You've sinned - again?? You've blown it - again?? You've lost the victory - again?? Well, haven't we all? There's hope and encouragement from God's Word, and would you believe it, from Popeye the Sailor Man! Read the devo below and believe God's Word today - you are loved, you are forgiven, you are a Child of God - THAT'S WHO you YAM!!
;-) ------
Popeye the Sailor Man turns to Olive Oyl and proclaims, "I YAM WHAT I YAM and that's ALL that I yam!" Aren't cartoons great? They say what we feel--and some days that's JUST how we feel. We're "gonna be ME"--whatever the cause or the case! Then--there are other days, when in frustration we say, "I don't LIKE being ME!"--and whatever THAT cause or case, we moan and we groan, "I can't BE as attractive or articulate, as deep or discerning, as smart or sensitive, as sensational or spiritual, as ________ or _________ (just fill in the blanks of YOUR favorite missing qualities), as WHO? _______________ (Just fill in the blank of a favorite "perfect person" YOU know!)."
Well, have I got GOOD NEWS for you--thank GOD you are not the "WHOMEVER" or "WHATEVER" of that person next door or down the street--in the next pew--or the next-door pulpit! YOU are YOU--exactly as God made you and exactly as God WANTED to make you. Oh, you're not perfect--you have warts like everyone else--including that person to whom you compare yourself! But YOU are YOU--there's not another like you; you're made in HIS image for the work the Father wants YOU to do!
So STOP it--stop putting yourself down! Stop trying to be someone or something you're NOT. Be the person GOD made you to be...and the person you are IN CHRIST......HE is the "I AM" of who "YOU AM"--not good English, but it's sure good preachin'--for HE is our peace, our victory, our forgiveness, our encouragement, our righteousness, our wisdom, our strength, our identity, our joy, our motivation, our message--and when the "I AM" resides in who "YOU AM,"--you're OK! You're MORE than OK--you're a unique jewel in His crown, on display for a world to see HIS love shining brilliantly through the "YOU" that HE made, that HE loves, that HE approves of--so--
Lift up your head, look in the mirror, then look (with love!) at that "perfect person" YOU know and say (to yourself!) with a secret smile, "I am what 'I AM'--a child of the King, the I AM of eternity--that's GOOD enough for me!
...and that's just a little "food for thought" from my heart to yours!
"...by the grace of God I AM WHAT I AM; and his grace, which was bestowed upon me, was not in vain... (1 Corinthians 15:10)."
"...ye are complete in him... Colossians 2:10.
Prayer: "Lord, there are days--too MANY days--when I don't like myself. I look in the mirror and disdain the person "I am"--forgive me! Help me to see the person I am in YOU--perfect, redeemed, exactly as you have designed me to be! Help me to "wanna be ME"--the person YOU made, in whom YOU are well pleased--and a person of worth for YOUR Kingdom, In Jesus' Name, Amen."
TODAY'S FEATURED LINK
"In Christ I Am"--by Dr. Neil Anderson, Freedom in Christ Ministries
Copyright 2007 by Peggie C. Bohanon. Springfield, MO 65803. All rights reserved.
