I don’t really celebrate Valentine’s Day, but it does have a way of making me think a little more about love. Usually, I focus on the different kinds of love with those around me, mostly marital. Recently, though, I realized I’ve been overlooking the greatest love—the one that makes all the other loves in my life possible.

I don’t know about you, but one of the biggest things that makes me feel loved is how I’m spoken to. What a person calls me has great power to make me feel cherished and to affect the perception of my identity.

That’s why it’s so important to look for identity in the right places. I should say the right place because the One who made and redeemed me is the only One who can give me identity.

Why’s It Matter?

For most of my life, I’ve looked to those around me to tell me who I am. As a child, my parents. As a teen, my friends and teachers. A young adult, guys. And as an adult, relationships and supervisors.

Some have been positive—like my beautiful mama and my sweet husband—and some have been negative, but none of them can truly provide my identity. It’s so much more because the One who tells me who I really am is so much more.

And as I learn who I am in Christ, my relationships are healthier, my love shows brighter, and my compassion for others is stronger.

Trusting My Name-Giver

A name is really only as trustworthy as the name-giver. If someone calls me a dirty name, I know not to take it seriously when I know that person is prone to lies and exaggeration. I also know to trust the sweet names my husband calls me, since I know he’s speaking in love.

The same is true of God.

I can trust the names God gives me because I can trust Him. He’s proven Himself trustworthy by always keeping His word. I can also know and trust Him by the names He calls Himself.

I don’t have time to go into that right now, but you can check out the posts I’ve written on the names and attributes of God in the additional resources section below. Definitely worth the read.

My Names Is…

…Accepted

Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

Romans 15:7

…Born Again

For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

1 Peter 1:23

…Child of God

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.

John 1:12

…Chosen

You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.

John 15:16

…Citizen of Heaven

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

Philippians 3:20-21

…Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 139:14

…Forgiven

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

Ephesians 1:7

…Free

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Romans 8:1-2

…Friend

No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

John 15:15

…Heir

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Romans 8:16-17

…Justified

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:23-24

…Known

O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar.

Psalm 139:1-2

…Light of the World

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

Matthew 5:14-15

…Loved

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:16

…Never Alone

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

…New

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

2 Corinthians 5:17

…Redeemed

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:13-14

…Temple of God

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

1 Corinthians 6:19

…Valuable

Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

Luke 12:6-7

…Work-in-Progress

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

Did you notice each name here is tied to the sacrifice Jesus made? He provides everything we need and are.

I’ve got a long way to go, but more and more I’m learning what my name is: I’m learning what God says it is, and He’s got a bunch of names for me.

And you know what the best part is? These names are yours, too, if you’ve accepted Jesus as your Savior. I pray you learn to see your worth and identity in Christ, so you can be all God made you to be.

But if you’ve never made the decision to live for Jesus, please read my page Weary Sparrow.

Have you found any other names we have in Christ? I’d love for you to share in the comments.

Additional Resources

• 60+ Names and Attributes of God & Jesus by HISsparrowBlog
• 20ish MORE Names and Attributes of God by HISsparrowBlog
• Check out this video by Matthew West. It’s a little older but powerful.