His Name, His Blessing

"We bless you in the name of the LORD!” Psalm 129:8

The name of God is brimming over with so much blessing, you can trust it to even spill over on the people around you. 

Everyone speaks blessing, but you have an opportunity to bless people in Jesus' name.
We all speak blessing into people's lives--when they go on a trip, on their birthday or special occasion, or even when they sneeze. When you speak blessing into people's lives, consider adding the 3 words to your blessing, in Jesus' name. 

When you speak a blessing in Jesus' name, you are supernaturally empowering your words and increasing your impact. 

You can speak blessing in Jesus' name when you pray, as well as when you speak with friends and family.

Start today. In Jesus' name.

Father God, in Jesus' name I speak blessing over my family and friends. (Be specific.)
[Later today speak blessing directly in Jesus' name when you’re with family or friends.]


YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

Help!

"Our help is in the name of the LORD." Psalm 124:8

Help! is probably the most frequent prayer ever prayed. It's also one of the most effective.

Your prayers don't need to be fancy nor lengthy. Sometimes your shortest prayers are your best prayers, particularly when you cry for help in Jesus' name. 

Keep in mind, your help is not just in the Lord; it's in the name of the Lord.

When you're in trouble and you don't know where to turn, cry for help in Jesus' name. 
When you're all alone and no one on earth knows what you're going through, cry for help in Jesus' name. 

When you feel abandoned and forsaken, cry for help in Jesus' name. 

The name of the Lord guarantees you help when you need it most. 

Father God, your name is my help. I receive from you now my help in Jesus name.

YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

God’s Name At Night

"I remember your name in the night, O LORD." Psalm 119:55

There are significant benefits to declaring God's name at any time, but there are distinct advantages when you declare God's name at night.

At night you lock the doors, turn on a nightlight, and grab a blanket. You want security, comfort and warmth at night.

More than referring to the twelve hours after the sun goes down, night represents the unknown, danger, and threats. Night represents fear, intimidation, and impending crisis. 
At night it's easy to be confused, lose your bearings, or get lost. Noises seem louder, problems seem bigger, threats seem more urgent.

For all these reasons, there is nothing you need more at night than the name.

Don't forget God's name at night.

Whatever your night is, use God's name and it will change everything.

Father God, in my night I remember your name. Your name enlightens my confusion, it dispels my fears, and shrinks my threatening circumstances in Jesus name.

YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

Come In The Name, Carry The Blessing

"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!" Psalm 118:26 

Some people seem to carry the blessing of God with them. No matter where they are, no matter what they're doing, they bring the blessing of God into every situation. 

You can be one of them. Just carry the name of God with you when you come into any new situation, and you will carry the blessing.

One of the greatest blessings the Bible promises is to those who come in the name of the Lord. When you come in God's name, you carry his blessing. Everywhere. Every time. No matter what you walk into, you bring the blessing of God with you. 

God wants you to know that his name is bigger than your circumstances, and his blessing transcends circumstances. 

Don't allow your circumstances to dictate your blessing. It's not your circumstances that control your blessing, it's God's name. 

Choose to carry God's name today, and carry his blessing into whatever lies in front of you. 

Father God, I loudly declare, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! I declare your name in front of me, over me, under me, behind me, within me. I carry your name and I carry your blessing. 

YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

Breakthrough In The Name

"All nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!" Psalm 118:10

When you feel surrounded on all sides by threats and adversaries, when an escape from your troubles seems humanly impossible, just remember the name!

The name of God is the key that will open doors nothing else can open.

The name of God had authority over enemies whom you could never defeat on your own.

The name of God is able to give you breakthrough when all else fails.

Right now identify your enemy. Name it. Then come against it in the name of the Lord. Take dominion in Jesus' name. Exercise your authority in Jesus' name. Cut them off in Jesus' name.

Father God, I stand under the authority and in the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. I take my place and declare against those adversaries that surround me, in the name of the Lord I cut you off now and forever. I am free from you now in Jesus' name.

YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

Quit Trying, Start Calling

"I called on the name of the LORD: 'O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!'” Psalm 116:4

When you recognize a bondage, an addiction, an evil stronghold in your soul--and we all have them--it is time to call on the name of the Lord.

