“If God can make something out of nothing and create purity within our hearts, surely He can give us a beautiful and noble new name without us performing correctly. . . . Biblical name changes have everything to do with what God sees inside a person and the work that God does to change their heart. Our name change is not about what we can do for or offer to God.”- Esther Fleece Allen
“[Bathsheba] gave birth to a son and they named him Solomon. The LORD loved him, and because the LORD loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.”- 2 Samuel 12:24-25 (NIV)
As Esther Fleece Allen continues Chapter 8 of Your New Name, she asks if you’re willing to persevere and ask God to give you the strength to live out your new name the whole year through. Because God has a personal name for you to help and sustain you when life gets tough. Hence, only God’s capable of giving you a new name worth waiting for.
In his book Run with the Horses, Eugene Peterson writes that our names are far more important than:
- trends in the economy
- crises in the cities
- breakthroughs in space travel
Because a God-given name addresses a uniquely human creature. Furthermore, Esther stresses the importance of a personal relationship with God. She writes:
“Having a personal relationship with God is the first step to knowing our true names and becoming ourselves. Our relationship with God gives our names substance; the identity He speaks over us gives our lives meaning and our future its direction. What is a name, after all, if not a sacred word spoken lovingly over a life?”
Finally, Esther underscores, our heart transformation and name-changing process constitute the very things that (a) give God glory and (b) introduce His saving grace to the world. And, He faithfully brings this personal process to completion.
Today’s question: What Bible passages create purity within our hearts? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “When people wrong you – defining by one action”
