Changing Names

I was thinking the other day that I wish I could change my name. Not really; more figuratively. i feel like I am thought of in a certain way and I don't like it yet feel trapped there. I'm difficult. I'm negative.

I want a name change! I no longer want to be difficult and negative.

I've been reading about Jacob the last few weeks. I've so many questions but one thing stuck out. Well, a lot of things stuck out! But one is that God changes names. Jacob was named Jacob because it meant "he holds the heel" or something similar to that. (as you may remember, Jacob was a twin and the secondborn son of Isaac and Rebekah, the firstborn being Esau. The name Jacob also meant "deceiver".

There are so many points in this story to discuss but the interesting thing is that Jacob's name meant deceiver and that is exactly what Jacob did; he deceived his brother out of his birhtright and his blessing.

Yet, God changed his name. Not only did he change Jacob but he also changed his name to mean "He strives with God" after he wrestled with the Lord.

This isn't the first instance of God changing names; I can easily recount Abram/Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Simon to Peter. In each instance he not only changed their name but he changed their identity.

I want a new identity.