Power of a Name

You’re such a Loser!

I met a “Loser” this week.? Cory Loser.? Think of that name in the 3rd grade role call!? “Loser, looking for Loser, is that Loser boy here?? And he wore that name to its fullest.? He didn’t play sports in fear of being called and known as a loser.? But his life and actions followed that name.?

20 years on meth, 10 years in prison.? A felon.? A loser.

But you see God does something with names.? He can strengthen them.? But He can also change them.? Saul the Christian killer to Paul the Kingdom builder. ?Cory Loser the addict to Cory Losier the author of hope.

There is so much power in your name!?

I have a unique last name, that I love.? Of course I’ve heard every “Goodnight” joke under the sun, most of them shrugged off or I just go with it.?

But my name wasn’t living up to the calling it had.? Though I come from a family lineage of successful people including Texas Ranger (think western, not baseball) and inventor of the chuck wagon, Charles Goodnight, more success without vision led to a life of chaos, self-absorbed consumption and minimal impact overall.?

Don’t you love it when Scripture jumps off the page at you and smacks you in the face?? It happened to me recently.? I was listening and skimming through 1 Chronicles.? This book of the Bible lists out all the genealogies from the 12 tribes (again).? This isn’t just an oversight or duplicate text to annoy us but is documentation for the tribes to know who they belonged to after the exile.

I stumbled across the genealogy of Asher:

”All these were descendants of Asher—heads of families, choice men, brave warriors and outstanding leaders. The number of men ready for battle, as listed in their genealogy, was 26,000.” 1 Chronicles 7:40 NIV

I started to consider my genealogy and how it’s shifted over the past few years.? If my genealogy would have been sealed in 2020 and read 250 years later if would have sounded something like this:

All these were descendants of Goodnight - head of companies, good providers, self-consumed lovers of pleasure, misplaced identity, disobedient, and OK leaders. Missed the true meaning of this one life they all got

Yikes!? Makes me squirm and nauseous just reading this.? But it was true.? I was building my own Kingdom, with a little bit of God sprinkled in, with no thoughts of the impact my lifestyle would have on multiple generations. Again, I had NO Vision.? I was focused on me and starting to get a little concerned about the 1 generation in my household.

Vision for Multiple Generations

I had no vision for 5, 6 or even 7 generations down the road.? And without putting words in your mouth, I’m guessing you are similar, but probably a bit better than me thinking out up to 2 generations.? Or when you talk about the future generations it’s in regard to “how bad it will be one day for my kid’s kids.”? Or how you are “concerned” for the future.?

What if the script was flipped and you went on a mission to build out a thriving multi-generational genealogy that flourished in every season, regardless of policies, politics, and pole results.? What if you took the Genesis 1 approach to be fruitful, multiply and rule.?

Let me tell you today that your name matters!? Your genealogy has the power to be shifted, through the grace of God and your decision to make it shift.? If my genealogy was solidified today in 2024, it would read something like this 250 years down the road:

All these were descendants of Goodnight - heads of families, choice men, brave warriors for the Kingdom, outstanding leaders.? They were on mission and always ready for battle, displaying immediate obedience and unwavering faith.

You have the power to rewrite your genealogy.?

Regardless of your upbringing, generational drama, trauma or a crazy baby mama.? You can rewrite your history.? The King and Creator of the universe has it prepared for you, you just have to take and walk in it.

What about that Loser fella?? He’s now slinging hope for Jesus, released a book (Born a Loser), and got his name changed to incorporate the correct pronunciation of Losier.?

Our God has the power to change names!?

Be changed today!

Look up and support Cory Losier on Amazon “Born a Loser” book

Want to avoid the missteps that I took?

Consider jumping in on my online course titled "Becoming Dadvoted" to unlock practical, repeatable and tangible steps to creating a multi-generational legacy (link below).

Kevin Goodnight - Dadvoted