Who and Whose

For those of us who’ve asked Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, we’re privy to a whole host of amazing Truths about our newfound, adopted-into-the-family-of-God identity.

Unfortunately, most of us don’t know them.

This explains why we tend to live in defeat and despair, instead of freedom and triumph.

A couple weeks ago, the Lord led me to a wonderful book called Victory Over the Darkness (by Niel T. Anderson, since I gotta cite my sources) and in it, there’s a list of statements that I want you to read … out loud … right now.

(Just trust me on this.)

I am a child of God (John 1:12).

I am the salt of the earth (Matt 5:13).

I am the light of the world (Matt 5:14).

I am part of the True Vine and a channel of Christ’s life (John 15:1-5).

I am Jesus’ friend (John 15:15).

I am chosen by God and appointed to bear His good fruit (John 15:16).

I am a slave to His righteousness, for He has set me free from the slavery of sin and death (Rom 6:18-22).

I am enslaved to God, my Good, Merciful Rescuer (Rom 6:22).

I am a beloved sheep of the Good Shepherd (John 10:14).

I am an heir of God and co-heir with Christ, so I share in His suffering and glory (Gal 4:6–7, Rom 8:17).

I am a temple of God. His Spirit and life dwell in me (1 Cor 3:16; 6:19).

I am united to the Lord and one spirit with Him (1 Cor 6:17).

I am a member of Christ’s body (1 Cor12:27; Eph 5:30).

I am a new creation (2 Cor 5:17).

I am reconciled to God (2 Cor 5:18–19).

I am a minister of reconciliation, an ambassador empowered by the Spirit to share His Good News (2 Cor 5:18–19).

I am no longer a sinner (an unbeliever who relishes sinful living), but I am now a saint (a follower who still struggles with sin, as all do) because I am no longer defined by my works, but by Jesus’ sacrifice for me (1 Cor 1:2, Eph 1:1, Phil 1:1, Col 1:2, Eph 2:9).

I am God’s masterpiece, born again in Christ so I can live out His good purposes for me (Eph 2:10).

I am a fellow citizen with the rest of God’s family (Eph 2:19).

I am a warrior in Christ (Eph 6:10-18).

I am a prisoner of the Prince of Peace, and His yoke is easy and light (Eph 3:1,  Matt 11:29-30).

I am righteous and holy (Eph 4:24).

I am precious in His sight (Isaiah 43:4).

I am a citizen of Heaven and seated in Heaven right now (Eph 2:6, Phil 3:20).

I am hidden with Christ in God’s wings, safe forever (Col 3:3, Ps 91:4).

I am an expression of the life of Jesus because He is my life now (Col 3:4).

I am not my own; I am His (1 Cor 6:19-20).

I am chosen by God, fully known and fully loved (Col 3:12, 1 Thes 1:4).

I am a child of Light and not of darkness (1 Thes 5:5).

I am a holy partaker of His Heavenly calling (Heb 3:1).

I am one of God’s living stones, being built up in Christ as a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5).

I am a member of the Lord’s chosen race, royal priesthood, and holy nation (1 Peter 2:9–10).

I am a recipient of Christ; I share in His life (Heb 3:14).

I am His and He is mine (Song of Solomon 2:16).

I am a stranger in this world, where I temporarily live, because I now belong with Him (1 Peter 2:11).

I am an enemy of the Enemy; but I am allied with the Almighty, Victorious King (1 Peter 5:8).

I am out of control, trusting the One Who’s in control (Isaiah 55:8-9).

I am His clay to mold as He sees fit (Isaiah 64:8).

I am a child of God and I’ll resemble Christ when He returns (1 John 3:2).

I am surrendered to His will, not my own (Luke 22:42).

I am empowered by the Holy Spirit, Who dwells within me (Rom 8:4-5).

I am born of God, and the Evil One cannot destroy me (1 John 5:18).

I am not the Great “I AM,” but by the grace and authority of the Great “I AM,” I am who He says I am: His, always and eternally His (Ex 3:14; John 8:24-58, 1 Cor 15:10).

(You’re welcome for that tongue twister. And one more … )

I am more than a conqueror who barely eeks out a win, because I am an overwhelmingly triumphant victor in Christ! I am not a sinner who managed to sneak through Heaven’s gates, but a saint who was paraded into His courts while all of Heaven celebrated my homecoming … and my Sweet Savior sang and danced the loudest of all (Ps 100:4).

If reading that list had made you burst into tears, you’re not alone. That’s what happened to me the first time … and the second … and the third (I have this list on my phone, which I look at often).

Guys, if Jesus is your Savior, this is you now. Not anxiety or depression or OCD, ADHD, PTSD, whatever. Our identity is rooted in Him, the Great I AM, Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End (Rev 22:13). I urge you to read over these statements—daily, weekly, up to you—until His Truths start sinking deep into your heart.

And if you haven’t asked Jesus to come into your heart and save you—but feel this deep longing to have these I ams apply to you—then what are you waiting for? Just pray something like this:

Lord, I confess that I’m a sinner who’s rebelled against you and gone my own way. I don’t like my way anymore; I need Yours. Please forgive me and save me, Jesus, because I believe that by Your wounds, I am healed. I invite Your Spirit to come into me and breathe Your new life into my life. I want You to be my Lord now, and thank You that You are. (Rom 10:9).

It’s as simple and miraculous as that.

Welcome to the Father’s family, my dear friends!

Now, when the fear, despair, taunts of the Enemy start yelling at you, you yell these I ams right back. Fight the lies with Truth and eventually, they’ll start to be replaced with Truth in your mind and heart.