What’s in a name?

Throughout the Bible names are significant. God, so magnificent we cannot cannot capture his power, glory and greatness in a name. “I am that I am.” We see Him call chosen followers out of their old names and into new identities in Him where they are given new names. We see all throughout scripture that names and words are of importance and relevance. Names carry weight, meaning and value.

My name is Danielle Jade McNeal Womack. My first and middle name was chosen by my mom. My mother named me after her favorite author at the time, Danielle Steel, with the intent of calling me Jade, a name she heard and loved from a movie, Brooke Shields’ character in Blue Lagoon. My mother’s words when I asked her why she chose to name me Danielle Jade, she replied “you were my babydoll and I liked the names together.” Though not very profound, it was an honest and loving response. She wanted a beautiful, strong, intelligent name for her daughter. She had intended to call me Jade, but my grandmother, her mom, upon my arrival insisted she call me Danielle, because “it was elegant; a name fit for a princess.”

My children’s names my husband and I chose to be names of purpose; firm and foundational badges of honor, promise and protection: Braxton Stone and Jade Karis. Both names of substance, Braxton is commonly known as today’s version of Brandon, his dad’s name, a name of tradition, virtue, honor and truth. Stone is a name Brandon and I have always loved, we also liked the firmness and foundation this name expresses. When thinking of the name Stone I am always reminded of the old hymn that sings “on Christ the solid rock I stand.” May our Braxton Stone be a man of God; bold, strong and steady. Jade is the name my mother always wanted to call me, so in a way our daaughter’s name is a name of tradition and honor passed down to her. Karis, is spelled phonetically, deriving from one of my favorite words of the Bible “charis” which is Hebrew for grace gift. Our prayer for our Jade Karis, that she be a precious rare gemstone of this world, unlike all around her, radiant with the Holy Spirit and full of grace that she freely gives. People come to mind when we think of Braxton and Jade’s, not only Brandon and I, but our parents, and others we adore from our childhood.

All names should be well thought out and given with purpose and intentionality. Just as shown to us in the Bible, names should be a reminder of a person’s purpose or character. Just as words have impact when spoken, let when our names are used the impact that is left from our name and presence be that of our Heavenly Father.

If you do not know the meaning of your name and why your parents chose it for you. I urge you to be bold enough to ask the question. And, furthermore, look into your heritage. Know where you came from and the mantle you adopted when you took became one with your spouse (this goes for men and women). Knowledge is wisdom, and wisdom is power. Know yourself, know your King and know your enemy. Place a name on your today and your tomorrow. There are power in your words, and more than that, power in words of scripture that you claim and declare.

Together, let’s leave our yesterday and name our today. Think on this today. Pick a word for your rear and a word for your year! What will this year be for you? A word that you can cling to, that rings with promise and hope, that is spoken to you by the Holy Spirit. He will give you the word, just lean in, ask with an open heart, be still, expectant and listen.

My charge for this year is for it to be a year of radical obedience. Maybe, like me, you’ll find yours in a book or song. In your searching and listening, get in the Word of God and worship.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:7

I’d love to know what God has speaks or has spoken to you. I’d love for all of us to stand in agreement with one another for what their days ahead hold for them.

For all of you I will be praying, what my church is praying for the body of Christ this year – for the Christian body of believers to have a year of God encounters. I will be praying that you would be so bold as to seek the Kingdom and ask God to what He wants to show you, and open your hearts to receive all He has for you.

Please comment and share with one another what you discover about your name and what you hear from God your word is this year. Let us know what you are believing for so we can name it and claim it with you.

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, I am there with them.”

Matthew 18:19-20