Immanuel or Emmanuel— is Hebrew עִמָּנוּאֵל meaning,
"God with us.” Immanuel is the word Isaiah used (7:14) when he prophesied
about the coming of the Savior, and Matthew (1:23) refers to it in anticipation
of the birth of Jesus. During the Christmas season we hear “God is with us”
quite often—sung in songs, preached in sermons, and read on greeting cards.
Believers are encouraged to share this Good News with others.
The message, “God is with you” is for everyone, but it is also a private
message—it is God saying to me and to you, “I am with you, (Name).
A spiritual exercise recommended on SacredSpace.ie urges
readers to take some time to imagine hearing these words, spoken directly to each
one of our hearts. Who is speaking the words?
When I listen closely, I hear “God is with you” from a
variety of sources. The pages of my Bible come immediately to mind, with those particular
words in bold print, underlined, highlighted, and with a spotlight shining on
them. I hear my husband saying them from the front of over a dozen churches. I
hear a plethora of Sunday school teachers, small group leaders, and Christian
friends reminding me that God is with me. Most especially, I hear God
whispering them to my heart during my private time of prayer and devotions.
Who do you hear saying, “God is with you”?
The second half of the exercise suggests taking some time to
imagine speaking these words. To whom
do I speak them?
For me, I try to speak them through this blog, through cards
that I make and send to those who are sick, shut-in, or discouraged, and
through 1-on-1 conversations with family members, friends, or complete
strangers with whom I feel God nudging me to encourage. However, I admit, I hear the words more often than I speak them.
Lord, who do you want me to remind today that You are with
them? Show me when and how.
Be encouraged!
Pam
©2018 Pamela D. Williams
