My Story Your Glory - an Eight-Day Reading Plan by Matthew WestSample

You Changed My Name

A relationship with Christ means a changed identity and a new beginning. The God who gave you your name has the power to change your name. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” In the Bible, there are several instances when God changes a person's name. Abram’s name changed to Abraham, Sarai’s to Sarah, Jacob’s to Israel, and Simon’s to Peter. By changing their names, God gave new beginnings in a new identity.

I wrote a song for my album, My Story Your Glory. The song is called You Changed My Name. The song is a worshipful response to the promise of a changed name. Check out these lyrics:

You changed my name, You changed my name

From too far gone to saved by grace

And now I am forever changed

All because You changed my name

The song goes on to proclaim this powerful truth:

I don’t have to answer to any name the enemy tries to call me

I don’t have to answer to any name but chosen child of God

It doesn’t matter what the world calls you, what the enemy calls you, what your past calls you, or what you’ve called yourself. You are who God says you are. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1)” Make the choice to answer to no other name but the new name you’ve been given as a child of God.

DO SOMETHING:

1. What are some false identities you’ve believed about yourself?
2. How does it feel to know that God has lavished His love on you?
3. What does walking in your new identity as a child of God look like today?