You’ll be surprised how many people will be drawn to you just because of the name you choose to call yourself, your ministry or even your event.
If you know anything about naming newborns, you’ll know that names are important. We see the effect of a name in the life of Jabez. Jacob also renamed his newborn Benjamin even though his late wife thought differently.
Names Matter!
A name connects you to your identity, individuality and prophecy. It also carries power, responsibility and blessings. Whether you are just starting or you feel a need to rebrand and reposition yourself, what you choose to name your brand, work or event can determine how far you’ll go.
The angel told Joseph about Jesus not just the name but what He’ll do!
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Matthew 1:20-23
Your name is not just what you’ll be called, it is how you’ll perform! Your name is how those you are sent to will experience you.
If you are going to reach a global community or audience, consider what and how you choose to name your assignments. If God is instructing you to start or do something, consider brilliantly the name you choose. Your name can either open global doors for you or stagnate you within your locality. Some people have not accessed more opportunities because of the name they chose to call their ministry or their work.
If you need to choose a name for something; for a new ministry, an assignment or an event, consider something I call Adam’s Technology.
God gave Adam the power to name the animals and till today, everything Adam named still bears the same name.
Here are 5 things to consider when choosing a name:
- Don’t choose a name based on what people will think. Choose from the place of discernment. People will align with what you choose to call that project, ministry or brand.
- Believe in your intelligence. You have the mind of Christ and so you are not wired as a spirit being to be confused. Stop second-guessing yourself when you want to choose a name. Believe that God hears you and would call you out if a name is wrong and endorse the correct one.
- Think Legacy and longevity. When choosing a name, consider that the name will last through generations and seasons. All the animals Adam named have not needed to change their names.
- Choosing a name can be a continuous journey. Your name can be good but also reveal that there may be more you need. After Adam named the cattle and birds, the Bible says “and there was not found a suitable helper for him.” And so that naming revealed the need for suitable help for Adam. The names were good but they did not reflect Adam’s identity. So you can be doing things right now that don’t reflect where or what God is calling you to become next. In instances like this, the old names would remain but you must give room for God to do His work in you so you can get the new name and identity in Him. This is why people change ministry names after some years – because God has shown them the opportunity and possibility of new dimensions. Never be afraid to embrace a new name when God is calling it out.
- Discern your “eureka” moment and name accordingly. When God created Eve, Adam said “Alas” because finally he had found the one that completed him and so he called her woman. We would all get to that point in destiny, where we know that God is calling us to a higher place or dimension and scope while expressing His gifts in us. In Adam’s instance, it would be wrong for Adam to call Eve another name that did not reflect his own identity. There are legacy projects whose names must carry your identity. For example, you’ll hear someone say the name of their ministry is Adesewa Greg-Ighodaro International Ministries and another person say Lighthouse Ministries. These two names carry the divine DNA and identity of their founders even though one is an individual’s name and the other is a name that may have been based on research. The idea is for you to understand that when choosing a name for works or assignments that will last a lifetime or reflect a new and higher phase, choose a name that bears the Divine DNA & Identity of the leader who has been sent by God.