We got a new kitty after moving here, to help take some of the sting away from the kiddos missing their dad while he’s away this year. Also, Skye bought a rat with birthday money, but it died recently. I got two new hamsters to replace him so that each child has one. When it came time to name the animals, our little Annabelle has a tough time sticking with a name. Annabelle tried renaming the cat four times before I told her that we’re sticking with Coconut. She did the same with her hamster, Hamster. 🤷‍♀️

At one point, I told her “You can’t keep changing it. You’ve already given her a name.” I immediately felt the Lord stirring up something in my heart. We’ve been given a name too, and so often we allow ourselves or others to “rename” us.

There are some of us who feel like we need to pretend to be something we’re not in order to fit in. There are some that have been given a name from others, (lazy, stupid, unreliable, naive, foolish, easy.) Maybe you’ve had something negative spoken over you, or maybe spoken to you when you were a child, and deep down you still believe it. Maybe you’ve heard something so often you feel it must be true and even take on that identity.

I’m here to remind you that you’ve already been given a name by the very One that created you!!! He knew that you would need reminded that you are chosen, beautiful, lovely, loved, cared for, forgiven, victorious, important, gifted, redeemed, valuable, His.

I am reminded of Jacob, who pretended to be his brother, Esau, by putting on Esau’s clothes and even covering his arms with goat skin (because Esau was hairy.) Not only did he feel he had to pretend to be his brother in order to gain a blessing God would have given him anyhow, but was even encouraged by his mother to do this. Then, Jacob the deceiver, or “heal grabber,” wrestles with God later. In Genesis 32:28 He told him, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome. ” God gave him a new name! A second chance. A new life. You can have that too. Turn to His Word. Spend time with God so that He can reveal to you who you really are. Once you realize who God, the Creator of the universe, made you to be, and choose to fully walk in it, you will be unstoppable darlin’.