Daily Devotional – 7/15/16 “What’s in a name?”

I’ve never been one to refer to myself as a bad B****, I’ve never seen the need for it. My momma gave me a name that fits me as well as the nickname my grandma gave me; so I’m good. I don’t need you giving me or calling me anything else. The only other person who changed my name was God and His name change came with promotion. This is why you can’t refer to me as a B**** or anything else other than my name. See, I would go so far as to say that those who refer to themselves as such obviously don’t understand what it means. By definition, it’s a female dog, wolf, fox or otter. However, it also means a difficult or unpleasant situation or thing, a complaint and it’s used to express displeasure. So, in other words when you refer to yourself, when your dude call you this or your so-called friends reference you as that; they are ultimately saying you aren’t really a bad b**** but you’re in actuality a difficult or unpleasant thing. This is why you have to be careful of the name you give yourself and the name you allow yourself to be called. There used to be a time when names meant something. A father would give his son his first and last name to carry on the legacy. Mothers would name daughters a name befitting to them. But now, we’ve gotten so wrapped up in fancy spelling, 22 syllables with 32 letters that we no longer consider the meaning of anything anymore.

In the bible, names meant something.

Abram meaning exalted father was changed to Abraham meaning father of a multitude because it came with promotion.

Jacob meaning holding of the heel (he was born holding his twin’s brother heel) was changed to Israel meaning having power with God. – It came with the anointing.

Simon means God has heard was changed to Peter meaning rock. Yet, Jesus sometimes referred to him by his old name of Peter to remind him of where he came from.

In the story of Joseph (whose name means may Jehovah add increase) was put in the pit by his brother Reuben but it was his brother Judah who pulled him out. Here’s where names matter. Reuben’s name means misery and Judah’s name means praise. So in other words, it was misery (Rueben) who put Joseph in the pit but it was praise (Judah) who pulled him out!

Names have meanings!

This is why you have to be careful what name you go by, what names you allow yourself to be called and especially what you answer too. For the bible says in Proverbs 22:1, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.”

PS – I will be in revival starting Sunday. Please see the flyer for more details. If you in Memphis, Mississippi or the surrounding areas, I’d love to see you. If not, send your prayers.

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Published by Pastor LaKisha

LaKisha Johnson is an author of thirty Christian Fiction novels, devotionals and journals. She writes from her heart, as she hopes the messages, on the pages, will relate to every reader.  Ask her and she’ll tell you, ”It’s not just writing, its ministry.” Over the course of her career, she’s won the 2018 Drunken Druid Book of the Year Award for her book, The Forgotten Wife, 2019 Top Shelf Christian Fiction Book of the Year for Dear God: Hear my Prayer, 2020 Distinguished Authors Guild Award for her book, I’m Not Crazy and was a 2020 TopShelf Women’s Fiction Finalist for her book, When the Vows Break. In addition to being a self-published author, she’s also a wife of 22 years, mother of 2, Asst. Pastor of Macedonia MB Church in Hollywood, MS; Sr. Business Analyst with FedEx, Devotional Blogger and more. She’s a college graduate with 2 Associate Degrees in IT and a Bachelor of Science in Bible.   LaKisha writes from the heart, and this is why she doesn’t take the credit for what God does. If you were to strip away everything, you’d see that Lakisha is simply a woman who boldly, unapologetically and gladly loves and works for God.

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