When you feel stuck in a moral rut, unable to climb out, call on the name. 

Don't listen to the lies: "there's no help; there's no hope; you will never break out of this sin cycle." Lies. They are all lies. 

And don't try to break the sin cycle on your own. If you could do it yourself, you would have done it already. And you wouldn't need the name.

Calling on the name is not trying harder. It's actually the opposite.

God's name is Deliverer, and he specializes in breaking sin patterns and setting people free.

Quit trying and start calling.

Father God, I admit that I am stuck in a sin cycle. Today I repent of relying on my self efforts. Instead I call on your name. Deliver my soul now in Jesus name and break this evil bondage once and for all.

YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

Biggest Decision Ever

"Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory." Psalm 115:1

The biggest decision you will ever make is whose name gets the glory.

You were born with an internal magnet that attracts glory. Glory, credit, applause, and honor are like iron shavings to the magnet. It's hardwired inside each of us. No exceptions. Craving credit is the default setting of your soul. Mine too.

Nothing will hinder your capacity like stealing God's glory.

In order to break the cycle, it requires you to make a radical choice. It's the same radical choice the Psalmist made. 

It was such a radical choice that defied such a deep seated instinct that he actually had to declare it twice--Not to us, O Lord, not to us! 

I refuse to take the glory. I'm not even willing to share some of the glory--not even a little. 

Though I used to be addicted to it, the credit for the favor and blessing in my life go exclusively to you, O Lord, and to you alone. 

There is no limit to what God can do through you as long as you give him all the glory.

Father God, today I settle this matter once and for all. I refuse to take credit for your blessings in my life--not even a little. Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory.

YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

His Inexhaustible Name

"...that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise." Psalm 106:47

When God's name becomes as significant to you as it is in reality, his name will become your praise.

Life is full of things with which we become overly impressed. We're enamored with our new car, and then it breaks down. We're enthralled with our new TV, until it's too small. We're excited about our new laptop, but soon it's too slow. Virtually everything in our world comes with an expiration date.

But not God's name. 

Praise the Lord! It's impossible to be overly impressed with God's name. 

God's name will never lose its appeal. It will never break down, seem too small, or respond too slowly. You'll never need to trade it in for a newer model. God's name has no expiration date.

The more you give thanks to his name, the more you will glory in his praise.

Father God, your name is my glory. My praise. My joy. My fountain. Your name is inexhaustible. 

YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

Summon His Name

"Call upon his name." Psalm 105:1

Don't underestimate the significance of calling on God's name.

When you call upon his name you are doing more than simply mentioning his name at the end of your prayer, you are summoning his attention, commissioning his activity, and actually inviting his presence to manifest right down the middle of your life.

When you need a plumber, you call a plumber. When you need a doctor, you call a doctor. And when you need God, you call on his name.

You call; God comes. 

No busy signal. No answering machine. No call waiting. No monthly fees. 

Call upon his name now. Call often. 

Talk long. Talk short. 

Just call. 

Father God, I love your name and I love calling on your name. I love your accessibility, your responsiveness, and I love your voice. Come now and manifest yourself to me now in Jesus name.

YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

All That Is Within Me

"All that is within me, bless his holy name!" Psalm 103:1

When you truly recognize God's name for what it is, it will demand from you all-in, whole-hearted humility, obedience, and worship. Nothing less will do.

We have seen the word bless BARAK before. It means to kneel in humility, obedience, and worship.

God's name is one of only a few things that can move you to such an honorable response. And it's perhaps the only thing that demands all that is within you to bow in this level of humility, obedience, and worship.

Wait no longer. Hit your knees in a declaration of wholehearted humility, obedience, and worship. Do it now. Do it tomorrow. Do it consistently. 

God's name deserves it. God's word demands it. And there is nothing of greater benefit to you.

Yes, Father God, I bow my knees to you now in humility, obedience, and worship. And I command everything within me to come to attention--to bow in reverence and give praise to your great name.

YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

The 4-Steps Of Praise

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!" Psalm 100:4

There are four distinct instructions on how you are to praise the Lord in Psalm 100:4, and each instruction is significant. Notice the last one connects you with the name.

