Welcome, friend—I’m glad you’ve pulled up a chair on the front porch of my little corner of the internet. My name is Michael Joe Harvell, and I live my life with one simple mission: to glorify God, encourage people, and leave this world a little better than I found it. I’m a husband, father, pastor, writer, Jeep enthusiast, and front-porch thinker who believes that life is best lived on purpose. I serve as pastor of Eureka Baptist Church in Anderson, South Carolina, where I get the joy of preaching, teaching, and walking with people through the ups and downs of everyday life. Over the years, I’ve discovered that faith isn’t just about Sunday mornings—it’s about living every single day in the presence and power of God. I’m also an author. My books—including The Grace Exchange: How Forgiven People Forgive People and The Word Works—grow out of the sermons, stories, and lessons I’ve learned on this journey. I write in a style that’s conversational, a little front-porch-rocking-chair, and full of stories, quotes, and Scripture that point us back to the goodness of God’s Word. When I’m not writing or preaching, you might find me sitting outside with my Bible and journal, cruising the backroads in my Jeep Gladiator, or sharing a meal and some laughs with the good folks God has put in my life. I love helping people find peace in their spirit, strength in their body, and encouragement in their soul. This blog is simply an extension of that mission. Here you’ll find devotions, encouragement, reflections, and practical insights for living a life of purpose, peace, and joy. So grab a cup of coffee, pull up a rocking chair, and stay awhile—I’d be honored to walk this road of faith with you.
On a quiet front porch kind of morning, coffee in hand, Bible open, there’s a truth in Philippians 2 that will steady your soul and lift your eyes.
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”— Philippians 2:9–11 (KJV)
Friend, there are a lot of names being shouted in our world right now. Titles. Labels. Diagnoses. Failures. Regrets. Headlines. Fears. But God reminds us there is one Name that rises above them all.
The name of Jesus.
Not a slogan. Not a lucky charm. Not just a word we tack onto the end of a prayer.
A Name that carries authority.
A Name that carries victory.
A Name that carries hope.
God highly exalted Jesus because Jesus willingly humbled Himself. He stepped down into our brokenness so we could be lifted into God’s family. He wore a crown of thorns so one day every knee would bow before the King of Kings.
That means no matter what you’re facing today, Jesus outranks it.
Your mountain has a name.
Your storm has a name.
Your sickness has a name.
Your fear has a name.
But Jesus has the Name above every name.
So when you don’t know what else to say, whisper His name.
When your strength is gone, call His name.
When your heart feels heavy, speak His name.
Jesus.
One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess it. But you don’t have to wait for someday. You can declare it right now.
Jesus is Lord over your life.
Jesus is Lord over your home.
Jesus is Lord over your future.
And because His Name is above all, you can walk today with your head up, your heart anchored, and your hope alive.
Hold onto this truth, friend:
The Name above every name is for you, with you, and walking beside you today.
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.” — Philippians 2:9 (KJV)
Morning Devotion
Names matter.
They carry stories, memories, and meaning. Some make us smile. Some still sting. But there is one Name that carries more power, more purity, and more peace than any other: the Name of Jesus.
When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he was describing a Savior who humbled Himself to the lowest place, and because of that humility, God lifted Him to the highest. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.”
Think about that:
Every sickness, every fear, every failure, every enemy must bow beneath that Name.
No other name heals the broken, calms the storm, forgives sin, and raises the dead.
No other name opens Heaven’s door and silences Hell’s accusations.
The Name of Jesus stands alone.
A Porch Story
I was once sitting on the porch with an old friend who had been walking through a rough season. He had lost his job, his confidence, and almost his faith. He said, “Mike, I just do not even know what to pray anymore.”
I looked at him and said softly, “Then just say His Name.”
He frowned, confused. “You mean just say Jesus?”
I nodded. “Yes. There is power in His Name. You do not have to have fancy words when your heart is worn out. Just whisper the Name that Heaven honors and Hell fears.”
So we did. We sat there in silence for a while, two grown men on an old porch, whispering “Jesus” into the night air.
Something shifted.
Not the circumstances; they did not change overnight.
But the atmosphere did.
Peace settled like dew. The weight lifted. Hope slipped back into the conversation.
