faith unfaded

It has taken me awhile to fully recognize and appreciate my identity in Christ. To see myself the way He sees me, no matter what anyone else says. No matter what the devil whispers in my ear.

I had a practical example to draw on.

I was in junior high and had gone to Indian Creek with my friend Tracey and her aunt. We were walking on the sand when Aunt Billie stopped suddenly and exclaimed, “You have the most beautiful feet!”

I was twelve. There was no standard for me to measure; I’d barely paid attention to my own feet much less someone else’s.

“Really?” I’d asked. To me, there were ten toes and two heels and they got me where I wanted to go.

“Yes, look at that high arch. Most people have a flat foot. You could be a foot model!”

I’m not sure my feet hit the sand the rest of the day because I was walking on cloud nine. I had beautiful feet!

I didn’t just receive her compliment that day. I claimed that identity deep within. I was a girl with beautiful feet.

My family has teased me about my tree-climbing toes for years. My middle toes curl like a prehensile monkey paw. I just laugh right back. “Nah, I have beautiful feet,” I’d insist. “Aunt Billie told me so!”

I’ve never once questioned the truth in her words.

Yet I questioned the Lord’s description of me for years:

I am fearfully and wonderfully made…Psalm 139:14

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession…1 Peter 2:9

I let others speak words that defined me: Liar. Fake. Slut. B#tch. Worthless. Psycho. Thief. Wannabe. Crazy. Stupid.

I let Satan snuff out my torch over and over again. The tribe has spoken….

That tribe was a legion of demons sent to prevent me from seeing who I truly was in Christ. From knowing the truth.

He had a plan and a purpose for me. He has a purpose for us all and He CREATED us to fulfill that purpose. (Jeremiah 29:11)

We don’t have to work to achieve who He wants us to be. We just have to believe it in our hearts.

…if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature…2 Corinthians 5:17

I know who I am in Christ. I am an extremely open and kind, loving person who would give you the shirt off her back.

But I’m no longer allowing Satan, or anyone doing his dirty work, to rip that shirt off, point and laugh, and make me feel bad about myself.

I am a child of the King! (Romans 8:17)