God wants to change your definition
We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.
There is a curious thing God does in the life of Sarai and Abram leading up to entering the promise land. He changes their names. As he changed their names he changes their personal definition.
A New Covenant
The main place I think of where we change our names today, is in marriage. As we enter that covenant we exchange one life for another and receive a new name. The act is a symbol of fidelity, an outward testimony of the life long merging of two historical family lines. I became a part of my husbands family nearly 20 years ago and took his name, happy to be under his headship, if I can still say with out sounding archaic. My hearts desire was for a family of my own. I thought I was getting a new name, but like always, God one-upped me. God is in the business of changing names and hearts.
Sarai meant, princess, but with an undercurrent that could be defined as argumentative, contemptuous or quarelsome. Not exactly the Disney type. Abram meant honored father, though Abram was yet to obtain that honor.
God changed both of their names by adding the Hebrew letter “h” to each of their given names. This letter can be used as a symbol for the breath, it is as if God added His breath to these two.
When God breathes into a life things start changing. Sarai became Sarah, Abram is now Abraham, by changing their names God was entering a person to person covenant, showing that He alone called them to higher things. Sarah remains princess, but with a definition that leans toward pure, happy, Lady or Noblewoman. Abraham remains honored father, but now the meaning is shifted to define him as a father of Nations. When God gets a hold of you, it can change you down to your very definition.
[Tweet “What words described you before meeting Jesus on the road? What words describe you now?”]
Let God Define You
God is not done changing names, He is doing the very same thing today. He did it for me. First, you should know that I have a thing for the definitions of names. The meaning of a name means a great deal to me. My kids name’s were agonized over in detail to make sure that they made a statement about who God was to them and who they were to God. Imagine my suprise when I began first pouring over baby name books and discovered that God had changed my name. He had not only renamed me, but in fact, He redefined me.
The Girl Without A Middle Name
My Grandmother was old school Dutch when it came to naming her kids. Apparently two last names is all a kid can handle, so my father and his sisters have no middle names. When I was born the tradition was passed on. I was the only girl in grade school without a secret name to share with only my very best friend. My middle-name-less-ness was the bane of my elementary years. I squashed the problem by lying about it. I made up my own middle name to satisfy curious fourth graders, and told everyone my middle name was Marie. A habit I eventually grew out of and forgot, but I never forgot how much I wanted a middle name. That empty space between my names bothered me.
I Leapt at the Chance to Change My Name
While preparing for my wedding day I realized that my marriage was actually a free shot at a legal name change. I knew I wanted to take my Great-grandmothers middle name as my own. On my wedding day I signed our certificate with three names; my current name, a treasured middle name from my past, and the name that encapsuled my future. It was a pretty awesome day, but that was not good enough for God. Finally getting a middle name seemed monumental at the time, but it was not until three years later that I realized the full extent of what God had orchestrated on my behalf.
God Knows Your Name
I was reading “The Name Book” by Dorothy Astoria which had become a favorite pass time. We were expecting our first child and I was knee deep in name study when I read that Marie meant bitter. My life outside of Christ was bitter. My search for happiness outside of Him was bitter and without peace. God changed my name, and in doing so He changed my definition. I chose my “little Grandma’s” name because I loved her, but God led me to it because of its meaning. Johanna means “delivered” and “God is gracious.” By His own hands have I been delivered into Him. His grace covers me every day.
Like a treasure map, God layed out all of these things before I was born so I could see that His hand has been at work in my life from my birth. He breathed His breath in to my life and changed so much more than my name, He changed my definition.
If you don’t like the words that you would use to define your life, you are in the perfect place. God wants to rename you. He wants to call you “His own.”
Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:10
