Now when I say changing your name the first place my mind goes is the prayer of Jabez. Today however it took a different direction. Genesis 17:5.
I was in the chicago land area over thanks giving break to visit friends and family. While i was out near Joliet (the city where the blues brothers were from) i met up with an old friend from seventh grade (an OLD friend). We got to talking about God and that nite she told me she was moving to Arizona. In the midst of that conversation we talked about finding a church and seeking God. She told me that she was sick of her nick name and that she was going to go exclusivly by her full first name when she arrives at her new house.
My friend has never intently seeked God before. Isn't it funny how often we find ourselves seeking our own desires instead of trying to fulfill Gods will. I am as guilty (mabey more so) as anyone else. But when we have a change of heart its huge. When we make a decision, not in a moment but in a change of heart, to do Gods will it seems to call for a baptism of sorts. Something as big as moving to a new state or starting a new job or a new school are all large decisions. When a change that big happens doors open. When we take those life changing things and make them about God we enter into a new closeness with our heavenly father.
Genesis 17
God tells abram "I an God the almighty. walk in my presence and be blameless" when abram drops prostrate in surrender to our almighty God God does an interesting thing. He changes Abram's name to ABRAHAM. it seems subtle but its a world of difference. God makes abram new. He hives Abram a fresh start. To live in a new covenant. to start a new walk under a new name.
its like when you shift from your old email that was childish to an email that will represent you to society as some one of importance. only clearly on a much bigger scale.
If God provides you an oppertunity for a new beginning. Pray about it. Change your name. Walk in the presence of the Lord and be blameless. Know that you are a new creation in him . and the way the world preceives you has hope for change. You can be represented as someone new with a new name who is at peace walking blameless.
I pray that we can all Humble ourselves befor e God and that he will make us new creations through Him. Let us die to this world of sin and leave our names and baggage behind so we can be alive in the beautiful song that is Gods plan for us. find your harmony and experience the peace of Christ.