First, you are told to enter his gates, or initiate praise to the Lord with thanksgiving. This Hebrew word TODAH, means to raise a hand and make a vow. Sometimes when you don't feel like praising the Lord, the only way to get started is to keep your vow that you will praise God regardless of what you face.

Second, you are invited to actually enter his courts with praise. Here the Hebrew word is TEHILLAH which means to sing joyful praise. Once you enter by keeping your vow, then you sing joyful praise songs.

Third, you give thanks to him. The Hebrew word is YADA, or raise your hands to God in gratitude and worship. (YAD is the Hebrew word for hand; YADA is the verb.)
Forth, you bless BARAK his name. BEREK is the Hebrew word for knee; BARAK is the verb.

Put it together, and you have 4-steps of praise that encounter God's name. 

Father God, I start to praise you because I made a vow that no matter what happens, I will always praise you. I enter your courts by singing joyful songs of praise. I lift my hands to you in gratitude and honor. And in humility and worship I kneel before your name.

YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

Holy Trembling

"Let them praise your great and awesome name!" Psalm 99:3

God's name may be the only thing in life that is truly awesome. Only God's name moves you to holy trembling.

Awesome may be the most overused word in the English language. We casually use the word awesome to describe just about anything--a pizza, a haircut, or a new pair of jeans. 

Awesome literally means to cause fear, terror, or holy trembling; to be filled with awe.  Not exactly an appropriate word to describe pizza. 

On the other hand, awesome is a perfect word to describe God, and God's name. 
When was the last time God's name stopped you in your tracks and moved you to holy trembling? 

Father, your name is holy. Awe-filling. Soul-stretching. Praise-worthy. Worship-inducing. Life-changing. Your name moves to holy trembling. 

YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

Give Him His Due

"Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name." Psalm 96:8

The uniqueness of God's name is that it is complete in itself. Self sufficient. Self existent. We can add nothing to it, nor diminish it in any way. And yet, we can draw from it continually.

The uniqueness of your association with God's name, is that God's name invites you into a relationship with him. You have the honor and privilege to associate with his name, value his name, draw from his name, and continually receive from his name. His name gives you continual access to the glory of God.

You have no higher privilege than your access to God's name.

Do you appreciate this privilege? 

Do you utilize this privilege?

Take time now to ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. Give him the honor due his name. 

Father God, my greatest honor is my access to your name. I cherish this privilege and today I gaze upon the glory of your name. I feast my eyes on your majesty and receive your blessing in Jesus name.


YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

His Name – My Protection

"I will protect him, because he knows my name." Psalm 91:14

When you know God's name, you experience the security of his protection.

Psalm 91 is affectionately known as the soldier's breastplate, because it promises protection from enemy forces. But don't miss what Psalm 91 identifies as the source of your protection--none other than the name!

God promises, I will protect him, because he knows my name . The key to the protection in the name is to know the name. 

To know sounds harmless, but it is one of the most profound words in Hebrew, used in the Old Testament more than 950 times. It means to know personally, frequently and intimately, to know by experience. 

This is precisely how God wants you to know his name--personally, frequently and intimately, to know his name by experience. 

When you know God's name intimately by experience, his name is your protection. Guaranteed.

Father God, I certainly know your name by experience, and I know it intimately. I use your name frequently because I honor your name above all things. I enjoy the benefit of living in peace and security. 

YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

His Name – My Horn

"In my name shall his horn be exalted." Psalm 89:24 

It's a turning point in your life when you allow God to put his name on your horn. Let me explain. 

The biblical imagery of the horn comes from the animal world where a horn represents courage, strength, defense, and dominance. Throughout the Psalms, horn is used as a word picture of dignity, identity, victory, longevity and authority. 

In Psalm 89, God prophecies a significant blessing, saying, in my name shall his horn be exalted. This means that the Psalmist allowed God to stamp the Psalmist's own, personal horn--his dignity, identity, victory, longevity and authority--with God's name. 
This is a turning point God has for you, too.

Will you allow God to stamp your horn with his name?

