Devotional — The Power of Names: What Name Are You Answering?

“And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, ‘The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!’” — Judges 6:12

In many African cultures, a naming ceremony is traditionally held to celebrate the birth of a newborn child. Among the Akans in Ghana, the naming ceremony is held when the baby is eight days old. It is a special occasion because it marks the child’s first public appearance since birth, and it is also the moment when the name given by the parents is officially announced. Family and loved ones gather to celebrate, pray, and speak blessings over the child. Often, the meaning behind the chosen name is explained, along with the reason it was given. Typically, parents choose “good names,” sometimes naming the child after a respected relative or someone who lived honorably, because they believe there is power in a name and hope that the same grace and blessings will follow the child throughout life.

This tradition is not far from what we see in Scripture. When God called Abraham, He changed his name from Abram to Abraham, meaning “father of many nations.” Abraham’s new name reflected the covenant and promise God had made with him, a promise that eventually came to pass. Also, Jesus gave Simon, the name Peter, meaning “rock,” pointing to the role he would play in establishing the early church.

In our anchor Scripture, the Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon at the threshing floor and called him a “mighty man of valor.” Gideon was shocked. In verse 13, as expressed in The Passion Translation, his response was essentially, “Me?” Gideon could not understand why the angel would describe him that way because that was not how he saw himself.

At the time, Gideon was hiding from the Midianites while threshing a small amount of wheat. The Midianites had repeatedly invaded Israel, destroying crops and leaving the land impoverished. Their oppression forced the Israelites to hide in caves just to survive.

Yet in the midst of this fear and oppression, God called Gideon to destroy the idols in his father’s house and to deliver Israel from the Midianites. One remarkable detail in this encounter is that after giving Gideon his assignment, the angel told him, “Go in this might of yours.” This reveals that the strength Gideon needed was already within him, he simply had not recognized it until God called it forth.

In the end, Gideon obeyed God. He destroyed the idols and later led just 300 men to defeat the mighty Midianite army, bringing peace to Israel for many years. Interestingly, the name Gideon carries the idea of a warrior, yet he did not fully understand who he was until God revealed it to him. 

The circumstances around Gideon had given him different names, fearful, weak, insignificant, but those were not his true identity. Because of what he saw around him, he struggled to believe he could accomplish what God had called him to do. But when he eventually accepted what God called him, it manifested in his life.

So, what name are you answering? Are you answering to failure? Defeat? Shame? Fear? Depression? Have past mistakes given you a name you no longer represent? Have painful experiences caused you to accept an identity that God never gave you?

The purpose of this devotional is to remind us of who we are in Christ. God calls us the light of the world, the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, the redeemed of the Lord, a city not forsaken, His masterpiece, and His own special people.

As you journey through this year, let your life and conduct reflect who God says you are, not what people, circumstances, or past experiences have called you. Even in the midst of chaos and negativity, remember what God has spoken over your life, and let that truth strengthen you to rise, move forward, and walk boldly in the power of who He says you are!