What’s in a name? We all have one. We start hearing it the day we’re born. It’s part of our identity. I’m sure we’ll either hear or say our names hundreds and thousands of times in our lifetimes.
Then God said to him,“This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations! What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them! (Genesis 17:3-6)
Abram had his name for a long time, and it already meant father. Seriously…he was 99 years old. You’re going to change his name now? Everyone knew him as Abram, and now he was going to have to correct them. “No, I’m sorry. My name isn’t Abram any more. You’re going to have to call me ABRAHAM.”
God changed his name because he was no longer just going to be any ole’ father. He was going to be the father of a multitude. And He wanted everyone to know it. He wanted everyone to speak it out. (There’s power in our words.)
Having children was Abraham’s impossible mountain. Even when they were young enough, he and his wife couldn’t have children. And at 99, God changed his name so that every time he spoke it, he was speaking to his mountain. Every time he told someone who he was, he was declaring what God said about his mountain.
God changed Abraham’s name, but Abraham had a choice to make. He had to decide whether to agree with God or not. Whether he was going to take that name or not. Whether he was going to call himself Abraham and declare what God declared or whether he would stay the same and just keep saying the same thing he always did.
Abraham chose to agree with God…to say what God said…and his mountain turned into a miracle.
What’s the name of your mountain? What do you call it? Do you call it sick or healed? Do you call it lack or provided for? Do you call it impossible or possible?
God is in the business of turning mountains into miracles. He has no problem making the impossible possible. We do have a part to play. We have to agree with what He says. We need to call it what He calls it and line our words up with His words.
The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21)
God calls our mountain miracle. What do you call it? We need to choose to call it miracle too – every single time. Are you ready to change the name of your mountain?