Father God, yes! Stamp your name on my horn. Stamp your name on my personal dignity, my identity, on every future victory, on my longevity and my authority. All my victories, accomplishments, awards--I want them all to exalt your name. 

YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

Unite My Heart

"Unite my heart to fear your name." Psalm 86:11

Having a united heart is the result of fearing God's name, or honoring his name above anything.

A united heart is the definition of integrity.

Integrity is the quality of being honest, with strong moral principles that you adhere to, regardless of who's watching. The word originates from the Latin word integer that means "whole, complete, or undivided".

The singular source of integrity is the singular name--to fear, revere, and honor God's name.

Integrity is the opposite of duplicity, which means "divided, two-faced, hypocritical, deceitful, or having two versions of yourself".

We live in a two-faced, duplicit culture. As people of the name, God makes us to be people of integrity with a united heart who fear his name.

As you fear God's name, ask him to give you a united, undivided heart.

Father God, I praise your name. I love and embrace your name. Give me an undivided heart--a united heart--that I may fear your name. Amen.


YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

All Nations Under One Name

"All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name." Psalm 86:9

Today nations function autonomously under an assortment of different names, and laws, and gods. The day is rapidly approaching, however, when all nations will function under one name--the name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Notice the distinctives of the nations will not be lost when they bow to one name. Their cultural heritage, art, dance, music and nuances will all be respected and celebrated. 

And simultaneously they will all come under the one name in worship and in glory.
What a day this will be! The day that will never end.

Life under the name is a future to anticipate, and it's also a present reality to enjoy. 
God invites you now to come and worship--glory in the beauty of his name. 

Let the celebration begin!

Father God, I now step into the celebration of your name. I come under alignment to your name, and I worship the name above all names--the name of Jesus.

YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

Bound To The Name

"Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake!" Psalm 79:9

There is nothing stronger than the name of God. To be bound to God's name is to be bound by a bond unbreakable.

When the Psalmist was insecure and threatened, he appealed to God in prayer for the glory of your name. And even when he felt guilty, shameful, and overwhelmed by his sinfulness, he never allowed his guilt to separate him from God. Again he prayed, atone for our sins, for your name’s sake!

Notice he knew that God's name, and his bond to God's name, was more powerful than his guilt and shame. 

Do you realize that nothing in your life right now is stronger than God's name? Nothing that threatens you or makes you feel insecure is stronger than your bond to God's name. Not even your sin--which weighs heavily on your conscience--can break your bond with God's name.

Whatever you're facing today, you are bound to God's name. 

Father God, I am indissolubly bound to your name. Today I receive your help in my trouble--the help that comes from your name. Even in my sin and guilt, I receive grace and forgiveness in your name. 


YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

Two Kingdoms
 
"Pour out your anger... on the kingdoms that do not call upon your name!" Psalm 79:6

The name determines the kingdom. 

There are two kingdoms, and they are in conflict with each other--the kingdom that calls on the name and the kingdom that does not.

Everyone is currently in one of these two kingdoms.

Which kingdom are you in--in which kingdom do you operate?

God's name so dominates his kingdom, that all kingdom people are characterized by one dominant activity--calling on the name. The more you call on his name, the more God's kingdom comes.

Does calling on the name significantly characterize and dominate your life in a way that qualifies you for the kingdom? Or do you call on the name so infrequently that it makes you wonder?

Christ has given you his name because he wants to give you his kingdom.
Father God, I receive your kingdom in Jesus' name. I am a child of your name. I am aligned under your name and your kingdom.


YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

Your Name Is Near

"We give thanks, for your name is near." Psalm 75:1

God wants you to discover the secret that when you appropriately use God's name, you significantly encounter God.

The reason God reveals to you his name is so that you can encounter him.

The Psalmist said it this way: your name is near. In other words, when you use God's name in prayer, you can say, your name brings you near. 

There is no greater feeling than the nearness of God's presence. 

Every time you use God's name, God wants you to know his nearness--to be confident of the nearness of his presence. 

Lord Jesus, today I give thanks to your name. Your name brings you near. I enjoy your manifest presence with me because I have your name.


YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

Name For The Needy

"Let the poor and needy praise your name." Psalm 74:21

There is help, and riches, and honor, and dignity, and justice in the name of Jesus. 

