In our modern Western world, names are little more than sounds that we are known by, and we think very little about their meanings. However, in Bible times, names were defining markers of identity, prophetic declarations of a persons character and destiny.
So as people come forward in our meetings for prayer, I often ask for their names, seeking God for a word for them. One day I was praying for a man named Daniel, who carried a lot of shame about his past. As we prayed, I realised the significance of his name. The Bible character Daniel is one of the few people in the Bible that has no listed sin blighting his record. And likewise, my friend Daniel, in God’s eyes, is a man whose sin is forgiven and covered, and he is just as innocent as the Bible character.
Another day, I was praying for a woman with a special needs child. Her name was Rita. I sought God for wisdom how to pray, as I didn’t want to give her false hope of an immediate healing for her child. As we prayed, I was led to share the story of how precious pearls are formed through irritations entering the shell of an oyster. And out of that pain and difficulty, something so beautiful and precious emerges. As I shared with her, the lady began to weep. She pulled out her phone and showed me that her name means “pearl”. In that moment I knew God was promising her that He would redeem her situation. He would bring a precious pearl out of her suffering and pain, something of great value that she could us to also bless others.
Names are truly significant and prophetic. Have you prayed into the meaning of your name? Maybe there is a message for your life today hidden right there, in the meaning of your name.
Ps Enoch Lavender was born in Australia, raised in Norway, spent time living in China and is now based on the Gold Coast of Australia. He has been studying Hebrew and the Jewish roots of our faith for the past decade, and has a keen interest in the Middle East from a Bible prophecy perspective.
Contact Enoch and Olive Tree Ministries
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