This could be your best year ever with one simple decision—you change your name.
I’ve never wanted to change my name. I’ve always liked Vicki Rhea Hensley Heath. I do remember, as a teenager, I started calling myself by another name. In high school, I never felt like I measured up; “less than” was a name I started using. As a young pastor’s wife, I felt my name should be “inadequate” many days.
When you look at yourself in the mirror, what name do you call yourself? Failure? Lazy? Ugly? Loser? Pathetic? Unhappy? Hopeless? Too old? Too tired? When you introduce yourself to someone, do you say in your mind “Happy to meet you! “My name is nobody.” It’s time we stopped calling ourselves by these inappropriate names. These are not our names. What would happen if we changed our names to the names God calls us? What would happen if every morning when you woke up and looked in the mirror you said:
“Good morning Treasure!” The Bible says, “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, His treasured possession” (Deuteronomy 7:6).
God calls you His treasured possession! I don’t treasure a lot of things, but I do treasure my husband and my children. I treasure my wedding ring and my gold cross my husband gave me. And I am God’s treasure. I’m smiling now, “Hi! Good to meet you. My name is Treasure.” J
“Good morning Masterpiece!” Seriously, can you imagine saying this to yourself? It may seem awkward at first, but I dare you to try it. It is an absolute truth. Many of us are dissatisfied with the way God made us; especially how He formed our bodies. We are so critical of our shapes and sizes. The New Living Translation of Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s masterpiece…” which could easily be translated “work of art.” We are each one an original work of art never to be duplicated. I am into art appreciation using my new name.
“Good morning Beloved!” This is my favorite name. What an endearing name. I know my husband, Rob, loves me. He fixes my coffee in the morning and brings it to me. He makes me feel cherished. How much more my heavenly father loves me! He blesses me with new mercies every morning, which are much better than coffee. He reminds me of His love and sacrifice every time I look at the cross. “My beloved is mine and I am his…” (Song of Solomon 2:16).
“Good Morning Forgiven!” God has forgiven us for our sin. He does not condemn us so we should no longer condemn ourselves. We must choose to live as forgiven people. Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” I no longer call myself a bad person. He has made me good and righteous.
We have the name our parents gave us, we have the name we give ourselves and we have the name God calls us. We have the opportunity to choose daily which name to use. The name God calls us is our true identity. God has the ability to look deep into our hearts detecting capacities and possibilities that are hidden even from ourselves. He knows exactly what name to call us at just the perfect time. I am defined by His great love for me and not by how I look, feel or weigh. I know nothing that happens to me in 2018 can separate me from His love. Because He has named me His child, I have the power to live the Godly life He has called me to live. He has chosen me and named me to live holy and blameless in His sight… and I can!
My name is no longer failure—my name is victorious conqueror. My name is not perfection—my name is progress.
Your Best year ever is one name change away.
His Beloved Treasure, aka Vicki Heath
Vicki Heath………………………..…….…………..vicki.heath@fp4h.com
First Place 4 Health National Director, American Council on Exercise, certified fitness instructor, certified life coach and Wellness Coordinator for her church in Edisto Beach, SC. Vicki is author of Don’t Quit Get Fit and Wellness Journey of a Lifetime. She has led a successful First Place 4 Health ministry in her church for twenty years.