No one who has Jesus is poor. Nor lost. Nor abandoned. 

The name of Jesus is a home for the homeless, hope for the hopeless, and a shelter for the destitute.

The name of Jesus calls you home. The name of Jesus IS home. 

When the name Jesus is your home, you will praise his name above all things. 

Stake your claim on the name today.

Father God, today I take the name of Jesus as my riches, my honor, my help, my hope, my dignity. Your name is my home and my praise forever.


YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

Love The Name

"Those who love his name shall dwell in it." Psalm 69:36

When you fall in love with someone, you love using their name. You love the sound of their name. You love the thought of their name. When you love the person, you love their name.

God's name is no different. When you love God, you love his name.

It's said that John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, had two dreams. First, he dreamed that he died and went to hell, and asked, "Any Baptists? Catholics? 

Methodist?" "O, yes," came the answer, "lots of Baptists, Catholics, and Methodists." He awoke in a panic, and then he dreamed again. This time he dreamed he died and went to heaven, and asked, "Any Baptists? Catholics? Methodist?" When told, "No Baptists, Catholics, and no Methodists", he asked, "If no Baptists, Catholics, or Methodists, then who's in heaven?" He was told, "Only those who love Jesus are in heaven."

Those who love God love God's name, and those who love God's name are those who are in heaven. They will dwell in his presence because they dwell in his name.

Father God, I love you, I love your presence, and I love your name. There is no name I love more than the name of Jesus. I look forward to being with you in person forever.
 

YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

Raise Your Hands

"In your name I will lift up my hands." Psalm 63:4

If God's name is religious and empty to you, raising your hands in worship will seem like a hollow, meaningless activity. But when God's name comes alive, meaningful, affectionate and loving to you, raising your hands in worship will suddenly become totally appropriate.

Remember, God's name does not lead you to an encounter with God; God's name IS your encounter with God. 

Watching other people raise their hands in worship can at times seem showy or unnatural if you don't understand the manifest presence of Christ. It makes no sense raising your hands to a God who is not even in the room. 

But when you declare God's name, his tangible, manifest presence is suddenly in the room, and he is making himself known to you. Now, raising your hands is totally appropriate. 

Try it. Try it now, with no one watching. 

Focus on his name. Encounter Christ in his name. Lifting your hands in his name will become an entirely Christ-encountering act.

Father God, I love your name. Your name is my joy. My honor. My song. Your name is my connection to you--a sacred trust. In your lovely name I lift up my hands as I encounter you.

YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

His Name – Your Heritage

"You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name." Psalm 61:5

There's a longing inside each of us that wants to leave a legacy. 

A heritage can be tangible, such as money, land, and wealth, as well as intangible—such as traditions, values, and cultural expressions—preserved for the benefit of the future generation. 

David knew the godly heritage he had been given from his parents and grandparents. And he knew the ultimate source of that heritage. He knew it came from the name--the name of God.

Now he wants to not only appreciate his heritage, but steward it well, and pay his heritage forward. 

Have you received a rich heritage of God's name?

Will you steward it well?

Will you pay it forward?

Father God, I receive the richness of your name that you have deposited in my soul--far more valuable than gold or platinum. I choose today to cherish the richness of your name, and to pass it on to others as a heritage in Jesus' name.


YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.

The Name – A Lifesaver

"O God, save me by your name." Psalm 54:1

The name of God is not only life giving, it is life saving. Life protecting. Life sustaining.

David's life was threatened on many sides- family issues, domestic violence, and international conflicts. He lived with the constant threat of attack from enemies who wanted him dead. He also lived with constant assurance that he was being protected--protected by the name.

David lived with a deep sense of security for one reason--it was the name. The name of God.

No matter what threatens you today, take the name of God. It will save you from your insecurities and from your fears. 

God's name is Fortress. Deliverer. Stronghold. Defender. 

Take a minute right now to put God's name between you and your fears in Jesus' name.

Father God, I come in Jesus' name. I admit my fears, but your name is greater than my fears. You are my strength, my stronghold, and my protector forever. I put your name between me and my fears now in Jesus' name.

YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.