Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion.
by Brennan Manning
From: Abba’s Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging
I started reading this book last night, and wow….great read! It made me think of all the labels I have given myself in the past. Hi, my name is Diana and I am a _____________. I have put many things on that line, how about you? A lot of times I filled in that blank space with what others have said about me. And it wasn’t even true.
I have found, if I associate and call myself something, that is what I become. Words are very powerful, especially the words that I speak over myself. Words have the power of life and death. We can build someone up, or tear them to shreads, – all with our words. And, I can do this to myself, all by myself. I never really used to pay attention to how I talk about myself until a friend pointed out that I was always cutting myself down. How about you? Now I’m not going to extremes either. I don’t sit in front of the mirror for hours like the Queen of Snow White either
Back to the with the premise above. I am beloved by God…whether I feel it or not. If God said it – it is true. I looked up what “beloved” meant:
1. greatly loved; dear to the heart.
2. a person who is greatly loved.
Synonyms
1. cherished, precious; sweet, darling.
And that’s how God sees you too – beloved.
And here’s a great video called WORDS, by Hawk Nelson…
GODS PROMISE TO YOU:
My beloved spoke and said to me, Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me. (Song of Solomon 2:10 NIV)
And the Lord answered, Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands; [O Zion] your walls are continually before Me. (Isaiah 49:15-16 AMP)
A man’s [moral] self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words he must be satisfied [whether good or evil]. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. (Proverbs 18:20-21 AMP)
