Our Identity
Daniel 1:7
"To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego."
One of the most insidious tactics of the enemy is to challenge our identity. In the story of Daniel and his friends, after the king sought to confuse them with foreign teachings, he went a step further: he changed their names. Their original Hebrew names were rich with meaning, each one pointing to the greatness and faithfulness of God.
Daniel (meaning "God is my judge") was renamed Belteshazzar, a name referencing a Babylonian god, Bel, who was said to protect the king. This was an attempt to shift Daniel’s identity from one who is accountable to the God of Israel to one who serves a foreign god.
Hananiah (meaning "God has favored") became Shadrach, which may derive from a Babylonian god or king, attempting to disconnect him from God's favor.
Mishael (meaning "Who is like God?") was renamed Meshach, a name likely connected to a god of Babylon, making a mockery of his identity as a reflection of God’s power.
Azariah (meaning "Yahweh has helped") became Abednego, meaning "servant of Nego," a god of fire, reflecting the attempt to shift his trust away from Yahweh’s help to the false help of Babylonian deities.
This wasn't just a casual name change; it was a calculated effort to erase their God-given identity and replace it with an identity tied to Babylonian gods. Satan's tactic was clear: if he could alter their names, he could distort their sense of purpose, power, and belonging. The enemy wanted them to forget who they were and to start believing in a new narrative that contradicted the truth of God’s promises.
We face this same challenge today. The world continually tries to redefine who we are based on fleeting standards, popularity, or success. But as believers, our true identity is rooted in Christ and in the truth of who He says we are. Just as Daniel and his friends refused to embrace their new names, we too must reject any identity that contradicts our true identity as children of God.
Fasting helps us reset our hearts and minds, stripping away the distractions that seek to redefine us. When we say "no" to our flesh and to the influences around us, we reaffirm our identity in Christ. By aligning ourselves with God’s truth, we remember who we are and whose we are.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for giving us an identity that is secure in You. Help us to recognize when our true identity is being challenged and to stand firm in the knowledge of who You say we are. We reject any false identity and embrace the truth of being Your children. Strengthen us to say "no" to anything that seeks to diminish our worth in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
"To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego."
One of the most insidious tactics of the enemy is to challenge our identity. In the story of Daniel and his friends, after the king sought to confuse them with foreign teachings, he went a step further: he changed their names. Their original Hebrew names were rich with meaning, each one pointing to the greatness and faithfulness of God.
Daniel (meaning "God is my judge") was renamed Belteshazzar, a name referencing a Babylonian god, Bel, who was said to protect the king. This was an attempt to shift Daniel’s identity from one who is accountable to the God of Israel to one who serves a foreign god.
Hananiah (meaning "God has favored") became Shadrach, which may derive from a Babylonian god or king, attempting to disconnect him from God's favor.
Mishael (meaning "Who is like God?") was renamed Meshach, a name likely connected to a god of Babylon, making a mockery of his identity as a reflection of God’s power.
Azariah (meaning "Yahweh has helped") became Abednego, meaning "servant of Nego," a god of fire, reflecting the attempt to shift his trust away from Yahweh’s help to the false help of Babylonian deities.
This wasn't just a casual name change; it was a calculated effort to erase their God-given identity and replace it with an identity tied to Babylonian gods. Satan's tactic was clear: if he could alter their names, he could distort their sense of purpose, power, and belonging. The enemy wanted them to forget who they were and to start believing in a new narrative that contradicted the truth of God’s promises.
We face this same challenge today. The world continually tries to redefine who we are based on fleeting standards, popularity, or success. But as believers, our true identity is rooted in Christ and in the truth of who He says we are. Just as Daniel and his friends refused to embrace their new names, we too must reject any identity that contradicts our true identity as children of God.
Fasting helps us reset our hearts and minds, stripping away the distractions that seek to redefine us. When we say "no" to our flesh and to the influences around us, we reaffirm our identity in Christ. By aligning ourselves with God’s truth, we remember who we are and whose we are.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for giving us an identity that is secure in You. Help us to recognize when our true identity is being challenged and to stand firm in the knowledge of who You say we are. We reject any false identity and embrace the truth of being Your children. Strengthen us to say "no" to anything that seeks to diminish our worth in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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