Devotions

Restoring the Name

Jonathan Pooh Bear and my Sweet Cheeked, Sleepy Head, Fuzzy Hair Daniel Love.

These were the special names I chose for each of my sons when they were born.

Silly, heartfelt creations like the one my grandmother had given to me. She had dubbed me Tootle Bootle Bum Bum as a child, a name that I did not unearth until I had sons of my own. While Jonathan’s eventually moved to Bubbie Boo and Daniel’s name was shortened to Mushy Moo, I am sure that my teenage boys would be happy to bury these terms of endearment elsewhere.

But on the days when life is unkind, I hope they dig them up and remember that they are loved.

There are names that the world piles upon us, like dirt, that are not so heartfelt.

And sometimes, there are names we misguidedly heap upon ourselves.

We forget so easily that Our Heavenly Father has special names for us as well.

Chosen.

We know, brothers and sisters, loved by God, that He has chosen you…(1 Thessalonians 1:4)

Forgiven.

“In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)

Accepted.

“Receive one another, then, just as Christ received you, to God’s glory.” (Romans 15:7)

Loved.

“But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

His children.

“But to all who have received him – those who believe in His name – he has given the right to become God’s children.” (John 1:12)

The enemy is not happy when we remember our name.

When Issac became too powerful, he was met with opposition.

The man had so many flocks and herds and servants, that the Philistines envied him. So all the wells that his father’s servants had dug up in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with dirt. Then Abimelek said to Issac, “Move away from us; you have become to powerful for us. So Issac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar, where he settled. Issac reopened the wells that had been dug up in the time of his father,Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham had died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.” (Genesis 26: 14-18)

Filled with dirt, Issac not only opened the wells, but also gave them the same names his father had given them. He reclaimed the names.

Sisters, I do not know what names the world thrusts upon you, like mounds of dirt filling the wells of your souls, but I do know where your name is written.

On the days when the world is unkind, dig deep into His word and remember your name. Reclaim it.

Chosen. Forgiven. Accepted. Loved.

His child.

Amen.