A new name

My own personal story is that I have had three names in my life. I was born with the surname "White."  When I tell this story I often say I was born White...(laugh)!  Then I was adopted at age 17 by my stepdad, but I had many issues with that, so at the age of 30, I was adopted by my biological father, and my name was changed yet again.  It is interesting to me, as I have many divorced friends, that the women take on the names of their husbands when they marry, and when they divorce they hang on to those names.  Why don't they go back to their maiden names?  The imprint of the marriage stays on them and with them the rest of their lives.  That's why we know marriage is supposed to be between one man and one woman for life...til death do us part.  The only way you get out of it is at death.  I equate this name change thing to when we find Christ or should I say when we stop running and turn around and embrace Him, because He was chasing after us.  He changes our name!  There are many examples in the Bible of name changes.  Abram's name was changed to Abraham.  Sarai's name was changed to Sarah.  Saul's name was changed to Paul, and so on and so forth. When father's named their sons in Biblical times, sometimes they got it wrong and the Lord needed to change the names and set them on the right path to their destiny.  Although my first name of Deanna (pronounced De-Ahnna-meaning divine) has never been changed, nor has my middle name of Michelle (meaning gift from God and in Hebrew-close to God) been changed, He did change my name spiritually when I answered the call on my life.  So my first and middle names describe who I am and my destiny in Him despite the changes in my last name!  No one can take that from me.  God changed me spiritually from a babe to a mature word eating woman of God.  He changed my path from athletic coach and teacher to evangelist, teacher, and pastor in 5-fold ministry.  This name change thing means so much to me because in life I have experienced it so much.  But, when the Lord changes your name, He changes your destiny...He fulfills your destiny.  He is not done with me yet, but I am so thankful I am headed in His direction.  Just as marriage leaves an imprint on you for life, God leaves an imprint.  However, His imprint is greater and more powerful than any other! Has He given you a new name today?