Who are you?

Who are you? Are you defined by what people think of you? Is your worth found in the job you have? Is your worth found in who you think you are? If you answered yes to any or all of those questions, then you don’t truly know who you are.

The only one who can determine something’s worth is the one who created it. Let’s say you created a piece of art, you know why you did certain strokes added certain colour, you know the reason and purpose behind your piece and no matter what people think of it. It’s value doesn't change based on opinions, it’s value is what the creator intended it to be. 

The same is true about our identity. Only God knows why our body is shaped the way it is. Only God knows the purpose and intention behind the so called flaws about you. Only God knows how truly beautiful and loved you are. Just because someone calls us ugly or not smart enough, it doesn't change our value or purpose. God made you the way you are on purpose, nothing about is a mistake. Nothing about you is useless. Nothing about you is in conflict with your value or purpose.

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvellous—how well I know it.How precious are your thoughts about me,[b] O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!” -Psalm 139:13,14,17 &18

He designed us, he formed us, he made us, not because he had to but because he wanted to. His thoughts of us are precious. The definition of precious is: Great value, Cherished, and Beloved. That is how God thinks of each one of us. Don’t look down at yourself when God has made you valuable and loved. We may feel weak, we may feel ugly, but we are NOT, because God made us in his image, he is not ugly or weak and neither are we.

“God created man in his own image” Genesis 1:27

“We are his workmanship” Ephesians 2:10

“You are chosen” 1 Peter 2:9

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” Philippians 4:13

“He calls us his children” 1 John 3:1

We know who God is, we know our value, we know these things but we don’t always believe them, but we should. If your mind is telling you something else, it is LYING to you. You are those things despite what you have done or what you will do. God has REDEEMED you, he has FORGIVEN you, He has DIED so that you can live and be FREE. Embrace who God made you to be. Believe in your value. 

“I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I'm not enough

Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up

Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low?

Remind me once again just who I am, because I need to know (ooh oh)

You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing

You say I am strong when I think I am weak

You say I am held when I am falling short

When I don't belong, oh You say that I am Yours

And I believe (I), oh I believe (I)

What You say of me (I)

I believe

The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me

In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity"

You say By Lauren Daigle

Faith

How do you define the word faith? 

My understanding of faith is being shaped and molded. I am reading through the book of Daniel. Wow was this guy the definition of unshakeable faith. Daniel and his friends remained calm in all circumstances, even in the face of death. 

They declared “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” Daniel 3:17-18

If that is not the definition of faith, I don’t know what is. That definition says: I will trust God because he has proved faithful and he is worthy to be praised no matter what happens. That is the faith I want to live by. I know for a fact Daniel was not perfect, he had his flaws, we all do. when it came to what was most important, he got it right.

Lately people are missing the point of faith, it isn’t about facts and religion, the rules and regulations. We get caught up in the small itty bitty details that in the long run don’t matter. it’s okay if we don’t agree with people on everything. God made us different and with our own likes and dislikes. It’s okay if we disagree at times.

What matters is that we believe in God, believe he was the son of God, that he died and rose from the grave for our sins. That we believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. That we show others who Jesus is, help those in need. Stand up for what is right, and ultimately believe that Jesus has the best in mind for us and we can always trust him.

I want to challenge you to look at your life. What are you putting your faith in? If the answer isn't Jesus, then you got some work to do. None of us are perfect but are you growing and spending time with him? What do you believe about him? Are you believing lies about him that are causing you to doubt him? 

I know I need to spend more time with him. I procrastinate, yet when I spend time with him, I notice a change in me, I feel better, I enjoy it and feel refreshed. But  I get distracted or lazy because i am human, we all are. We are imperfect but that doesn't mean we give up, we push through and every day is a new day and I can start again. His mercies are new every morning.

Spend time with him, really connect with him personally. He desires that and our souls crave that connection to him. Fight your fleshly desires, your spirit is so much stronger, but you need to make a choice, and do it. I know you can, after all anything is possible with God