Named By God

A Reflection on the Psalm for November 10th, 2019:
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

PSALM 17

​R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.
R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
My steps have been steadfast in your paths,
my feet have not faltered.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
Keep me as the apple of your eye,
hide me in the shadow of your wings.
But I in justice shall behold your face;
on waking I shall be content in your presence.
R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.

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Have you ever had an experience of the Lord so intense, that you thought your heart would burst with joy? I have.


About 7 years ago I attended a women’s conference in Ottawa. The keynote speaker told us all about how God has a name for each of us. Not the name that we were given at birth but a special name that only He calls us. She told us to pray and ask God to reveal His special name for us.


I don’t remember what I did exactly but at the end of some prayer time I felt God leading me to Malachi 3:12: “Then all nations will call you blessed for you will be a land of delight says the Lord of hosts.” I knew God’s name for me was “Land of Delight.”


I had forgotten all about this encounter with God until I attended another conference a few years later. The keynote speaker spoke about God having a name for us and it all came back to me. I remember thinking, “Oh yah! I have a name!”


At this same time I was preparing to go on a retreat/mission with some friends. I was in charge of finding something for us to reflect upon while we were together. I knew it was no coincidence that I was reminded about my name a few days before we were to leave for this retreat. When the time came to share my reflection exercise with the women on retreat, I was feeling very doubtful. The lies I heard were: “no one wants to do this” and, “they will think it’s stupid” and, “nothing is going to happen for them”. But I stepped out in faith, told them about the exercise, and sent them off to encounter God.


I decided the best thing for me to do was to head to the chapel, get on my knees, and beg God to come through. I sat there with a few of the other women and waited. After a few minutes I heard one of the women in the room begin to sob. My heart was immediately filled with joy! I knew she had heard her name! God’s glory was being revealed!


All 10 women on that retreat heard their name that day. God spoke to each woman in a beautifully intimate way and in His faithfulness my joy was full.


So take a few minutes, sit down with God’s Word and ask Him to reveal His special name for you. Don’t rush it. Be patient, it may take time. Allow Him to reveal His glory to you so your joy may be full. ​


Maxine Brown

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