A New Name

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 If you could choose a new name for yourself, what would it be? I've thought about this question before and a few names have come to my mind: Jessica, Sophie, Danielle, Sarah. Those are really good names! There was a time I wanted another name, but not now! I love my name Jennifer and know that fits me perfect! Now that's in the natural. But what if I told you in the spiritual that God wants to give you a new name? People in the Bible got new names every time God was about to do something great in their lives. For instance, when we look at Abraham and Sarah's name, that was not always their name. In Genesis 12, their names were Abram and Sarai. It wasn't until God was about to do something new in their life that God gave them a new name. In Genesis 17 verse 5, Abram's name changed as God made a promise to Him that he would be the father of many nations. His wife Sarah's name changed in verse 15 of that same chapter. God was about to bless them with a child in their old age. Then there's Paul in the Bible. That wasn't always his name. His name was Saul at first. In Acts 9 when he was on the road traveling to take out Christians and have them thrown in jail, his life took a dramatic turn and was changed forever after he met Jesus. Then, he got his new name, Paul. For a new beginning, he needed a new name. For where he was going next, he needed a new name. Our natural name identifies us. It's what we answer to. If we heard another name, chances are we would not turn around and look because we don't identify with that name. Usually, you only answer to your name. God only wants us to answer to who He's called us. He didn't call us ugly, unwanted, unappreciated, a burden, a mistake, an accident. Let's stop calling ourselves and others those names. Let's ignore and stop answering to those names. God calls us beautiful/handsome, loved, appreciated, special, valuable, needed. Those are what we should give attention to. Let's embrace our new name every day. This takes us every day calling ourselves and reminding ourselves of our new name. This takes daily practice. We definitely don't want to answer to the wrong name. God wants to do new things in our lives and give us a new beginning. We need our new name in our now and next. I know it gets hard and our circumstances may look like change won't come, but we can't go back now. Our new name is calling..but the question is...will we answer?   

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