Change My Label – Part 2

Isaiah 62:2 “The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory.
You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name.”

God knew that Jacob first had to admit what the label was. God understood the power of confession. Until we are willing to admit who we are, we can never become who He wants us to be. Admit who we are so that God can change us from the inside out and with it, our label. God’s name has been the same forever! His label has never changed. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We can trust in that fact with all our hearts. Jacob wrestled with God and God changed Jacob at the deepest level. It was only after God changed the label over his life that God knew Jacob, now Israel, was ready to be blessed. Only after we allow God to change our label can we fully experience the blessing and favor of God. True believers seriously study the Bible to know and understand what God, to know God more and allow Him to change the labels upon us. We come to God at the foot of the cross saying: “I cannot do this anymore or any longer!” Not by works of righteousness, but broken. The moment when you send everything else ahead. All your talent, your ability, your charisma, your personality, everything, and you get alone with God and you wrestle and hold on until he breaks your hip. This is the moment when you’ll go one way or the other. The hardest prayer is for our hearts to be broken, so that God can change us. Look at my life Lord, break it and change my name.

Ephesians 2:1-6 “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

Are we holding back some inequity in our heart? It will all come to light. How long do we spend living with the list of our empty names and offenses, asking yourself these questions: “Who do we really deceive?”, “Who do you belong to?”, and “Who do you serve?” But if we choose to wrestle and let God change who we are at the core, God will (metaphorically) break your hip and you’ll forever walk differently. Fake it or walk with a limp; the choice is yours. We have to choose to let God change us at the core of our being. We have to choose to let God change our identity and let it be the catalyst to a new approach to everything we were and everything we do for the rest of our life. God wants to change who we are, not just what we do. God wants to change you and me at the deepest level --- the belief level. If you’re going to experience a label change, you must understand that it will require a supernatural work of God in your life. It takes a willingness on our part to wrestle with God. When you allow God to change the label over your life, it affects not only you but also every relationship in your life. God is looking for us to take the step towards Him and say, “Okay God, I’m ready. Change my label.” What name does God have for you; for His identity in you today?

In Christ, Brian