Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Remember Who You Are!!!

I put this picture up because God knows each flower - He remembers
each one - how much more does He remember us!

“In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, Joab led out the armed forces… but David remained in Jerusalem…” 1 Chronicles 20:1

“ ‘The Lion King.’ A perfect example.”  
 “What? How?” I’d been talking to my husband about identity.
 He brought up a Disney movie. (The source of many great lessons.) :0)
John went on to explain. In the movie, “The Lion King” Mufasa appears to Simba in a vision and says  ( in that deep voice of James Earl Jones) “Remember who you are!” Simba thought his father’s death was his fault and therefore he wasn’t worthy to be the king. So he tried to escape his life by adapting the philosophy of a warthog and meerkat – Hakuna Matata.
Simba forgot who he was and needed reminding.
Are you like me and find yourself forgetting your identity?
I’m not talking about an occupation or a position in a family. I’m talking who you and I are in Christ. Ephesians 1 spells it out. Who am I? I am redeemed, forgiven, blessed, accepted and chosen. (Among other adjectives.)
When we forget who we are we adapt philosophies the enemy brings. Lies that take us to that place of thinking and believing we are less than who we are.
King David, a man after God’s own heart, forgot who he was. 1 Chronicles 20:1 says, “In the spring when kings went to war…” David didn’t go out and battle. Instead he stayed home and had an affair with Bathsheba and had her husband killed. He forgot he was a king, and his choices led to tragedy.
So how do we remember? We remind ourselves daily. We ask the Spirit to remind us. We remind others, and by doing so, remind ourselves.
You, the one reading this! Let me remind you WHO YOU ARE!
If you have asked Jesus to forgive your sins and lead your life, you are:
REDEEMED! If you are redeemed, don’t walk around in guilt. You are HIS. He bought you with a price on that cross.
FORGIVEN! If you are forgiven, you can’t go around binding yourself to tiny dreams and tasks because you are not worthy of a bigger life. You are forgiven completely. So live in freedom and go big!
BLESSED! If you are blessed, don’t go around living life like a victim of circumstances. Hard times and trials come, but you are not a victim! You are a victor through Christ because He has blessed you with every spiritual blessing!
ACCEPTED! If you are accepted, you can’t go around in insecurity feeling uniquely bad or in pride, especially gifted. You are accepted just as you are, not because of anything you do or don’t do, but because of Jesus. Your acceptance is because of God and His character, not your failings or successes.
CHOSEN! If you are chosen, don’t go around feeling like what you have to offer is not important to your children, spouse, and coworkers. God chose YOU to live the life you have. So stand up tall and keep in touch with the One who chose you to go for it!
It’s time for you and me to remember who we are!
The past few months the enemy has begun a barrage of evil whispers, trying to convince me of my identity: Robbie you are a menopausal woman of near 50 who hasn’t accomplished anything in her life. You are a writer who can’t get a book published because you are not good enough. You are a victim of some kind of stomach disease that you should just lay down for.
LIES!
It’s time for me to remember who I am! I am a redeemed child of Christ who lives for the King who adores me! I am a forgiven gal who can live in freedom! I am an accepted girl who God absolutely delights in! I am a chosen woman whose purpose is to love my family, seek Him and spread joy. I am a blessed, blessed, blessed writer who has the awesome privilege to use words to encourage.
Fellow sojourner for the Lord, I implore you. In the midst of grief, remember who you are. In the midst of going through a job loss or divorce, remember who you are. In the midst of a promotion or a dream coming true, remember who you are!
Now think it to yourself using James Earl Jones’ voice: (Cause when he speaks we listen :0) ) “Remember who you are!”

2 comments:

Cheryl Barker said...

Great post, Robbie. You are so right -- as writers we are blessed, blessed, blessed to be able to encourage others. You go, girl! :)

Robbie Iobst said...

Thank you Cheryl! I'm blessed by you!