What is your name? No, not the name that your parents gave you or even the name that your friends call you. I mean what is the name you call yourself deep within. The name that no one knows, yet you hear it repeated in the echos of your mind. Perhaps it stems from a past wound that has never quite healed. Maybe it was that one comment that stung marrow deep? Does it reflect a history that seems to parade itself before you with each failure or trial?
Here are a few that seem to come to mind..... Failure. Forgotten. Unloved. Broken. Sick. Addiction. Used. Ugly.
So, what is your name? We all have one. Our enemy makes sure of it and he has whispered it repeatedly in your mind. The world has certainly given you one. In the darkest of moments, that name screams from within with the purpose of defeat.
In Daniel, four of God's chosen young men were given new names too. When Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, captured Jerusalem, he chose to bring several of the young Israelite boys with him to Babylon. They were "without physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace." ( Danie1:4) For three years they would be trained before entering the king's service. The chief official selected new names for each of them - ones that were more suited to the world they found themselves in.... Daniel became Belteshazzar. Hananiah became Shadrach. Mishael became Meshach. Azariah became Abednego. Why is this important? Our world, too, gives us new names that seem to reflect the world in which we live- anything that will make us forget our homeland and our heritage.
Daniel went from "God is my judge." to "protect his life." Hananiah went from "the Lord shows grace" to "command of Aku." Mishael went from "Who is what God is?" to "Who is what Aku is?" Azariah went from "the Lord helps." to "servant of Nego/Nebo." You see, the enemy not only gives you a new name, but he gives you a false representation of your history, heritage, and future. It will often mimic your God given identity, but with a very different purpose. The enemy does not want you to truly see your identity through the eyes of the Father. Instead, he hopes you will settle on the false imitation because then your impact on this world is limited. Children of the King shackled to fear with our false name(s) engraved on each link.
The One True God sent His only Child to this broken world for the sole purpose of giving us a new identity- His. You are not Failure, Forgotten, Unloved, Broken, Sick, Addiction, Used, or Ugly.... you are REDEEMED, CHOSEN, HEIR, LOVED, VICTOR, HEALED, and NEW. You are His beautiful bride- Sought and bought with the blood of the perfect lamb! My dear one, your value is unmeasurable!
"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, " Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir." Galations 4:4-7 NIV
I ask again, what is your name? REDEEMED HEIR
1.) What "worldly" name has plagued you? Do you see how the enemy has used that name to restrain you from your God called destiny?
2.) What does it mean to you to recognize yourself as an heir of Christ? How can that reshape your thoughts and inward attitudes?
Challenge: Write your "worldly" given name on a piece of paper and destroy it. Then, allow God to free you from that burden. You might even write out a Christ given name in it's place. For example, "Failure" is replaced with "Victor in Christ"..... If you feel comfortable, share your story with me!
Blessings
