Ever wish you had a different name? I should preface this with the fact that I do love my name . . . I’ve always liked it and the fact that God chose to give me the personality to fit was very gracious. I enjoy telling people “Yes, my parents were hippies. You can still catch my mom burning incense and my dad’s album stash is very visible in the living room.”
However, there are days when a different name would feel refreshing. Or maybe it’s not even a name change but the excuse it would give to be different. For example, I have a good friend named Mariah. Her name just sounds good rolling off your tongue, “MARIAH.”
There are no specific images that directly relate to her name. It has a sense of mystery and wonder. There is simply none of that mystery going on when I meet someone for the first time. My name describes my usual disposition and that is that. I have never pulled off trying to be mysterious very well.
I have actually consciously tried to walk into a gathering and be different by keeping quiet, not laughing as loud and so on. It will last about three minutes before I’m totally sucked into conversation and back to myself. So why do we desire to be different from who we are?
Well, I don’t know the psychology behind that answer, but I am reminded that our Father gives us this chance every day. None of us are as pure or righteous in the ways we would like to be, but every day He makes us that way through Jesus. When I desire to be something I’m not, it would do me good to remember what I can change.
I can make the choice to act as though Jesus has redeemed my life and live in a way that shows I’m changing every day because of His goodness. While I might not be able to pull off “mysterious,” I can enjoy people around me that naturally are and strive to be different in the way Jesus offers me every day.
Memory Verse:
“Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
– Ephesians 4:24 (NIV)
Prayer Prompt:
“God thank you for the personality you gave me. Allow me to be transformed by your redeeming power, changing daily to be more like you…”
Contributing Writer:
Sunny Reed
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