“We have the privilege of pursuing God for our new name, which comes with a responsibility to believe what He says about us. He can give us the courage to live out of our new identity.”- Esther Fleece Allen
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”- Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)
Esther Fleece Allen concludes Chapter 8 of Your New Name as she notes what happens in our journey of discovering our new name. As we proceed, God shifts the emphasis off ourselves and helps us see the new work He’s accomplishing in our lives. Furthermore, Esther stresses, we take on a teachable posture when we begin to see other people as God sees them. And true friends know our old labels, yet urge us to live out our new name.
In addition, Eugene Peterson describes a personal name as our passbook into reality. Therefore, assigned roles need not apply. As a result, Esther lists six ways to seek God and ask Him for your personal name.
1. WRITE DOWN: Take time to get away with God and ask Him for inspiration. Then, write down names that resonate with you. Above all, look ahead for what God has in store for you.
2. LISTEN: Take on your new name. Because it testifies to a very personal relationship with a very personal God. Certainly, He wants to speak good things over you. So, listen to Him.
3. READ: Notice that God never speaks down to men and women in the Bible. Instead, He calls them to something better than they’ve previously experienced. What Bible character do you most relate to?
4. ASK: What person do you trust to help you process a new name and identity? Often God speaks through people.
5. IDENTIFY: Since our old names tend to run on autoplay inside our heads, sometimes we have a hard time hearing our new name. Hence, ask the Holy Spirit for help.
6. REFLECT: Foster awareness of what God’s doing inside your head right now. Do you see your new name right in front of you?
Today’s question: How do you respond to the privilege of pursuing God for your new name? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Confession and repentance – a pivotal point”
