One of the first blogs I posted from the field was called “I HATE TEAM TIME”. After 7 months, I can honestly say that I genuinely enjoy team time and have gotten a lot out of our daily time together. Some days we play games, watch movies, or have fun conversations and other days, team time is more serious or God-focused. A few weeks back, Jason was leading team time and gave us a list of 33 “I am” statements that are true about our identity in Christ (the list is from the book, Victory Over Darkness). He challenged us to pray over the list and identify 2-3 statements that the Lord wanted to strengthen in us; things that we have struggled believing to be true for us. As I read over the list for the first time, I thought to myself: “I know all of this. I’ve heard it my whole life.” But as I looked over it again and sought the Lord in it, He showed me several that I question Him about frequently. At the end, you will find the complete list but I first want to share with you some of the conversations I had with God that I recorded in my journal. Hearing these truths have helped turn my head knowledge into heart knowledge and a firm belief about who I am in Christ.
*I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit*
“Daddy, I know this is an area I am growing in. I mean, it was just a few months ago that I even realized I can hear Your voice and I have loved learning to discern Your voice but I want to hear You more often. I want to hear You clearly and constantly throughout the day.”
My daughter, I am always speaking to you. I have been speaking to you since you were a little girl and I love when you hear Me and soak Me in and listen to My words. I am always speaking to you. Just stop and listen. You don’t even need to ask or say anything. Just still your heart and listen. You will feel My Presence, you will hear Me. Don’t ever let the enemy think you can’t hear me. When you start to doubt, the doubt and fear covers up My voice and you don’t hear Me. Simply listen and let My Spirit guide you.”
*I am complete in Christ*
“What does it even mean that I am complete? How do I live that out?”
My Son has made you perfect. He completed you when He died and rose again. All the things you think you need to do to be a better person or a better Christian are false. You don’t need to do anything, My daughter. Just accept My love. Live in my love. Then allow My love to overflow out of you. But always remember that My Son has made you complete and nothing you ever do will add to or take away from My love for you.
*I am God’s coworker*
“Father, how am I your coworker? What do you see in me that makes me worthy of working with you?”
Nothing. Nothing in you makes you worthy except the blood of Jesus that covers you. I see you as my daughter that wants to serve and love others. I have given you a passion for children and teaching and my people around the world but I haven’t left you on your own. I work in and through you everyday, whether you see Me or not. I am always with you and I want you to picture Me alongside you in every moment as you go about your day. I give you strength. I give you peace and courage. The love you extend to others comes from Me. Often times, you think that you are doing it on your own but it comes from Me. I want you to tune to Me. See Me as I work alongside you, filling you everyday. You will have so much more joy in doing so. All the fears and stresses and worries will disappear when you start to see yourself as my coworker. You aren’t doing this alone!
I read this list several times a week just to remind myself of who I am as a daughter of the King. The more I read over these, the more they become engrained in my mind and heart and I am able to think back to these truths throughout the day when the lies of the enemy start to creep in. I would encourage everyone to take a serious look at each of these statements and ask the Lord to confirm them in you.
I AM ACCEPTED
1. I am God’s child (John 1:12)
2. I am Christ’s friend (John 15:15)
3. I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
4. I am united with the Lord, and I am one spirit with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17)
5. I have been bought with a price. I belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:20)
6. I am a member of Christ’s body (1 Corinthians 12:27)
7. I am a saint (Ephesians 1:1)
8. I have been adopted as God’s child (Ephesians 1:5)
9. I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18)
10. I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins (Colossians 1:14)
11. I am complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10)
I AM SECURE
12. I am free from condemnation (Romans 8:12)
13. I am assured that all things work together for the good (Romans 8:28)
14. I am free from any condemning charges against me (Romans 8:31-34)
15. I cannot be separated from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39)
16. I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
17. I am confident that the good work God has started in me will be perfected (Philippians 1:6)
18. I am a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20)
19. I am hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3)
20. I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love, and of sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)
21. I can find grace and mercy in time of need (Hebrews 4:6)
22. I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me (1 John 5:18)
I AM SIGNIFICANT
23. I am the salt and light of the earth (Matthew 5:13-14)
24. I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15:1, 5)
25. I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16)
26. I am a personal witness to Christ (Acts 1:8)
27. I am God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16)
28. I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
29. I am God’s coworker (2 Corinthians 6:1)
30. I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm (Ephesians 2:6)
31. I am God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)
32. I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12)
33. I can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13)
