So what is your name? Do you understand the history behind the name your parents gave you at birth? What do people call you? …a gossip, trouble maker, drunk, womanizer, thief?
If they call you these names and the names do not reflect who you are, you are safe, but even that, you have to be cautious not to fall into such vices because they are using the names to re-program your destiny.
For instance have you realized when children are not stubborn and we start calling them stubborn they actually grow up and live to “stubborn” expectations. Or if a child is academically slow and you keep drumming it in his or her head that “she/ he has no brains and is daft”, the child will surprisingly turn out to be what you called him/ her.
When people start giving you names, whether it’s a nickname or pet name, don’t be in a hurry to respond and think it is fun, there are spiritual realities that you have no idea of, and those who know the PRINCIPLE of NAMES will always use names to reprogram people’s destinies. Do not let the enemy change your name.
Identity is very important. If you know who you are, then you know who you are not. A lot of us are the way we are because we have lost our identity and allowed the enemy to change our names. Names are very important; names can influence one’s destiny.
Observe that very often when God wants to promote or bless somebody he changes the name of the person. Some of us just pick names because they sound nice, the truth is that every name is connected to a spiritual environment, even nicknames, and names can either have a positive or negative effect. How many of you pray over names before you give it to your kids. … And our children go to school and take all kinds of funny nicknames. I know a man whose nickname is “booze man”, he has never been able to stay away from alcohol, I know another called “man like trouble”, he is always in one trouble or the other. Names are very important. We might not realize it, but they are more than just ways to identify a person.
They are closely bound up with a person’s identity and some research suggests that a child’s name is even linked to their future chances of success. Brand names, for instance, are so powerful that they will often make us conjure up images and feelings the moment we hear or see them. One brand will make us think of good quality and reliability, while another brand name can immediately make us feel the opposite. Brand names are so powerful, we can see an advert for a famous food brand and immediately want to eat that food! In the same way, the names given to people can influence the way we think or feel about them.
Among Bible figures, the name Paul evokes thoughts of a strong and fierce missionary, Peter brings to mind someone fearless and curious, and David brings to mind a humble but brave shepherd boy. Aside from these associations, the names themselves have meanings in their original language. For example, Peter’s name actually meant “rock” while Barnabas meant “son of encouragement.” Knowing that names carry meanings and can carry mental associations, it’s important we avoid using ungodly words as names. And we must live in such a way that our name makes people think of good things. Proverbs 22:1 tells us, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.” This verse goes beyond reputation. It also means being careful with the identity we choose to live up to.
The one defining characteristic we all share, the one unique and profound element of every one of us is the name we are given. From the reason why we were given such a name to the historical lineage and significance of what a name has come to represent, our name, beyond its objective purpose, encompasses what and who each of us is. Its essence is at the very heart of our existence. It signified what tribe you came from. It represented the language and dialect you spoke. It made others aware of the region you came from. And grew into characterizing the nationality you came from. It effectively describes us in a manner more than we truly understand or choose to realize. It was the mark you put down when coming to the New World, the signature that made your home, and the last thing that is ever read in a letter by the one you love.
Your name is utterly more powerful and significant than simply the characters that represent it. It represents every transaction you make. From banknotes to ownership, business relations to paychecks, marriage, authorship, and beyond. And in a growing world based on text, online search, and social profiles, the purpose of your name has expanded and become more imperative than it ever has before. It simply doesn’t represent who you are. It is who you are. Our name, both in the physical and virtual worlds, is immortal and will outlast each one of us. What’s in a name? This question has become a cliché in our culture. The significance of a name is found in its ability to confer affluence and reputation. If one has a famous last name, they are treated with respect and honor. If they have a last name that has been associated with ill-repute, they will be disrespected and dishonored.
Sometimes we try to live up to our names. Sometimes we try to run away from them. But either way — and for all the options in between — your name is a crucial factor in developing your sense of self, and thus helps propel you forward on various paths of life and career. In the spiritual realm, a name is not a label or a tool to distinguish one person from another; a person’s name is viewed as equivalent to the person himself. A person’s name signified their person, worth, character, reputation, authority, will, and ownership.
Proverbs says “the name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous run to it and are safe” (Proverbs 18:10). Does this mean there is a large tower in the shape of the letters “LORD” that the righteous run into? No. The point is that the Lord Himself is a strong tower. Other Scriptures also confirm the idea that God’s name is equivalent to God’s person (Psalm 18:49; 86:12; Malachi 3:16; Matthew 10:22; 19:29; John 3:18). And if we are created in his image and are co-creators, it suffices to say that your name is equivalent to you, there is the need to be careful about the names we give to our children and most importantly the names we allow life, family, colleagues, and friends to call us…
