His way of thinking to become our way of thinking – it disempowers the forces of darkness that feed anxiety and depression.
Jesus is a force of grace and compassion. He has already conquered death on the Cross – and there is nothing we could do to earn or deserve God’s grace. Yet when we accept and let Jesus in, we have His grace and compassion. We don’t have to strive to earn His acceptance – come just as you are – broken and worthless – and let Jesus embrace you and bring you out of your state of depression.
As you reach out to Jesus, you will realise He has been there in your life the whole time, sheltering you and providing for your every need. Don’t let the devil fool you into thinking God is not real, or He’s not there, helping you – call upon the name of Jesus to help dismiss the lies and see His truth.
Your name is power, your name is healing, your name is life
There is power in the name of Jesus! He is the ultimate power that cannot be matched. The name of Jesus carries the power of healing. Prayers of healing have been answered countless times – so many people who were sick have received his healing touch. The disciples were taught to go in the name of Jesus to perform sings and wonders, and to set the captives free. Think of Simon Peter who told the lame man – in the name of Jesus, I command you to get up and walk!
The power of the cross, where Jesus defeated death brings life to all. And not just life so we can survive, but we can thrive and rejoice in the eternal life that Jesus promises. Let us drink living water from his well.
The power of Jesus comes from God but it is also exercised through our weakness. That is why we are taught to come in humility to say before God that we are weak, but He is strong. The power of Jesus aligns with His heavenly will; not our will be done, but God’s.
Break every stronghold, shine through the shadows, burn like a fire
The devil may think he has power, but it pales in comparison to the name of Jesus, which defeats his armies at ease. The gates of hell will not prevail against the army of God who come in the name of Jesus. Strongholds are typically formed over time. They started as smaller things that grew to be a stronghold. Invariably, the presence of a stronghold likely reflects the sin of pride and our human ego at work. The name of Jesus, if used correctly, can help us break down the walls of these strongholds.
Darkness and shadows all have nothing to the light and truth that Jesus brings. The light of Jesus burns like a never-ending fire, inextinguishable and fuel by his eternal grace, mercy and love.
Shout Jesus from the mountains, and Jesus in the streets
No matter where we are, let us bring Jesus with us everywhere. The mountains may offer solitude in contrast to the streets and marketplaces where people gather. No matter where and who you are with – speak the name of Jesus into your life and into the lives of those around you.
Jesus in the darkness over every enemy
Everyone needs Jesus. Even our worst enemies. Further, if the battle is in our minds, thinking of Jesus and pressing into him can be a victory in the name of Jesus.
Jesus for my family
Even as Jesus becomes and is part of our family, our earthly families that we were born into deserve and need Jesus. Jesus loves children – remember how he encouraged the disciples to have faith like the young children. Jesus loves our parents too and wants us to honour them.
I speak the holy name, Jesus
The name of Jesus is unlike any other. Jesus is fully man and fully God. His identity is unique in human history and his name embodies so much.
The heart of Jesus is to bring healing. Given the brokenness of our society, how much more important is it for us to join together and speak Jesus into our everyday moments?
I speak Jesus.