Because when you speak His Name with faith, you are not reciting syllables. You are inviting the presence of the Savior.
The Power of the Name
The Name of Jesus is not a magic charm; it is a declaration of authority.
When Peter healed the lame man at the temple gate, he said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6 KJV).
When demons trembled, the apostles did not rely on clever words. They stood on the power of His Name.
When you pray in Jesus’ Name, you are signing your requests with Heaven’s authority stamp. You are saying, “Father, I come not in my merit but in His.”
That is why the enemy hates that Name so much.
It reminds him of his defeat.
It is the Name that broke his power, emptied the grave, and sealed the victory.
A Little Porchside Theology
When Scripture says “a name above every name,” it means above every name.
Above the name of cancer.
Above the name of depression.
Above the name of addiction, anxiety, or shame.
At His Name, every knee will bow: things in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth (Philippians 2:10).
That is not a metaphor. That is a guarantee.
Every problem that dares to raise its head against you must bow to the authority of Jesus Christ.
When You Feel Powerless
Sometimes we forget that power is already available.
We think we need to be louder, smarter, or stronger. But Jesus told us the secret: “Ask in My name.”
So when fear corners you, whisper His Name.
When temptation tempts you, speak His Name.
When your heart hurts and words fail, breathe His Name.
You will be amazed how quickly peace follows when praise starts with His Name.
Life Application
Take a notecard today and write these words:
“Jesus, the Name above every name.”
Carry it in your pocket or tape it to your mirror.
Every time you see it, speak His Name over something specific: your family, your finances, your faith.
Then watch how His presence transforms what His Name touches.
Prayer
Jesus, Name above every name,
I honor You today.
There is no one like You, no rival, no equal, no substitute.
Your Name heals what is broken, calms what is chaotic, and redeems what is ruined.
I speak Your Name over my fears, my home, and my future.
Let every chain break, every lie fall, and every heart find hope.
Teach me to pray, live, and serve in the power of Your Name.
Let my life lift that Name high in all I do.
In Your holy, mighty Name, Jesus, Amen.
Reflection Question / Journal Prompt
Where do you need to declare the Name of Jesus today?
Write this in your journal:
“At the Name of Jesus, ________ must bow.”
Fill in the blank with whatever has been weighing on you: fear, sickness, regret, confusion.
Then thank Him in advance for the victory His Name has already secured.
Evening Reflection
The porch is quiet tonight except for the soft hum of the night insects and the distant bark of a dog down the road. The world seems at rest, and so should you.
Before you close your eyes, whisper His Name again:
“Jesus.”
Let it roll slow and sure from your heart to your lips.
Feel the peace it brings, the strength it stirs, the comfort it carries.
Every worry bows beneath it.
Every wound begins to heal under it.
Every day ends better when it ends with it.
Hell trembles at that Name, but Heaven sings it.
And right now, as the stars shimmer above you, that Name still reigns supreme.
Sleep well tonight, knowing the Name above every name watches over you.
Sometimes life has a way of reminding us just how fragile we are. One phone call. One diagnosis. One unexpected turn. And in those moments, we don’t just need information… we need reassurance. We don’t just need answers… we need presence.
That’s why Isaiah’s words still echo with such power:
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given… and his name shall be called… The Everlasting Father.”
Think about that.
Not a distant God.
Not a seasonal Savior.
Not a temporary fix.
An Everlasting Father.
On the front porch of faith, that truth settles into the soul like a warm cup of coffee on a cold morning. It tells us we are not walking alone. We are not figuring this out by ourselves. We are not abandoned in the struggle.
An everlasting Father means His love doesn’t expire.
His patience doesn’t run out.
His mercy doesn’t hit a limit.
His arms never close to His children.
Some of us grew up with fathers who tried their best.
Some of us grew up with fathers who fell short.
Some of us grew up without one at all.
But God steps into every gap and says, “I will be your Father. I will be faithful. I will stay.”
When you don’t know which way to turn, He’s there.
When your heart is breaking, He’s there.
When you feel strong, He’s there.
When you feel weak, He’s still there.
Everlasting means before your first breath and beyond your final heartbeat… He is God.
Everlasting means what He started in you, He will finish.
Everlasting means your story is held in hands that never tremble.
Michael Joe Harvell 