Naming your child 🤱🏽

My favourite people! God bless you. Have you ever met someone with a really funny or weird name? Then you come across someone else with a unique name. Some have biblical names and some have “Zimbabwean” names. Thank God my parents didn’t try to be funny when naming me.

I once heard of a man called Promotion. I mean, yes being promoted is a good thing, but should that really be your name? In my village, there was someone named Builder. Great concept, I suppose maybe they hoped he would build the family but as a name? I don’t think so. But at the end of the day, we can’t blame the child. Why? Because it’s the parents who name the child.

We often laugh at Zimbabwean names, but some American names also don’t pass the mark. Someone might name their child East, East of what, exactly? Then there are names like Blue or Pink. Sometimes it feels like a party of random words, and when you try to make literal sense of them, there’s just… nothing there. Again, parents name the child. I know someone called Sikhathele , it means “we are tired.” And another named Senzeni, meaning “what have we done?” Now imagine growing up with names like that. It’s no surprise some of these kids end up getting bullied in school. You will understand in a moment why I’m saying all this. I’m not trying to be funny at all.

When Mary became pregnant, she was given a name for the child. When Elizabeth conceived, both she and Zechariah were also given a specific name for their son. God didn’t leave it up to them even though I’m sure there were many beautiful names they might have chosen on their own. So why did God insist on naming them? Because a name is not just a label , its identity. And beyond that, it carries deep spiritual significance. That’s why, when you’re birthing a vision, a calling, or a purpose, you need to ask God what He wants it to be called. He already has a name for it. Don’t just name it based on your feelings or circumstances ask Him. Because the name matters.

And He was given a name above every other name. That means there’s also a name suitable for your church, your ministry, your vision. You can’t just wake up and decide to name your church some funky name. My apostle always jokes saying things “Sibongile Flying to Heaven Ministries.” It sounds funny, but you will be shocked some names people claim God gave them. Be careful. Be careful not to birth a God-given vision and then name it in the flesh. I want to share something with you that happened to me a while ago…

In a dream, I encountered a spirit. We had such a fierce fight. At one point, I asked, “Why are you fighting me?” The spirit responded, “Arimaka, I must destroy you.” I was confused who is Arimaka? My name is Vanessa. But the spirit repeated it, three times: “Arimaka… Arimaka… Arimaka.” Then she said, “You don’t even know who you’re called in the spirit.” And as I started to gain victory over her in the dream, all she could say was, “Arima… Arima….” The meaning of the name is devoted one.

The moment I woke up, the first thing I did was Google the meaning of that name. And in that moment, I discovered something profound: everyone has a spiritual name. Some people are called poverty. Some are called delay. Some are called wealth. Some are called favour.

Why did Jacob need a name change? Why did God change Abram to Abraham? Sarai to Sarah? What’s the big deal? Because names have spiritual implications. As you birth that vision ask God, “What is the name?” As you write that book, ask Him, “What should the title be?” As you raise your children name them wisely. Don’t go and carry demonic spirits into your home.

Every name is an identity. It will either attract things or repel them. will either open doors or close them. It matters what you name your child. It matters what you name your vision. It matters what name you carry in the spirit.

“But immediately, he drew his hand back, and out came his brother; and she said, “Look how you have broken out of the womb!” So, he was named Perez, the one who breaks through.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭38‬:‭29‬ ‭TPT‬‬

See you tomorrow. ❤️