You Changed My Name

Matthew West’s song, You Changed My Name, talks about identity, both before and after conversion.

My name was Lost ‘til Your love reached down
You rescued me, now my name is Found
I was a slave to my sin and shame
But those chains fell off when You changed my name

This is not the first time he sings to the subject of identity.  In 2012, Matthew west released a song titled, Hello, My Name Is.

Hello, my name is regret
I’m pretty sure we have met
Every single day of Your life
I’m the whisper inside that won’t let You forget

Hello, my name is defeat
I know You recognize me
Just when You think You can win
I’ll drag you right back down again till You’ve lost all belief

These are the voices, these are the lies
and I have believed them, for the very last time

Hello, my name is child of the One True King
I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed, and I have been set free
“Amazing Grace” is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the One True King

As a Christian, your identity is not tied up in a past littered with mistakes, hurts, or fears.  Your identity is not wrapped up in your current situation.  Your identity is not any title you carry:  husband, mother, uncle, Grandma, CEO, grocery bagger, garbage collector, etc.

As a Christian, your identity is found in Christ.  You are who He has called you to be.

The nations will see your righteousness.
    World leaders will be blinded by your glory.
And you will be given a new name
    by the Lord’s own mouth.
The Lord will hold you in his hand for all to see—
    a splendid crown in the hand of God.
Never again will you be called “The Forsaken City”
    or “The Desolate Land.”
Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight”
    and “The Bride of God,”
for the Lord delights in you
    and will claim you as his bride. (Is. 62:2-4 NLT)

As a Christian, we need to know our identity, and proudly state it whenever anyone wants to know who we are.  In the Christian movie, Overcomer, John, a Christian, goes into the wrong hospital room during a visitation.  He forms a friendship with the blind man in that room and continues to come back to visit him.  At one point, this man challenges John as to what his identity is.

John is a coach at a high school.  The girl he coaches in cross country struggles with her identity.  At some point, she gives her life to Christ, and comes to realize what her identity is.

Your identity cannot be dictated to you by the enemy.  The enemy may try to control what your identity is by reminding you where you have come from.  Rather than getting depressed about the things you used to be, rejoice because that his what God has delivered you from!

Whatever the enemy tries to call you, you do not answer to that.

And I don’t have to answer to any name
That the enemy tries to call me
I don’t have to answer to any name
But Chosen Child of God

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You Changed My Name
My name was Lost ‘til Your love reached down
You rescued me, now my name is Found
I was a slave to my sin and shame
But those chains fell off when You changed my name

You changed my name, You changed my name
From Too Far Gone to Saved By Grace
And now I am forever changed
All because You changed my name

You called me out from the grave I knew
The old is gone, now my name is New
I once was guilty, but not anymore
You paid my price, now my name is Yours

Yes, You paid my price, now my name is Yours

You changed my name, You changed my name
From Too Far Gone to Saved By Grace
And now I am forever changed
All because You changed my name

Oh, woah-oh

And I don’t have to answer to any name
That the enemy tries to call me
I don’t have to answer to any name
But Chosen Child of God
No, I don’t have to answer to any name
That the enemy tries to call me
I don’t have to answer to any name
But Chosen Child of God

You changed my name, You changed my name
From Too Far Gone to Saved By Grace
And now I am forever changed
All because You changed my name

It’s all because You changed my name

And I don’t have to answer to any name
That the enemy tries to call me
I don’t have to answer to any name
But Chosen Child of God
Oh, I don’t have to answer to any name
That the enemy tries to call me
I don’t have to answer to any name
But Chosen Child of God