I had finished my novel and was getting ready to submit it to the publishers when I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit. I was supposed to change the name of my main character to something entirely different.

My main character was called Rebecca or Becky. I was to change the name to Susanna or Suzie.

I wondered why?

I thought maybe it had something to do with the meaning of the name and so I looked up the Biblical meaning of Susanna or Suzie. The name means “graceful Lily”. That described my main character perfectly. I was so touched that God would care about a detail such as that for the novel we have written together.

This got me thinking about my legal name and the meaning of it. I write under a pen name so as to remain private but my legal name means “God’s gracious gift.”

There have been times that I wanted to throw that name back to God in anger. For there are many times when I do not feel gracious, nor do I feel like a gift. Yet it is in those times when God reminds me there is a reason why I was named that and it is something I should strive to become.

There is another name which I carry. It is a name which covers my heart. I am a Christian because I believe that Christ died for my sins.

I fear I discard that name in my daily walk as I choose to put myself first, instead of others, more times than I care to admit.

Sometimes my choice of words is poorly chosen and I say words which would offend most others who are Christians.

I fly off the handle for the most insane and stupid reasons and instead of giving grace and mercy to others, I judge them.

So how dare I call myself Christian?

I dare to call myself Christian because it matters not what I do or say but only how much my Saviour has done and He has sacrificed His very life so that I could have a claim to an eternity with God.

I believe that choosing to be called a Christian is the most important name I will ever lay claim to.