So last night, I went to this amazing worship gathering in Charlotte called Charlotte One. We had Jarrett Stevens as our guest speaker. I love it when he preaches, he’s such a blessing! He does a wonderful job! He’s also hilarious, which makes him great to listen to especially for those that have the attention span of a 3 year old… like me. The sermon was very basic to the Christian faith, but SO encouraging! It was truly an amazing message!
He talked about how we place our identity in what we do, forgetting who we are, forgetting that we are loved by God. People introduce themselves and usually the next question is “what do you do?” It’s common to place our identity in our careers. Jarrett talked about how new Christians are really excited about scripture and sometimes they have what may seem like simple questions about faith and salvation. Sometimes, for those that have been saved for years, we laugh at the simple questions and the excessive joy, when in reality, that shouldn’t just be new Christians, but with all believers! We should all be like that! I guess when someone is a newby, it’s fresh on their mind – knowing exactly where they came from, the grace of God and the forgiveness of the cross. Why do Christians forget who they are? Why do we ”grow out of that” as we “mature” in the faith? We forget that we are loved. We forget that we are children of the most High God! We have so easily forgotten that He cares and loves us unconditionally… it’s something we know but it’s just in the back of our minds, not our focus, not our constant joy as it was in the beginning.
This has challenged me to walk a new walk… not the pimp walk or the butt walk (only for you Chas). This has challenged my faith walk. On a daily basis, I really let my boss get to me. My feelings get hurt and I allow her words affect, even control how I see myself. AHHH! NO! Why do I do that? In reality, it doesn’t matter… because I am loved. I AM LOVED. I am loved by God and favored by Him! He has blessed me because He loves me! He forgives me because He loves me! It’s not something I’ve earned or can lose. He loves me unconditionally!!! THAT makes me happy! THAT gives me joy!!!
So… to those people in my life that have degraded me and treated me as less than the child of God that I am… I rebuke that. I rebuke your words of hate, spitefulness and jealousy. I am a child of God. I am a child of GOD! Who cares what you see me as?! Seriously? You think your opinion really matters or changes my identity! Heck-to-the-No! AND I hate that I have believed you for so long, I hate how foolish I’ve been to allow your words to affect me for SO long.
I forgive you… to the men and women (mainly women) in my life that have belittled me and treated me as if I were less than. I forgive your words, your foolishness, your jealousy, your harsh jokes and your spitefulness. I’m over it. Enough is enough. God tells me to love you and forgive you, as I have been forgiven. So that’s it. I am choosing to forgive and move on. It’s not doing me any good holding a grudge. In fact, it shows a lack of maturity on my part. I need to move on. I have been foolish, immature and unforgiving… but that needs to change.
I heard someone say that ‘if you haven’t forgotten something, then you haven’t forgiven it.’ I completely disagree. I am choosing to forgive but my memory works just fine… for the most part. I can choose to forgive, I don’t believe I can consciously choose to forget. Choosing to forgive doesn’t mean that we need to renew the friendship, make up and be best friends. This is not a “Full House” moment where we hug it out and go get icecream. This is somewhat of a selfish moment actually – see I’m choosing to forgive for my own well-being and it feels wonderful! If I choose to not forgive, I disobey Christ when He tells me to love my neighbor as myself. If I don’t forgive, not only do I hurt myself, but it hurts God when I am directly disobeying His Word.
My entire life it seems like every few years there’s some woman that comes into my life usually disguised as a friend. They are insecure with who they are, they don’t recognize their own self-worth, so they bully those that will allow them to in order to make themselves feel better. I apparently have let them run all over me as they spitefully run my self-esteem into the ground. Some of these women are Christians – shocker? Yeah, don’t be. I’m not surprised… unfortunately. I hate it, but I’ve seen it way too often.
I’m not held accountable for their actions, but I am held accountable for myself. We all have to face God one day… I wonder what He will say about me? Do I really live my life in a way that shows Christ? Do I love enough? I’d have to say no. Do I walk with God everyday in worship, with my mind focused on Him? I try, but fail miserably everyday. Do I forget who I am in Christ? Yes! Everyday. I have allowed my circumstances to affect my attitude and question my identity!
If I am a child of the most High God, why don’t I act like it? Why do I get upset and believe the things people say about me? Why don’t I stand up for myself? When I allow their words to affect me, I’m the one who becomes angry and hurt. They could care less. It’s my choice. Why do I walk in fear when I should be walking in the Spirit of God, courageous and with my head held high. As my best friend and I used to say as a joke…”Don’t you know who I am?!”
This is the scripture that’s been on my mind. So powerful! Powerful words.
Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation–but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. -Romans 8:15-17