When We Forget Who We Really Are

Because our souls need reminding...Here's a re-post from 2011:

My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite

my verses for the king.

Psalm 45:1a

They charge through the back door wearing their toothy smiles and holding out their arms, ready for great big hugs from this Grams. 

For a moment, while I inhale their youth, I catch a glimpse of their father - a slight resemblance - in the shape of her face and in his silly, boyish smile. How marvelous!

 Wriggling out of my arms they dive into the toy box and Sister quickly emerges with a noble theme. She proudly dons a princess crown, happily announcing her royal presence throughout the kingdom. Suddenly, Brother yanks the sparkling royalty from her head. Arms flail, tears flow, and the little prince and princess misplace their own identities.

There are times we misplace our identities, too. Maybe someone yanks our rightful place out from under us or someone steels our innocence and then walks away. Sometimes though, we're our own worst enemy - adopting those labels others slap on our backs - until we forget who we are and whose we are.

We need reminding that we are sons and daughters of the King in need of a great rescue.

The King rescues his children

 In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons (and daughters) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Ephesians 1:5

            Throwing colored paper, stickers, and magic markers on the table, Mother and I rescue the moment by transforming the dining room into the Royal Crown Factory. Their eyes fix on my hands as I trace and cut out two pointy, cut-out paper crowns. Busy hands and active imaginations quickly transform these plain shapes into sparkling creations. Smiles reappear across their little royal faces as they once again crown themselves prince and princess.

Restoring our identity as sons and daughters of [God] the King takes more effort than simply donning a cut-out paper crown. But, when we allow God healing access to our hearts, he restores completely.  

(Join me for the rest of the story over at {re}fresh? Meet you there? Just click here.)

Putting On the New You

 

"...put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:24

The new spring fashions appear in the post-Christmas catalog and I order a few things to spruce up my wardrobe. When the box arrives ten days later in early February, I can't wait to open it. What better way to warm a girl's heart in the middle of winter than opening a box of spring?

I handle each pastel piece and it feels odd - almost weightless - in my hands. After  months covered in layered wools and darker hues I'd forgotten the freedom and joy spring brings with it's thinner cottons, pastel rainbows and, oh yes, bare skin. Not much to hide under come spring. It's time to shape up and shed some of my old self.

So, I start counting calories, consciously prepare lighter, healthier meals, stay hydrated, and start walking.

As I start sculpting my new shape, God pricks my heart and asks, "What about the INSIDE?"

"What ABOUT the inside?" I ask.

God leads me to Ephesians 4 and 5 (Whew! I'm outta Jeremiah!). Here, Paul encourages us to shed our former God-less selves and put on our new God-filled selves. Just like shedding a few pounds takes a conscious decision to make healthier choices, so too with putting on our new, God-filled selves.

"You were taught...to put off your old self...; to be made new in the attitude of your minds..." Ephesians 4:22-23a

We put on our new self by reshaping our thinking to be like God's. How do we do this? Paul explains this in Ephesians 5: 15-21:

• Live wisely - make the most of each day (vv.15-16)
• Understand the Lord's will - seek it, find it, walk in it (v.17)
• Be filled with the Holy Spirit - empowered, confident, bold (v. 18)
• Encourage one another in word and song (v. 19)
• Worship God - in song, in word, in your heart (v. 19)
• Give thanks - to God for everything all the time (v. 20)
• Submit to one another - not one is esteemed more than the other; honor each other's uniqueness and gifts. (v. 21)

These disciplines seem rather haughty and unreachable, don't they? Just about as unreachable as our goal weight, sometimes. And I suppose, in our own strength they are. Jesus agreed, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26).

Couple our desire to resculpt our attitudes, our minds, our bodies,  and our habits with the power of the Holy Spirit through Jesus, and it's achievable. We're free and we're unstoppable! We. Are. Made. New.

Are you ready to shed the old and put on the new you? I know I am.

Father, we know all things are possible with you. Help us to renew our minds by seeking YOU first and foremost in our daily lives. Empower us with your Holy Spirit to know and live out your will for our lives; to reflect who you are and put on our new selves in Christ. Surround us with those who will encourage us and walk alongside us. Amen.

Journey Towards Healing: Shedding the Old Labels

"...you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow." Isaiah 62:2

Penny welcomed me into the neighborhood that first day.  Although complete opposites, we remained best friends until the day I moved. Her size and personality overshadowed me but I didn't notice until some boys pointed it out.

Pedaling around the new housing development we rounded a corner where these boys played football on their side lawn--Penny leading, of course. "Fat bannana, skinny bannana! Fat bannana, skinny bannana!" they taunted until we disappeared out of sight. My eyes dampened, my face flushed embarassment and my heart wounded. They labeled us without permission.

Isn't it like that when we fall victim to unwarranted heart wounds of any type? Wounds usually occur without permisson and instantly label us--fatty, skinny, stupid, clumsy, ugly, abandoned, unwanted--fill in the blank_________.

Thankfully, God offers us a new name when we surrender our wounds to Him through His Son, Jesus. He fully restores our hearts, removes those labels we never asked for, and gives us a new name. He did that all the time throughout history and continues to do that today. Abraham (high father) to Abraham (father of many nations), Sarai (contentious) to Sarah (princess), Simon (he has heard) to Peter (solid rock), and Saul (asked for) to Paul (humble).

Are you ready to shed your old label, your old identity and put on your new name in Christ? Why not spend some quiet time today asking God for your new name. What is it He calls you? Is it blessed, beloved, beautiful, creative, strong, graceful? 

"I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it." Revelation 2:7

Oh God, as we spend time in solitude today, peel away our old identity wrought in pain and woundedness. Breathe on us Holy Spirit, wash and cleanse us by the blood of the Son, Jesus. Whisper our new name over us, oh God, and open our ears to hear and our hearts to believe. May we continue to walk upright in this new identity--one given by You, our Creator. Amen.