Hashimoto’s Disease. Takotsubo’s Cardiomyopathy. Wernicke’s Encephalopathy. These are some famous names in medicine.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, disovered by a Japanese physician named Hakaru Hashimoto, is an autoimmune thyroid disorder where the thyroid gland doesn’t function as well as it should, which can cause weight gain, depression, joint pain, constipation, dry skin, etc. This can be life-threatening.

Takotsubo’s Cardiomyopathy, discovered by a Japanese physician and named after a octopus trap used by Japanese fishermen, is also known as “broken heart syndrome”. I have seen patients with this after they’ve experienced something as heart-wrenching as a death of their child. Patients end up having a heart attack, not caused by any other underlying heart disease or cause.

Wernicke’s Encephalopathy, discovered by a German Neurologist, is an acute neurological disorder in which patients can experience an altered mental status (confusion). It is commonly found in alcoholics who end up losing a significant amount of Thiamine as a result of the alcohol.

Names. Names. Names.

I named my daughter Kristianna Maganda Polley. Kristianna because it’s origin is “Christian” and because it’s close to my name. Maganda because our family is from the Philippines and in our native language, Tagalog, it means “beautiful”. And she carries her father’s last name Polley, of course. So, in my mind, she is a beautiful Christian with a close relationship with her fathers…both physical and spiritual fathers.

Names. Names. Names.

Moses was so named because he was drawn out of water.

“When the child grew older, she took him to Pharoah’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying ‘I drew him out of the water’.” Exodus 2:10 NIV

If you think of Moses being drawn out of the water, you wouldn’t necessarily think of how “cool” or how “stoic” that name is. However, Moses was drawn out of harm’s way, then drawn out of the water into Pharoah’s empire. Then, he drew his people out of slavery, out of the desert, and into the promise land. He was named “drawn out” for a specific purpose, whether the Pharoah’s daughter knew it or not. But God knew.

Abram became Abraham.

“As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.” Genesis 17: 4-5 NIV.

Abram’s name was changed to Abraham because he entered into a covenant with God. God promised him that he’d be the father of many nations. God called him. Then God gave him a new name. God saw Abram and watched him become Abraham, a “father of many”.

There is power in a name.

If I give a patient a name of a medical condition that explains their symptoms, it gives them power. Power to know what’s going on, power to understand it, and power to overcome it.

What is your name? I want you to pause right here and do a quick google search for the origin of your name.

Ponder what your name means. Ponder why you were give your name. And ponder how your name has significance. There is no mistake with your name.

Now think of the name Jesus. His name was chosen to be our savior. Mary was told by the angel Gabriel what her baby should be named and why he would be given this name.

What a powerful name. Jesus. Savior.

People underestimate actually saying his name out loud. Even Christians. We’re quick to pray to God, pray to Jesus, read scripture, and tell of the resurrection of Jesus.

But sometimes we forget to just say his name. Jesus.

When you have nothing else to say because you’re overwhelmed with stress, fatigue, or pain, sometimes all you have to do is just say, “Jesus.”

When you’re facing a fork in the road and you can’t decide which way to go, sometimes all you have to do is say, “Jesus.”

His name has meaning and purpose. His name has power.

Right now, right here. I simply want you to close your eyes, lift your hands in the air, and just say, “Jesus.” Take a deep breath in and out and say it again. Don’t fill your thoughts with everything that’s going on and don’t let your heart fill with heaviness. Just call His name and let him enter your spirit. Let him take over and clear your heart and mind of all the things you’ve been holding on to. Give all your troubles to him because he is our savior. He is power.

Play this song and feel the power of His name.