Who Am I?

Have you ever asked yourself, “Who am I” or “what good am I?” I have many times. If I listen to the voices of the past, I am nothing. I am worthless and unlovable. I am unattractive and unintelligent, so I am useless. These are the thoughts and words that have defined me for much of my life. When I look into a mirror, these are the thoughts that run through my head. As a child and teenager, I was better able to push down these thoughts, but not completely. As I got into my twenties I let those lies about myself win the war on my mind. Honestly, the way I look in my mind is what most often feeds my emotions that tell me I am a failure.

I was a very active teenager. I played basketball in junior high, and softball, and volleyball in high school. When I was in fifth grade, I started playing the violin. I took lessons for eight years from a wonderful man. He was very talented, and very encouraging. He actually played in the Philadelphia Harmonic Orchestra. He lived in New Jersey, so it took us over an hour to go to my lessons each week. My parents put a lot of time and money into my lessons. I really enjoyed playing the violin, even if I grumbled about practicing for an hour every day. I played in the church orchestra, in competitions, and recitals. I also sang in the choir at school, and in two ensembles. I could read music and sing just about any part (except bass). I loved to sing, and never thought twice about getting up in front of people.

After high school, I started having trouble with my weight. As I grew in size, my insecurities grew. I could no longer ignore them. Those thoughts and hurtful words became a constant song in my head. I tried to pretend it didn’t matter to me, but soon enough, I started to withdraw, and stopped using the talents God me. I stopped playing my violin, because I was sure that all people would see was my flabby arms. In fact, I have not played my violin since my 29 year old son was born. I also stopped singing for quite some time. I didn’t think the choir would want someone like me in it. When I did get up enough courage to start singing again, I did my best to stay hidden in the back of the choir. I went many years without using any of the talents God gave me. Unfortunately, now that have been able to overcome much of that detrimental way of thinking, I no longer have the ability to sing like I used to. I would guess that I probably could not play my violin very well, if at all.

So why exactly did I stop using the gifts God gave me? It was because I focused on my own fears and continually entertained ungodly lies about myself. It was because I did not truly know who I was….that is, who I am in Christ.

I will not lie, I still have trouble taking my thought captive. Even now, knowing that I was wrong, I still struggle. I cannot watch a video that I am in, because if I do, I will find a million reasons why I should not be singing, teaching Sunday School, or doing whatever else God has given me to do.

How do you see yourself? Your answer to the question “Who am I?” will affect all areas of your life. It will change how you interact with others, how you view your circumstances, and how you live your life. If we do not answer this question with the truth of God’s Word, the devil will be more than happy to fill in the answer with his lies. If we allow Satan to fill our head with lies, and remind us of hurts from the past, it won’t be long until they destroy our courage, and keep us enslaved to our fears. He will convince us that we are inadequate, and unqualified. Our insecurities will keep us focused on our perceived flaws and faults.

Because I need this reminder, Let’s take a look at the Truth of who we are in Christ.

1. I am a temple in which the Spirit of God lives. 1 Corinthians 6:19&20 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” **Paul’s use of the word, temple was deliberate. If we take a look at the temples from that time period, we will notice that they were exquisite, beautiful, sacred, costly, and precious. This is what the Word of God calls us. We were bought with a price, and it was costly. Our price was the very life of God’s own Son.
2. I am a daughter/son of the King. Galatians 3:26 “For in Christ Jesus, you are all sons of God, through faith.” 1 John 3:18 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”
3. I am redeemed. Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”
4. I am forever His. Romans 8:38&39 “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present not things to come, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God, in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
5. I am precious. Isaiah 43:4a “Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you…”
6. I am loved. Romans 5:8 “But God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” 1 John 4:10 “In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
7. I am a victor. Romans 8:37 “Nay in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”
8. I am forgiven. Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.”
9. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14 “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well.
10. I am a masterpiece. Ephesians 2:10a ” For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus…” Genesis 1:27 “So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God, created He them; make and female, He created them.”
11. I am favored. Proverbs 8:35 “For those who find Me, find life and receive favor from the Lord.”
12. I am blessed. Psalm 5:12 “For You bless the righteous, O Lord, You cover him with favor as with a shield.”
13. I am delighted in. Psalm 147:11 “The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy.”
14. I am accepted. Ephesians 1:6 “To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.” John 6:37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me, I will never cast out.”
15. I am treasured. Deuteronomy 6:18a “And the Lord has declared today that you are a people for His treasured possession, as He has promised you…”
16. I am covered in grace. 1 Timothy 1:14 “and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

My perspective and yours can’t help but change, when we choose to see ourselves through God’s infallible word. So if you struggle daily as I do, look to His Word, and remember who you are in Him. You were created by the Creator of all things. You are loved with an everlasting love. He has a plan and a purpose for you. He is always working things out for your good. You may fail, but you are not a failure. You may make mistakes, but you are not a mistake. You may act unlovable at times, but you are not unlovable. You are precious in His sight!

2 Corinthians 10:5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,