A child is named on the eighth day of his birth. A name can simply be defined as a word or set of words by which a person is known or identified with. Often times destiny is sealed by one’s name.
Names have different origins. Some are Hindu, Arabic, Hebrew, English, African, Asian etc. There is no child born that is not identified with a name. Sometimes, a child is named due to the circumstance surrounding his birth.
Also Read:Symbolic Meanings Of The Human Hand
The names of John and Jesus were already foretold (Luke 1:15, 2:31) which preceded their birth and destinies.
During the olden days in western Nigeria, names were often idolised. Names of idols and deities were often attached to the names of children. Names like Esubunmi ( the devil has blessed me with a gift), Okuntimehin ( the water god is my backbone), Ikumuyiwa ( death brought this), Ifatosin ( ifa deity is worthy of worship) etc.
These names have negative effects on the destinies of such children because consciously or not, they have been covenanted or dedicated to such gods or deities and they claim absolute control over the lives of such children.
If such children try to run away or deviate from the worship of such gods or deities because of civilisation or whatsoever reason they have, the results are always catastrophic except the God of gods deliver them.
In 1 Samuel 4:20, the wife of Phinehas, the son of Eli, fell into labour due to the tragic news she heard. When she gave birth to her son, the Bible says she did not regard the child.
She ignored him. Although at the time of his birth, his mother was dying but she refused to acknowledge him not because of the state of her health (because she still had enough breath in her to name him) but because of the circumstance in which he was born. She, therefore, named him Ichabod meaning ‘departed glory’.
Ichabod has never mentioned in the Bible again. What kind of future could he possibly have? His destiny had been sealed by his name.
The mother of Jabez named him so because she bore him with sorrow and it negatively affected his destiny. When he had enough of the ill luck, difficulties, failure, poverty and whatsoever plagued his life, he went to God in serious prayers. In 1 Chronicles 4:10, the Bible recorded that he called on the God of Israel to change his destiny and the Lord in his infinite mercies, heard and granted his request.
God changed the names of Abram and Sarai to Abraham and Sarah respectively because he knew that their names would hinder the manifestation of the plans he had for their lives (Genesis 17:5,15).
‘And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel'(Genesis 35:10). Jacob had been operating under that name which literarily meant cheat or deceive which we call 419 but when God blessed him, he changed everything about him including his name!
As parents or would-be parents, it is a bad thing to name our children due to a negative circumstance that may be affecting you at that moment because it may alter the destinies of those children through which God will change our situations for the best.
Imagine a child whose name means bitterness or serpent or unclear or unstable, what kind of destiny would one expect such child to have but by God’s mercy?
Some children with Godly and well-meaning names tend to deviate from their God-given destinies but such children have to be brought back to the cross of Calvary so that the ever-flowing blood of Jesus can erase any error and set them back on the right track.
I want you to analyse and figure out and check for any negativity attached to it. Detach yourself from that name and seek God’s face for a name that will launch your destiny.
Remember, the second worst thing apart from losing your soul to the devil is dying with your potentials untapped. God bless you richly.
PRAYER
1. Every good thing in my life that has died because of my name, come alive in Jesus’ name.
2. O Lord, I rededicate my life and my entire being to you today, in Jesus’ name.
