Do you ever feel like your brain is combatting itself? Fighting against those nasty lies we soak up and buy into with truth? Clinging to your identity in Christ while echoes of self-loathing swim through your head?

Today Larry Timm, fellow ACFW writer and a man who has made countless readers literally laugh out loud turns serious as he shares his thoughts on our identity in Christ. As you read his heart-stirring devotion, I pray God will allow these truths to penetrate deep, to your very core. I pray you would not only believe and accept these truths, but that you would live them out.

 

The Who, What, Where, and Why of You! By Larry W. Timm

Many years ago I developed a “Prayer Motto” that has helped me in my ministry as a preacher/teacher. Most recently it has been a source of inspiration for my ministry as a writer. I share it with you in hopes it will encourage you in whatever area God is using your life.

Dear God,

Please help me remember:

WHO I am, for I’m Your child;

WHAT I am, for I’m Your ambassador;

WHERE I am; for I’m in Your sight;

WHY I am, for I’m forgiven.

 

WHO I AM:  Christian, never forget that you are a child of the King! Relationships on earth are extremely valuable, and I love being a husband, father, preacher, etc., but nothing compares to the wonderful reality that I am a born-again child of the Heavenly Father! The Apostle John wrote, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are…” (I John 3:1 NASB) And our heavenly Father will never abandon, abuse, reject, or refuse us. Ever!

WHAT I AM:  Paul wrote, “…we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (II Corinthians 5:20 NASB). As Christians, we’re not just children who wonder around with nothing to do. We are on a mission in a world that is not our home. We represent the Lord Jesus Christ. We’re called to be ambassadors—representatives of One who is greater than us. We are trying to offer light in place to darkness, truth instead of error, and hope in place of despair. You and I have a responsibility to bring people to Christ and Christ to people. And the Holy Spirit supplies our power to carry out this task.

WHERE I AM:  No matter where we are in life, God sees us. His eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me! And you! He never loses sight of us, even for a second.  Hebrews 4:13 says, “For there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” (NASB) He sees us through eyes of love and acceptance. No matter how solitary our days may feel, we are never alone…never unnoticed…never out of His perfect sight.

WHY I AM:  Yes, my friend, take a moment and bask in the soul-cleansing glow of forgiveness. In Christ, we are pardoned. He is the perfect and only sacrifice for our sins. We are Christians, not because we deserve it, but because God has graciously “delivered us from darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14 NASB). Like John Newton, the author of the hymn Amazing Grace, we once were lost but now we’re found, were blind but now we see.

May these truths encourage you as you live your life for the glory of our King. May they strengthen you to be a good steward of whatever responsibility God has entrusted to you.

Larry W Timm is a husband, father, preacher, teacher, writer, child of God, and ambassador for Christ. He lives in south-central Kansas with his wife and two children. Larry loves the power of words. He is represented by Jessica Kirkland of The Blythe Daniel Agency. He’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and The Christian Writers Guild. He has been a two-time double semi-finalist in ACFW’s GENESIS contest, a finalist in ACFW’s FIRST IMPRESSIONS contest, and recently finished First and Third in the CATEGORY 5 contest sponsored by The Writers of the Storm (an ACFW Chapter in Texas).

Twitter:  @larrywtimm

Blog: www.larrywtimm.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/larrywtimm

Let’s talk about this. How accurately does your view of yourself line up with what God says about you? And how often do you put yourself down? It’s slightly cliche, but true, we are all our worst critics and tend to obsess over every weakness and imperfection while minimizing the good. But the Bible tells us, if we have surrendered to Christ as our Lord and Savior, we have been given the mind of Christ. So, how can we make our thoughts more closely aligned to God’s? This week, I encourage you to ask God to help you see yourself as He sees you. 🙂

I love this song by Third Day. Whenever I hear it, I think of how often we, God’s chosen children, walk around with shoulders slumped and faces downcast. But God wants to “lift up our face!” To restore our dignity, to transform our thinking, and to fill us to overflowing with the abundant, victorious, peace-filled life He promised. Will you let Him? Will you take your thoughts captive, refusing to dwell on negative thoughts, filling your minds and hearts with God’s truth instead?

I’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments below or on Facebook atLiving by Grace.