The Joy of the Highest Name: Day 18 of Joy
He is Lord.
For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. —Philippians 2:9-11
We spend a lot of energy trying to carve out our own little kingdoms. We want to be the “Lord” of our reputations, our bank accounts, and our futures. This leads to stress because, deep down, we know we aren’t strong enough to protect those kingdoms. We compare our status to others, chasing a version of “glory” that is fleeting and hollow. Reminder: It is not healthy to compare ourselves to others.
But Philippians 2 shows us a joy that comes from surrender, not striving. It tells the story of the King who “emptied himself” only to be “highly exalted” by the Father. The ultimate anchor for your soul today is this: He is Lord.
If Jesus is Lord over “heaven and on earth and under the earth,” then He is Lord over the things that keep you up at night. He is Lord over your diagnosis, Lord over your workplace, and Lord over your deepest regrets. We experience freedom by abdicating the throne to our “kingdom” to the only One who actually deserves to sit on it, in His kingdom. Joy is found when we stop saying “My will be done.”
The 90/10 Rule of the Throne
[read this article to learn more about the 90/10 rule]
The 10%: Your desire for control, your plans for the week, and the “knees” in your life that currently refuse to bow to His peace.
The 90%: The exalted status of Jesus. His victory is already a settled fact.
If you focus on the 10 percent, you will live in constant frustration as life refuses to go your way. When you give the 90 percent of your attention to the fact that He is Lord, your joy becomes a steady anchor. You don’t have to win every battle because He has already won the war. Jesus won!
Identify one area of your life where you have been trying to play “Lord.” Today, intentionally hand the crown back to Jesus. Whenever you feel that familiar anxiety, whisper: “Jesus, You are Lord of this, too.” Let the weight of the world fall off your shoulders and onto His.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I praise You as the One with the Name above every name. Thank You for the joy that comes from bowing my knee to Your perfect leadership. Amen.
View all messages in the series at: www.faithsaves.us/t/joy-series-faith-saves-us