Things I am and Things I'm not

Sometimes I let all the wrong things define me.

A few months ago while at house church, I found myself in a down-right foul mood for no particular reason. That night we happened to be talking about being open to the Holy Spirit and being brave enough to act when we felt called to do something.

When house church was over I got into my car, still in a bad mood. I turned on the radio and began the drive home. I was having a lot of ridiculous thoughts- letting myself feel insignificant and worthless because of stupid things, thinking about all the things I'd change about myself if I could. Then I felt that old familiar tug- the Holy Spirit nudging me- telling me to turn off the radio and deal with the absurd thoughts I was having.

So I did.

I turned off the radio, realized how silly I was being, then I went home and wrote this.

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I am not what the world says I am.

I’m not the clothes I wear or a number on a scale. I’m not the bad things I’ve done in my past.

I’m not the good, admirable things I’ve done.

I’m not the rules I’ve broken or kept. I’m not the things I’ve saved for marriage. I’m not the things I didn’t save for marriage.

I’m not my charm or good looks. I’m not my impatience or chubby thighs.

I’m not the horrible things that have been done to me. I’m not the circumstances I was born into.

I’m not my accomplishments and my trophies. I am not an accumulation of stuff.

I’m not the number on my paycheck. I’m not the car I drive.

I’m not the people who laugh at me, or the people who like me.

I’m not the boys who ignore me or the boys who adore me.

I’m not the ugly words I’ve screamed in anger. I’m not the kind words I’ve said with love.

I’m not my mother’s daughter or my father’s daughter.

I’m not my mistakes, my faults, or my failures. I’m not the heartbreaks or the victories.

I’m not who you say I am.

I’m not the person I wish I was. I’m not that person I see in the mirror.

I’m not a body, a face. I am not things or actions.

I am a soul.

I am what Jesus says I am.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

Damned without Him.

Saved because of Him.

Precious.

Me.

His.

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"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine." --Isaiah 43:1

"Who are they to give stars or dots? They're Wemmicks just like you. What they think doesn't matter." --You Are Special by Max Lucado