Creator Sets Free (Jesus) smiled at him and said, 

"One Who Hears (Simon), 

Son of Wings of Dove (Bar-Jonah), 

Creator's blessing rests on you, for flesh and blood did not help you see, but my Father from above opened your eyes.

For this reason I have given you the name Stands on the Rock (Peter), and upon this great rock I will make my sacred family stand strong. And the powers of the Dark Underworld of Death (Hades) will not stand against them.

Matthew 16:17-18 FNVNT

Jesus gave Simon a new name.

I wonder if that's something Jesus will do for all of us?

I wonder what strength Jesus would see in you and the name that He would give you that reflects that strength?

I doubt that Simon would ever have named himself "stands on the rock" or anything close to that, yet Jesus saw something in the faithfulness of his answer, in the heart that responded to his question of "who do you say that I am?" that prompted that name.

Sometimes it's others who can see the cords of strength that we can't or downplay or negate. 

Perhaps it's time to step into the strength that Jesus would name.

#wordsofJesus 

#redletterBible 

#strengths 

#somethingtochewon 

#nomatterwhatyouareBeloved

#takethenextstep