CHILD-FRIENDLY CHANGE OF NAME!

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 GNT

There was a man named Jabez, who was the most respected member of his family. His mother had given him the name Jabez, because his birth had been very painful. [10] But Jabez prayed to the God of Israel, "Bless me, God, and give me much land. Be with me and keep me from anything evil that might cause me pain." And God gave him what he prayed for.

 

Jabez is remembered in the Bible because he prayed a brave and powerful prayer. His name meant “pain,” because his mother had a difficult time when he was born. Imagine being called a name that reminds you of something sad. That was Jabez’s story.

In the Bible, names are important. They can speak life, hope, and purpose. Sometimes they can also make someone feel small or discouraged. Jabez’s mother named him from her own hurt, but Jabez refused to let that name shape his future. He talked to God and asked Him to bless him, protect him, and change his story. God heard him and answered.

Names are more than words. They are like messages spoken over us. A name can go ahead of you, appear on your schoolwork, be said by teachers and friends, and even be part of your dreams. If a name or label does not match what God says about you, it can make you feel limited or afraid. But God can change any name, any label, and any story.

In the Bible, God changed people’s names when He changed their purpose: 

- Abram became Abraham 

- Sarai became Sarah 

- Jacob became Israel 

- Simon became Peter 

God gave them new names because He had new plans for them.

Today, God wants you to answer only to the names He gives you—loved, chosen, blessed, strong, and full of purpose. You don’t have to accept names like “not good enough,” “slow,” or “unlucky.” God calls you His child, and that is the name that matters most.

One day in heaven, God will even give you a brand‑new name (Revelation 2:17).

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

- What does my name mean, and how does it make me feel? 

- Are there unkind words or labels I need to stop believing? 

- What part of my life do I want God to bless and help, like Jabez?

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for giving me a name filled with purpose. I walk in the identity You give me, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Shalom

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO START AGAIN!

Job 17:10-11 GW   "But now, all of you, come and try again! I won’t find one wise man among you.  My days are passing by. My plans are broken. My dreams are shattered."[10]   Life may require us to start again—and it’s never too late to start over. One of life’s certainties is that everyone will experience failure at something at some point. Life is never an unbroken series of victories. Setbacks, losses, and sometimes defeat will happen and may overwhelm us. Defeat may be thrust upon us by circumstance or by others, or we may defeat ourselves by our own thoughts and actions. When this happens, some give up, some persist until they succeed, and others are willing to start over again. Luke 7:11-15 gives the account of the widow of Nain, on her way to bury her only son, crying, distraught after losing another close family member. On the way, Jesus saw her, had compassion, and acted.  The woman must have thought, "Is He kidding? Does He know what I've been t...
Read more

DIVINE VISION!

Jeremiah 1:1-11 NASB The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, [2] to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. [3] It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the exile of Jerusalem in the fifth month. [4] Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, [5] “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” [6] Then I said, “Oh, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.” [7] But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. [8] “Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to save you,” declares the Lord. [9] Then the Lord stretch...
Read more

RESISTANCE FROM STEPPING INTO PURPOSE!

John 16:33 AMPC I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]   Stepping into your God-given purpose is one of the most powerful decisions you will ever make. But it is also one of the most resisted. The Bible makes it clear that whenever God calls a person, opposition rises—externally, internally, and spiritually. Jesus Himself tells us that trials will come, but His victory gives us courage and peace. Every believer must understand this: resistance is not a sign that you’re in the wrong place; it is often proof that you’re stepping into the right one. Everyone called by God faces resistance! Throughout Scripture, the moment people stepped into divine purpose, they faced pushback. ...
Read more