Rooted in Christ

While listening to a recent podcast, a father was sharing his words of wisdom for his teen daughter and it stuck with me. She was going out for the evening with her friends and he reminded his precious daughter to remember who you are and Whose you are. It’s something we all need to remember because knowing who we are and Whose we are has implications for every part of our lives. Whose you are is more important than who you are because who you are is determined by whose you are. Who do you belong to? Who is your Father? In Him alone our identity is found.

The Comparison Trap

There are many things that define us in this world, most are standards we work tirelessly to achieve and thrust upon ourselves because we have something to prove. But, to who? Just who, exactly, are we trying so hard to impress? Ladies, we have a problem. At least I do! Truth be told, it happens far more often than I’d like to admit. Last night, for example, after Bible study, of all places, my husband asked how it went. It was good, we had a small group of sweet ladies. Then it happened, before I knew it I went on explaining how my amazing friend Debi has the most beautiful home and creative decorating style. She and her perfectly pleasant daughters made a delicious dinner with homemade lemon drop cookies to die for. She homeschools, teaches swim, takes the most exquisite photographs, and always looks stunning! Wait, what was the question? Oh yeah, Bible study was fine. And just like that, I’ve reduced my identity and worth to the standard of my sweet sister in Christ. Albeit, a noble standard, it’s not my identity and it’s not hers either. She would be the first to tell you!

But, seriously, don’t some women just seem like robots? I want to give them a big, awkward hug (because that’s the only kind I know how to give!) just so I can feel for any knobs or screws on their backs. Surely, there’s a switch somewhere! You know the ones, like my friend, who seem to have it all together. If she wasn’t so sweet and wonderful, you wouldn’t really want to be her friend to spare yourself the embarrassment. I often joke that I need to get new friends. This is usually after one mentions her recent first place ribbon for her age group in the Disney Princess marathon or starting her seventeenth non-profit to help needy children and provide clean water in Africa. Ok, it’s official. We are not friends! I’m joking, of course, but you can see how easy it is to make someone else your standard, instead of seeking to please God. No perfect mom exists. No perfect person exists. God designed us to have a need. Our ultimate need is for Him. We need the salvation that comes from Jesus alone.

The Battle in Our Minds

With the barrage of sensationalized so-called beauty and vanity of this world, we MUST arm ourselves with God’s truths about who we are. When we are resting in who we are in Christ, we are FREE to serve Him whole-heartedly. We will not be so easily ensnared by the temptations that face, especially, women every minute of the day. I don’t have to tell you it’s everywhere. You already know it: billboards, commercials, magazines, social media, news outlets, and, even the church! I do not use the term “arm yourself” lightly. God tells us to arm ourselves repeatedly in His Word, because this is not a war we can wage lying down. Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God. We must fight for the Truths we hold so dear, and the battle begins in our minds. Paul tells the church of Corinth to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5) Paul is telling the Corinthians that although we live in the world, we do not fight with the weapons of the world. Our weapons, God’s truths, have divine power to destroy strongholds and it begins in our hearts and minds. My friend, God’s Word is living and powerful. We must hide it in our hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to remind us and convict us and embolden us. Paul chides the Corinthians for judging by appearances, and says it is unwise to measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves. “For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the One whom the Lord commends.” (vs.18) Our worth is found in a Father who loves us with an intensely fierce, deep, ever-lasting, unconditional love.

Rooted in God's Truth

“How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. That cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! When I wake up, You are still with me!” Psalm 139:17-18

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine…because you are precious in my sight, and honored and I love you.” Isaiah 43:1,4

“God showed us how much he lived us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is REAL LOVE- not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10

This is the ultimate display of love! Maybe you had an amazing earthly father. This is just a minuscule glimpse at God’s love for you. If you didn’t have a father at all, or worse had an abusive or absent father, you have One in Heaven who will never leave or forsake you. The battle in our minds is to continue fighting to believe and know that God is Who He says He is, and because of that fact, you can believe that you are who He says you are! The more intimately we know Him through His Word, worship, prayer, experience, the more we see His faithfulness, provisions, tender care, and feel His abiding presence, the deeper our understanding of our identity is rooted. We are His! We are daughters of the Most High. Sometimes we can hear that phase and let it fly right over our head, but let it sink in this time! Paul tells the Romans (and us) that there is NOTHING we can do to separate ourselves from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. NOTHING!