Who Am I?

“For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you.” 1 Thessalonians 1:4

I really struggle with insecurity and self-esteem. I often feel like I don’t matter and wonder why anyone cares about me or loves me because I have a hard time loving myself. At the same time, I am insecure because I have been hurt by so many people and I long to be accepted and to belong somewhere, even if I feel I don’t deserve it.

Enter Christ!

Regardless of how unloved and insecure I feel towards people around me and with myself, I can always be secure in Christ and like Dwight said yesterday, be assured by His never failing love. It doesn't matter if I don’t love myself or if I don’t feel I have a place in this world, God loves me and I have a place in His world always. He wants to know me, have me and give me that sense of belonging.

I belong to God!

• I belong to God like property. He owns me, everything I have and everything I am belongs to Him. And like property it was bought with a price. I am not my own, and I was bought with a price. Jesus was that price, God paid for us with His son. I am now His property and like a house, He lives inside me. All that I am and all that I have should be used for His glory as they belong to Him.
•  I belong to God like a child.  Similar to that of a father to a child, I came from God, He created me and I am formed in his image. And as my Father, He loves me and cares for me. I have His unconditional and never failing love and the gift of grace and forgiveness. He accepts me for who I am because He made me who I am and He will never leave me.
•  I belong to God like sheep to a shepherd. Now this analogy is a little less appealing being compared to sheep; however if you take a look at sheep, we are painstakingly similar in many ways. Tomorrow’s post will be about how we are God’s sheep and I will go into further discussion about how we are like them. Even without the analogy described, a shepherd keeps His sheep cared for and protected and like them, we are safe and secure under the care of Christ.

I can say goodbye to my worry of being safe and protected. I can throw away my fear of abandonment and acceptance. I can ignore my feelings of being unloved, unwanted and uncared for. All of my insecurities, every single one of them are answered in Christ.

Dear Lord,

Who am I? I am Yours! Thank You! Thank for paying the ultimate price for me. Thank you for Your sacrifice and for the freedom found in it. Thank You for making me, for wanting me and for accepting me in spite of all my many many faults. Thank You for watching over me and keeping me safe and protected from my sinful self and from Satan. Thank You for Your never failing love, for Your amazing grace and for Your continued forgiveness and mercy. I am on my knees at Your feet with a humbled heart full of praise and thanksgiving. I pray I never forget who I belong to and I pray that my life would reflect You and all that I am and do will bring glory and honor to your name. Amen

The song "Who am I?" by Casting Crowns is the perfect song today and was the inspiration for the post. Instead of sharing just the song, I thought I would share my interpretation of it in sign language as well. I hope you enjoy and find security in knowing that we belong to Christ.