How We’re Learning
By Claudia Duff
Do You Know Who I Am?
My military ID card expired!
That sentence will strike fear in the heart of everyone associated with the military–dependent, active duty, retiree, reservist. Your ID card is EVERYTHING. You want to get food, health care, gas, or access to the pool, you need that card! It’s second nature to show that card everywhere you go, even to the Walmart greeter. (You know you have done it at least once in your life!)
I learned my ID card was expired from the gate guard, which was not a great situation. So, my sweet guy got up before the crack of dawn and drove me 3 hours north to get a new one. I was a wreck until I got that hot little piece of plastic in my hands. I didn’t even care that I had “hat hair” and it resembles a prison photo. Doesn’t matter, I get to buy food and gas!
I felt like a no one, a non-person, because that brown card with the expired date told me so. I was EXPIRED. End of story. That was the sum of who I was as a person.
Some days that feeling of being a nobody feels even more real than just an expired card. I feel expired and discounted in my soul. You have days like that too?
Lately, it’s been a struggle to beat back those feelings of just not enough. Not enough time to complete my intended tasks. Not enough patience for the people in my everyday life. Not enough joy for the journey. Not enough faith to stand firm. Just flat out not enough of me for my life. It’s unsettling and scary all at once.
But then I must remember who I am. I am a believer. I am redeemed and I am greatly loved by a great God. I know this because His Word declares it.
“Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” Isaiah 49:16 (ESV)
The God of the universe knew my name before I even came to be. I have always been known by the Creator. I was never forgotten or set aside. I am forever, eternally engraved on the palms of His hands. There are marks that bear my name. I am unforgettable.
I had to become intentional with preserving my identity in Christ. I could no longer just say all the words, I had to begin to live all the words of faith. Trust me, there is a difference.
So, for me that looks like me confessing the words of Christ, by reading my Bible, journaling the words and speaking them, out loud. Either to myself or to a battle buddy.
That buddy changes, but lately it has been with my son Josiah. He calls his Momma at least once a week, just to check on me, and we talk. We don’t talk about much, but we always chat about our faith. He encourages me and I encourage him and hopefully by the time we hang up we are both convinced we are indeed saved by grace.
We will never do this walk of faith completely without failure, but we sure can give it our all. We can walk by faith and take along a buddy as well.
How to know who you are in Christ:
- Spend time with God every day in prayer. Write these prayers down on 3×5 cards and tuck them in your Bible. I sometimes write out the verses that I want to pray over parts of my life, such as finances, marriage, children, careers and such.
- Worship the Lord through music. Make a playlist on Pandora, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, etc. YouTube is my jam for this season. I have a few playlists based on what I am doing at the time. Blast it and remember whose you are!
- Tell it! Tell someone often about the God of redemption. Make a point to call a friend, family member, whoever, and share the gospel. It is indeed the Good News!
Your Turn:
The Word of God is powerful and will transform the lives of all who believe it, take it to heart, and act on it. Below are a few verses to ponder as you continue to grow in Christ.
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1 (ESV)
“that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” 1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for your great love and your Word that has declared us to be yours. Bless our minds to even begin to comprehend the love you have for us. Until then we pray your Word, that we “may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” Ephesians 3:18-19 (ESV).
In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
