By Definition

This is a safe place, and it is my duty to be completely honest with you. I am not here to put on the facade of a perfect, faultless, unblemished life. My goal is to encourage you through my struggles, so that we can lean into God a little more everyday together.

That being said, it’s been a rough week. I have plenty of friends, but not everyone in the world likes me, and that’s okay. It’s been a week where my past has stuck its nose in my present, and my insecurities have come out of hiding. The kind of week where you have to remind yourself to believe in the promises of God and not just repeat them. It’s been a week. I think we can all agree it has been a year too. Someone said something hurtful this week and I was faced with a choice. The choice to either absorb what they said and let it define me, or to let what they said drop at the feet of Jesus and remind myself what He says about me and declares as Truth.

I am not defined by the condemnation of others.

I am not defined by the praise others give me.

I am not defined by my grades, degree, or career.

I am not defined by a title or label.

I am not defined by the criticisms of the world.

I am certainly not defined by my past.

I am not defined by the lies I speak over myself.

I am not defined by ___________.

A definition is a statement of the meaning of a term - let me explain to you a child of God.

Being a child of God means that you are loved, cared for, and understood.

Being a child of God means that your confidence, beauty, value, and strength are found in Him and not in the world or the false securities it has to offer.

Being a child of God means that you have an inheritance in Heaven that no earthly treasures can begin to compare to.

Being a child of God means I have the power to breathe life into people by making myself available to the Source.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 1 John 3:1

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

“and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.” 1 Peter 1:4

Many of these verses are well known, but I encourage you to sit and soak these in. Read them over until you begin to believe them in your heart.

By definition, I am a child of God and so are you.