I'm catching a recurrent theme here...I'm starting to catch on to what He is telling me. Are you? If you would have asked me two or three weeks ago what I felt God was trying to impress upon me, I would have said two things -- He loves me and He delights in me. I still believe that, but I believe He just might be trying to get me to say the same thing about myself.
I received this in my email on Saturday or Sunday but I've just now read it. Not wanting to forget about it or lose it, I'm going to post it here. Plus, it just goes along so well with the recurrent theme. Thank you for sharing this journey with me. It means more than you'll ever know. Your kind words and prayers are like a balm to this sometimes weary soul.
Who Am I Really?
by Christine Caine
"What is man that you are mindful of him?" (Psalm 8:4a)
This week's devotional is adapted from Can I Have And Do It All, Please? by Christine Caine, who appears on LIFE Today this Thursday.
My daughter Catherine knows who she is and has no problem displaying it.
Catherine had just started school at the age of five, and one day she had an argument with another little boy from her class. I think it was over a global issue like who was going to take the teddy bear home that night! At one point in the argument, the little boy grabbed the teddy bear from Catherine’s arms and said to her, “Catherine Bobbie, you are dumb and ugly.” Later that day, Catherine’s teacher relayed the story to me because she was stunned by Catherine’s response to the situation. She watched as Catherine, having just been insulted, put her shoulders back, looked the little boy squarely in the eyes, and confidently asserted, “No I’m not, my daddy says that I am beautiful and smart.” She then proceeded to take the teddy bear back and walk away. I absolutely love this story not only because my daughter ended up with the teddy bear but because Catherine displayed the power in knowing what her daddy says about her, which is exactly what your Father in heaven thinks about you! Empowered by knowing what God’s Word says about you, you can refute the lies of the enemy when they come.
Just like that little boy, the enemy comes to us on a regular basis, not only to try to snatch away the things in life we want, but also to make us believe we don’t even deserve those things. He tells us we are unworthy, unlovable and unable, as he throws insults and doubts at our minds, trying to make us believe we are far less than we really are. But if we can learn to possess the bold, childlike faith of Catherine and simply (and deeply) believe we are who God says we are, and we can only achieve this through the Word of God…and nothing else!
I encourage you to write down the following Bible verses about who you really are in Christ. Take out your post-it notes. Copy these Scriptures, and stick them on every possible surface. Put them on your mirror so you can reflect on them as you’re applying lipstick or brushing your teeth, adhere them to your steering wheel for when you are stuck in traffic. They will remind you of who your Father in heaven is, what family you belong to, and your true identity altering your perspective on who you are.
I am a child of God.
“But as many received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the wil of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)
I am saved by grace.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
I am alive to God and dead to sin.
“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:11)
I am sanctified.
“For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” (John 17:19)
I am a new creation.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
I am a royal son or daughter.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
I am reconciled to God.
“That God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)
I am free.
“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
I am justified.
“Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)
I am chosen.
“For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.” (Ephesians 1:4)
I am adopted.
“Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” (Ephesians 1:5)
I am accepted.
“To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:6)
I am forgiven.
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)
I am predestined.
“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.” (Ephesians 1:11)
I am raised and seated in heavenly realms.
“Raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:6)
I am created for good works.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
I am called to eternal glory.
“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you.” (1 Peter 5:10)
I am more than a conqueror.
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)
I am an overcomer.
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
I am never forsaken.
“For He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]” (Hebrews 13:5, AMP)
I am the righteousness of God in Christ.
“This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” (Romans 3:22)
Without truly knowing who we are in Him, we will always struggle, attempting to gain our identity from “having and doing it all,” as opposed to getting our identity from Christ.
This Week
Take a long look who you have thought and felt yourself to be. Is that who God says you are? Adjust your focus so that it’s on who God says you are.
Prayer
“Lord, thank you that I am who you say I am. Please help me to truly find my identity in you, and to display it in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
