This past week I was able to attend a women’s group, Sisterhood, through our church here in Guatemala. I was excited to go and hear the wise words of the pastor, Hannah, and have someone pour into me. But I didn’t realize how much I truly needed it.
She talked to us about names. It’s easy for us to believe the false names that the devil and the world have given us – inadequate, broken, outcast, damaged, failure. We tend to cling to these false names and they begin to impact the way we live our lives everyday. If you wake up in the morning with the thought that you’re broken or damaged you are giving power to the false names and you’re going to be consumed by them all day.
God has not given us these names, He has provided us with brand new names – adequate, whole, belong, new creation, victorious. He has given us powerful and meaningful names.
Throughout the Bible God gave new names to people. Abram became Abraham, Simon became Peter, Sarai became Sarah. Our names have meaning and God often changed a persons name before their circumstance changed. Our names have influence on our everyday lives and we need to live our lives with our brand new names.
The world tries to make us forget these God given names, but we need to cling to our brand new names. Some days will be harder than others but God is always there to comfort and encourage us and He has given us a spirit of power and authority.
For too long I have allowed myself to believe that I am inadequate. I didn’t think I was good enough to go on the World Race. There are so many people who are wiser, more humble, and have more experience with missions. What could God possibly use me for? But I am fearfully and wonderfully made and God has equipped me with all I need to succeed. I am adequate and God can use me to further His kingdom.
“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17
