Happy Wednesday, church family!

Remember in elementary school when you had to diagram sentences? Grammar was everything, nouns go here, verbs go there, and don't forget about the prepositions, adverbs, and adjectives. Everything had its place in this neat little horrible diagram of lines and offshoots. I absolutely hated diagramming sentences. I never could remember what went on what line, and why. I think it was the most useless thing to learn in school, next to proofs in geometry. Ironically, my mom had been an English teacher, so every time I wrote a paper for school, she butchered it with a red pen (but she didn't mention diagrams!). When I homeschooled my girls in elementary school, I even skipped diagramming, explaining to them I'd used it zero times in my life. I knew how to write, and I knew what "sounded" right, so therefore that was all I needed. Grammar doesn't really matter, right?  

Enter Andy’s mic-drop words from Sunday’s sermon:

Satan wants us to tie our identity to our wounds and pain, or our efforts, or perfection. Jesus writes His name on our hearts and our identity is about what He’s done, not what we do.

At first, I thought, I don’t really tie my identity to my wounds, weakness, etc. Then I remembered these thoughts: I’m anxious. I can’t do that. I’m frumpy. I can’t remember names. Those are all identity statements. Oooh boy. Debbie is so good at catching me when I say things like this- she reminds me: “Change your grammar!” I may struggle with things, I may fail at others, but those things don’t determine or define WHO I am. 

When I say something over and over about myself, of course I’m going to believe it. Self-fulfilling prophecy in full effect! I used to say the phrase “my anxiety”. In those two words, I’ve claimed anxiety as who I am- owned it, and accepted it. No, thank you. That’s not how I want to identify myself! But if I change those words to “I feel anxious”, or “I struggle with anxiety”, I’m removing its weight, and in turn, taking the power away from Satan and his attempts to bring me down.

I am not my struggles. I am not my past. I have experienced my past, and it has shaped me, but I am not that wound. I AM a child of God. I AM loved. I am NOT who someone else thinks I am. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am SAVED by Jesus, I am broken, but because I trust in my Savior, I have hope, I am restored. Come on, ya’ll, say it with me, yes, you guessed it, TOGETHER. 

Jesus, thank You for writing Your name on my heart, for claiming me as Your own. I choose to believe this truth, and reject the lies that I am anything but Yours. Show me where else in my life I am believing lies, and in those places, let Your truth shine bright. Bless and seal these good things, in Your precious name, amen. 

May your week be blessed, 

Lisa