The Power In A Name

A name is supposed to serve as a means of identifying an individual. A name prevents an individual from being called like a dog, cat or any other pet by making a sound.

People may pass away, but names never pass away.

Names are given for different reasons. I gave my son Daniel because of the awesome miracle God did when Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den (Daniel 6:1-28). Till date, my son’s life reflects this miracle. I nicknamed him unstoppable because of the way God has taken care of him for more than four years.  I gave my daughter Grace to constantly remind myself of God’s awesome magnanimity towards me and my family. For the past four months my daughter’s name has been working in her life. Hallelujah !!!

So you see, names are like seeds, prayers or wishes. Imagine being given a name like idiot or robber! Such a name has a strong tendency to hunt the child for ever. I have a friend who had to change his surname because it was associated with the water goddess.

Another angle of looking at names, and the major reason for this post, is where an individual suffers for the sins he never committed, simply because he/she shares the same name with the ‘’sinner.’’

A story was once told of a lady who lost a good job simply because she was the daughter of a sadist lecturer who forgot that there was a world outside the campus which he had no power over. We have them in all campuses. Some of them are worse than demons. It was her surname that exposed her at the point of the interview. Unfortunately for her, the lady in charge was an ex-victim of the dad back in the university. Another lost a scholarship abroad simply because the man in charge was once a victim of the young man’s father, who was his former boss. He was said to be worse than the devil when they were working together.  

In another instance, a young man had to change his surname simply because of the so many crimes the father had committed in the past. In yet another instance, what was supposed to be a future union was cut short as soon as the girl introduced herself. Her father murdered his father. That was the end of the short-lived love.

The examples of how a simple name can bring sorrow upon one’s life are common place. Perhaps as you read this post your mind would have taken you to a few instances.

However, the good news is that names have also opened doors for a lot people. The mere mention of their names brought them favour even when they did not deserve them. 

So the message is very simple. Names are like seeds. They grow and bring all sorts of consequences depending on the type of name and how they are nurtured over time.  Sadly, even the unborn eventually get to share from whatever comes with the names they meet in world.

So be careful, be wise and be prayerful.

God help us all, amen !!!

Related post :

The amazing grace of God

The transient nature of power

Transient nature of power