Over this past week I have been at debrief with my squad. Debrief is a time to renew and refresh ourselves and be filled with the Lord so that we can go back out ready to go when we get back to ministry. I have gotten to go on an African safari and see the big five before 7 in the morning, shop at an actual mall and use my phone on wifi. I have also gotten to bond with my teammates over a nice dinner, sit down with members of leadership and dig deeper into God’s word. We have had amazing sessions and worship every night, but the one that sticks out to me the most was the talks about identity and being the church.
As a child I had always grown up in the church and around other believers but it took a couple years for my head knowledge to become heart knowledge. I was always told who I was through Christ, but didn’t always believed it. Leadership had us start to write out our identity statements, just speaking some truth into our lives about who we really are through the Father’s eyes and not the worlds. I took some time to pray and read scripture and this is what the Lord has reviled to me :
i am elizabeth georgianna slager. i am adopted by my earthy father and my heavenly Father. i am not perfect by any means but i am constantly being worked on and remade so i can be a reflection of Him. in God’s image i am made by Him and loved by Him. He has never made a mistake and He didn’t start with me. i am called His handiwork and am found flawless through the one who died for me. i am known by my Father for my spirit and heart, He does not look at outward appearance like man does. i am called to be an ambassador for Him and complete the task He has given me, to testify the good news of His grace. i am called to worship, praise and glorify my Father. because of Him, i can live in freedom. i am called to suffer for Him, but not to retaliate on those that do wrong to me. i am called to walk in humility and peace with my Father. i am called to joy, to rejoice in my celebrations and my sufferings. He knows me personally and pursues me daily. even if i was the only one who needed salvation, He still would have suffered for me because He loves unconditionally. i am fought for. i am called by my name and am fully known since before i was born. i am loved. He calls me and my fellow believers, the church, His bride. my Father calls me His daughter. I am chosen daily. i am His.
Everyone has a different identity statement and I urge you to write out yours. Thank you for allowing me to be vulnerable and share what the Lord has placed on my heart. Below I have written out the scriptures that I found and used.
With love,
Liz
Genesis 1:27 – So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
1st Samuel 16:7 – But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Acts 20:24 – However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
1st Peter 2:9, 11-12, 23-25 – But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light…Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigner and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Love such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us…When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness, “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
(I suggest reading all of 1st Peter 2, there are some GOOD things in there)
1st Peter 3:3-4 – Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and he wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty o a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
If you made it to the end congrats ! Thank you for taking time out of your day and reading all the way through. You, dear reader, are much appreciated.
