A few weeks ag
o I had the opportunity to be a guest blogger on www.2aiming3arrows.com, a website devoted to raising children (arrows) according to God’s plan. I wrote about my experience as a new mother aiming my infant arrow towards God. If you haven’t read it, check out Confessions of an Amateur Archer on that site. Anyhoo, I thought I’d share another strategy I’ve employed as a new mother to help guide my son’s spiritual journey in a Kingdom direction.
I began with his name. Gabriel King Whitaker. Years ago in planning for my future son I liked the name Braxton. I really wanted a distinguished name for him–something that would be impressive on a job application and sound like it came from a long line of wealthy people. But I also wanted his name to have a significant meaning. When I discovered that my first name means strong and virtuous, I could see how those words lined up with my life. This is no boast about me, y’all. This is a boast that God’s Word is true. Romans 4:18 C says,
…according to that which was spoken, so shall thy seed be.
This scripture refers to the faith Abraham exercised to receive God’s promise that he would be the father of many nations. God spoke those words over Abraham’s offspring, Abraham believed it, and Abraham received it. I am bold enough to also believe that the words I have spoken and will continue to speak over my son’s life will be in his life. My belief is based on the spiritual principal (found in Proverbs 18:21) that my words have creative power. I am convinced that even a person’s name is a declaration about what will be in his or her life. Each time their name is called, their destiny is being spoken over them. Now no offence to any Braxton’s out there, but when I looked up its meaning I wasn’t impressed. “The son of Brax” said nothing about the kind of person my son would become, so I ditched that idea. Truthfully, naming him after my husband Russell wasn’t an option either because “red” wasn’t gonna cut it. 🙂
The name Gabriel was actually inspired by a friend of mine at my bridal shower. Everyone participated in a game about predicting my future as Mrs. Whitaker. My first child’s name was one of the questions. She predicted that my daughter would be named Gabrielle Joy. As soon as I heard it I fell in love. I knew that Gabrielle was the feminine version of Gabriel and that Gabriel was the angel who delivered the news of Jesus’s birth to Mary. Besides that, it just sounded good coming out of my mouth. In doing further research I discovered that the Hebrew meaning is “God is my strength.” That settled it for me. Although my first born was a boy, I still wanted to use that name. Not only would my son be God’s messenger, but he would do it in the strength of God. That is what I wanted spoken over his life each time anyone addressed him.
Now about that middle name. King was my husband’s step father’s last name. He is the man who raised him, and we wanted to pay homage to him. I was totally against using his first name, which was Sonny, so the last name had to do. I’ll admit I had a few reservations about naming my son King. 1. I didn’t want others to think that we were arrogant to choose that name. 2. I also didn’t want Gabe to become arrogant and think he was somehow more privileged because of it. Despite my reservations, my husband was sold on King. No matter what other middle names I suggested, he wasn’t budging. But to God be the glory! I found comfort and confirmation in the Word. Here’s what I found in Revelation 5:10.
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
All of my apprehension vanished when I read this. The Bible declares that Jesus Christ, the most humble person to walk this earth, made us kings unto God, so it can’t be arrogant to make this claim. Also when I think about a king I think about a person who is chosen to lead like King David was. I want my son to know that he is called King, not because he rules over everybody (no, he will NOT run things in our house) but because he is a godly leader in doing what is right. And yes, I want him to reign in life, dominating every challenge and pitfall Satan tries to put in his path. As soon as he is old enough to understand, his father and I will teach Him these things. We will teach him that he is to use his leadership to set the right example and to draw people to Christ. We will teach him that he, as a child of God, is supposed to be the head and not the tail, above and never below in every situation. We will teach him to be a king not only in name, but in character. In that way, we are being intentional in establishing a foundation for him to be used by God and forming his future each time we utter his name. In other words, we are naming and aiming our baby arrow towards God.
Now I’d like to hear from you. Have you seen the fruit of your name’s meaning manifested in your life or the life of someone you know? Have you chosen your child’s name based on it’s meaning?
My daughter’s birth name is Tylyia London. Prior to salvation I did not understand the power of names. My daughter was one years old when I become a followers of Christ. I always considered myself a Christian but we all know how that goes. When my daughter was three/four other young children in church were getting “spiritual names”. We learned more about the power of names. My daughter on her own came to me and said she had a dream her name was Mary. That later became Mary Hannah. Mary means bitter but Mary found favor with God. My daughter was conceived out wedlock and it was a bitter place in my life but I found Favor with God and I received salvation through having a child and knowing the way I wanted to raise her. Hannah was a praying woman and found favor with God. Again knowing the gift of prayer on my daughter from a young age. Although legally her name is Tylyia London (and it has its significance too) we call her Mary Hannah because we are speaking over her life in the spirit that she will walk in the favor of the Lord and will be called a woman of prayer and supplication before the Abba.
Pastor Tiffany!!! I remember that many sisters in your ministry had “spiritual names”, so I can tell that you all teach this principal. My mom didn’t choose my name because of its meaning (I don’t think), but I’m glad the Lord led her to it. 🙂 I love the meaning of Mary Hannah, but Tylyia London is a beautiful name also. 🙂 Thanks for leaving a comment!
THANK YOU for sharing your journey with naming your son. It’s so important for parents to know this information, and that it’s NEVER too late to change their names/give them spiritual names as Tiffany stated. I legally changed my name when I was 22 from Sheria (meaning “darling” but also a derivative of Sharia, the Islamic law of death) to Esther in 2006 (life-changing story). With the boys’, my husband & I were graciously able to pray into each of their names which you can literally see in their personalities (I talk about the two oldest in my blog “Different and Similar”). With the youngest Elijah, whose name means “Jehovah is God”, his strong-willed personality is needed to groom him into one to proclaim what His name means in a culture & society that thinks otherwise. Prayer (much!) over him and how to handle him further solidify even the man his name emulates in the Bible. Prayer has had to surrounded him more than the other boys, so I know prayer is a part of his identity. With children, if we seek God about what He’s given us, He will be found by us and tell us. Matthew 7:7 & Jeremiah 29:13. We just have to listen.
I enjoy reading your post because I am fairly fresh off the boat when it comes to parenting and reading your post about the journey of chosen your son’s name. My daughter name is Maia Ellianna this is not the name that we plan. Maia means mother/light and ellianna means my Lord has answer. Ellianna is a combination of two names my mom middle name which is Elaine and Anna. I have learned a few years ago from an African guy that it is important to give your child a name from your family and understand the importance of it. We’ve tried other names but my husband didn’t want to change her first name to anything else which I was totally against. So I looked up the meaning and I loved it and I decided this is the name for our daughter. A few years ago I ask God what is my spiritual name? He said Elizabeth. And a few years later h
From the apostle he add Grace to Elizabeth now my spiritual name is Elizabeth-Grace.. one day I’ll pro8 just changed my name to Elizabeth-Grace… I enjoy your post again
Elizabeth Grace!!! Great to hear from you! I’m glad you enjoy reading my posts, and thank you for subscribing. I think your daughter’s name is beautiful, and believe along with you that she will be a light to others and seek the Lord for all of her answers in life. She will be so grateful to learn those things from you in the future. 😊 Thanks too for the comment. Be blessed!