Encouragement for Today

November 20, 2024 What’s Your New Name? ONEKA MCCLELLAN Lee en español

“And you will be given a new name by the LORD’s own mouth.” Isaiah 62:2c (NLT)

In the Bible, renaming was a sacred act. It signified that God wanted to change the direction of a person’s life so they could step into His purpose for them.

In Genesis 17:5-6, God spoke to the father of our faith, Abram: “… I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them!” (NLT).

Genesis 17:15-16 says, “Regarding Sarai, your wife—her name will no longer be Sarai. From now on her name will be Sarah. And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants” (NLT).

“Abram” means “exalted father.” “Abraham” means “father of multitudes.” God was saying to Abram, Not only are you going to be a father, but you’ll be a father to many — I’m changing the course of your life! As for Sarah, God changed her name’s meaning from “my princess” to “princess of all.”

You might be carrying all sorts of names today — hurtful names from childhood or labels forced on you now. No matter what names you’re carrying, when you accept Christ as your Savior, God has unique, beautiful and wholly true names for you. As God told His people in Isaiah 62:2c, “You will be given a new name by the LORD’s own mouth.”

This is how the God of the universe sees you:

• Loved (Jeremiah 31:3).
• Saved (Ephesians 2:8).
• Redeemed (Galatians 3:13).
• Chosen (1 Peter 2:9).
• Right with God (2 Corinthians 5:21).
• Belonging to God (Isaiah 43:1).
• Daughter of God (Romans 8:16).
• Light of the world (Matthew 5:14).
• Overcomer (1 John 5:4).

These are just a few of the incredible names God has given you!

Sometimes we assume our names can’t change until we live in a new identity. But God changed Abraham and Sarah’s names years before their circumstances changed. Your identity is true and God’s vision for you is real even if you can’t see it exhibited in your current circumstances.

It’s time for us to say, “I’m God’s chosen daughter. He has a plan and purpose for my life. He’s bigger than my circumstances, my thoughts, and the labels the world puts on me. He has given me a brand-new name.”

If you’ve been a slave to your old mindsets or ways of living, God is ready to fill your heart with freedom and truth. He’s erasing those labels, lies and weights that enslave you. When we embrace our God-given names and own our God-given identity, we encourage those around us to do the same. Because God has called us each by name — and what beautiful names they are!

God, what’s my new name? Take away whatever false names are keeping me from knowing Your vision for me. I’m free because Christ sets me free. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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To be reminded that God has uniquely positioned and gifted you to be a source of life, wisdom and strength, get a copy of Oneka McClellan’s book, Born Royal: Overcoming Insecurity to Become the Woman God Says You Are.

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Oneka McClellan is a writer; speaker; and lead pastor with her husband, Earl, of Shoreline City Church in Dallas, Texas. The McClellans host the podcast With So Much Love, E+O. Find her on Instagram at @onekamcclellan.

Enter to WIN your very own copy of Born Royal by Oneka McClellan. To celebrate this book, Oneka’s publisher will give away 5 copies! Enter to win by leaving a comment here. {We’ll randomly select 5 winners and then notify each one in the comments section by Monday, November 25, 2024.}

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Isaiah 43:19, “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland” (NLT).

2 Corinthians 5:17, “… anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (NLT).

Which of God’s true names for you, listed above, feel easy to carry? Which ones feel like they don’t fit? Bring the names that feel like they don’t fit to God, and ask Him to help you believe His words until they become part of who you are.

© 2024 by Oneka McClellan. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries thanks WaterBrook & Multnomah for their sponsorship of today’s devotion.

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