FAITH CAPSULE: What name you being called against your interest, do not matter but look up to God for new name.

Luke 1:1-45

Whatever name man answers determine what man becomes about in this world. Jabez meant pain but he does not want to be a pain of his world. Jabez changed the meaning of pain by praying to God for what he wanted to be for his world. 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 recorded, “Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.” Just like Jabez, do not answered to pain; the meaning of your name shall be changed to the glory of God.
Zacharias and Elizabeth were called barren at old age. Bible recorded about Zacharias and Elizabeth in Luke 1:6-7, “…they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.” Barren was a stigma over Zacharias and Elizabeth that were serving God right.
Are you being called a name that does not sound right for you? What is the stigma upon your life that is pain for you? What name you being called against your interest, do not matter but look up to God for new name. For Zacharias and Elizabeth, at their old age, their name was separated from barren forever. It is written concerning Elizabeth, “Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.” (Luke 1:36) Besides Jesus, there is none like John in the days of Bible. Yet, his mother, Elizabeth was called barren because people did not know that God was working according to His time. What are you being called? Barren, poor…? Answer to what you want to be and not what they see in you. The Barren eventually became the mother of a giant man of God.
Hannah was barren before she became the mother of Samuel. Samuel, the son of former barren mother served God as recorded, “But Samuel ministered before the LORD, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod. Moreover his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring it to him year by year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.” (1 Samuel 2:18-19) Later, people called Hannah the mother of Samuel instead of calling her barren. God alone changed barren to mother all the days of her life.

Prayer for today: Ask God to enable you in every area of your life to the glory of His name.