What’s in a name?

Names are important to God.  Did you know that God has over 100 names in the bible?  Each one of these names set forth the virtues, characteristics, and attributes of God.  In other words, they are descriptive about His nature and are a way in which God reveals to us who He is. One of His names is Jehovah Rapha.  Jehovah means "Lord" and Rapha means "to cure, to heal, to make whole."  Let's look at that in context from Ex 15:26 (MKJV):  "And He said, If you will carefully listen to the voice of Jehovah your God, and will do that which is right in His sight, and will give ear to His commandments, and keep all His Laws, I will put none of these diseases upon you, which I have brought upon the Egyptians; for I am Jehovah who heals you"......I am Jehovah Rapha.  What a powerful promise!  

Another example is Abraham.  Originally, Abraham's name was Abram, which means "high father" or "exalted father."  In Genesis 17:5, God changed Abram's name to Abraham, which means "father of a multitude." God changed his name for a specific purpose, to reflect who God was calling him to be: the father of many nations.  It took many more years before Abraham stepped into the reality of his name.  God sees in us that which He has created and destined and He calls that forth before it is known to us.   Every time someone called out "Abraham!", they were declaring the truth of what God had called Abraham to be.  There is transformative power in the spoken word!

Knowing that names are significant and meaningful, when I first started Through Him I didn't know what to call it, but I knew God did.  He had a name already picked out, because He knew the blueprint.  He knew what He purposed it to be.  I just needed to discover it.  One August morning as I was swimming laps in the pool and contemplating a list of names I came up with, none of which really gelled with me of course, suddenly Holy Spirit asked:  “What’s in a name?”  Immediately and without hesitation I said, “EVERYTHING is in a name.” 

Think about the name of Jesus.  It is by the name of the Lord Jesus that we are saved.  There is life and healing in His Name and it is by His Name that demons flee.  Phil 2:10-11 says “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly ones, and of earthly ones, and of ones under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  (MKJV)

As I continued to meditate on this over the next few days, just as suddenly as the question came, the answer, the name, came.  My husband and I were praying together when I heard the whisper:  Through Him.  I got that “oomph” in my spirit and knew He had spoken.  I was amazed at the absolute appropriateness of the name.  It fit like a well-worn glove.

Col 3:16-17 says, “Let the [spoken] word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind—permeating every aspect of your being] as you teach [spiritual things] and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Ampl)

Whatever you do, do it in the Name of Jesus, giving thanks to the Father Through Him.  I can only be if Jesus is.  It is in Him that I live and move and have my being (Acts 28:17).  I, of myself, am so imperfect, but through Him I am perfected.

The Highway to Holiness is not an easy road to travel.  As a Christian, I am called to become like Him.  I am called to not conform to the world or the world’s way of thinking or acting.  Instead, I am to be transformed by the renewing of my mind, which can only happen through Him. The Message Translation of Romans 12:2 puts it beautifully:  “Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”

What’s in a name?  Everything.  I do not pretend to be an expert.  I don’t have all the answers.  But this one thing I know:  change – true change, heart-felt change, lasting change, is only possible through Him.  In this day of mixed messages, half-truths, and a society that says “what is truth?...there is no more truth….truth is what you make it”, the only reliable source of truth is Truth Himself.

Holy Spirit has been my personal Health Coach for years.  He challenges me and encourages me.  He counsels me and asks me deep probing questions, stretching me beyond my comfort zone.  He picks me up when I fall, which is quite a lot!  He wipes away my snot and tears when I feel so bad about my mistakes and reminds me that strength and courage comes in getting up and trying again.  Overcoming is a process:  step by step, decision by decision, choice by choice.  Neurological pathways have to be re-wired and that takes time.  Perfection is not required, but perseverance is.

That’s where I come in as a Christian health coach.  We all need someone to walk with.  We all need accountability.  We all need each other and we all need Him.  I am simply a vessel through whom He can reach out.  Without Holy Spirit, without His watchful eye, without His conviction, without His igniting the passion and fire and desire to keep setting new goals, I would not be where I am and who I am today.  It is my desire that my coaching point the way to Him, opening the door for Him to do for you what He has done for me.  He truly is The Master Health Coach, depicted clearly in the Through Him logo.  He knows you and loves you like no other and no matter what your story is, through Him change is possible.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!