Who am I in the great I AM?
Growing up, I don’t remember ever hearing God referred to as the great “I AM.” I have become very fond of this term for many reasons over the years. Did you know that the term “I Am” relating to God appears over 300 times in the Bible? That tells me, it’s pretty significant. He not only literally describes himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14 as “I Am,” but describes his character and relation to us as “I Am” throughout the Bible.
(Genesis 15:1, Matthew 11:29, Revelation 22:16, John 6:35, John 8:12, Revelation 1:8, John 10:9, John 11:25, John 14:6 - these are just a few examples)
God did not leave us with any question to who He truly is! He not only showed us through creation, miracles and the life of Jesus Christ on earth, but He specified exactly who He is in the Bible. Examples: I am God Almighty, I am your shield, I am the Good Shepherd, I am the Resurrection and the Life, I am the Way, etc. And then, to top it off, Jesus offered clarity to what those statements meant. For example, in John 8:12 Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” He is the LIGHT. Our job is to FOLLOW if we want out of the dark. He is very clear and leaves no room for misinterpretation.
This is where we insert a personal pause. As a Christ follower, I need more of Jesus in every part of my life. So, I begin by looking at my life. What do I do in a typical week? If I was to describe to you who I am (what I do), it would sound something like this:
I am: a mother, a wife, a grandmother, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a doggy momma, a writer, a blogger, an artist, a volunteer, a runner, a traveler, a cook, a gardener, a photographer, a driver, an errand runner, a shopper, a financial planner, an organizer, a home cleaner… the list could go on.
Our lists will all vary but as a follower (or aspiring follower) of Jesus, what we need to do with those lists will be the same. Take a look at each of your “I am” items. Then ask yourself, and pray about, how you can align that specific item to be more like Jesus. Then one item at a time, just work on it. We can’t do everything at once but as we move through our lists, each item will be easier to tackle.
Let’s take my item #1. I am a mother. At this time, my children are grown and have all moved away from home. I pray and consider how to parent my children at this unique stage in their life to include Jesus and His unrelenting love. This is what I have discovered...
First, I need to lead by example. The way I live my life and the changes they have seen during my journey speak the loudest before I say one single word. I also pray for my children every single day (throughout my day). I talk to them about our Heavenly Father and remind them to seek Him in all circumstances. I do not judge them but continue to love them through life choices they make that may not align with what I know God would rather them do. (Fussing or nagging people will only distance them. Jesus was not a nag, nor did he try to force people to do something they didn’t want to do. He was gentle, patient and kind.) I also text my children scriptures or inspirational quotes to inspire their day. (Again, I don’t overwhelm them with text messages. I send them randomly enough that they can truly appreciate them).
As a result, one by one I am watching my children turn towards the Lord. My youngest was baptized a couple of years ago and it was one of the happiest moments of my life. I have one who has started going to church and is considering baptism. My other son is starting to engage in open conversations about the Lord. God is working! God is pursuing them, but as their mother I have to take an active part!
This goes for any part of our lives. God will use each thing in our “I am” list, if we allow it, to honor Him and bring Him glory. As with anything in life however, we cannot just wing it. We need to have a plan. Habits must be broken and new ones formed. One step at a time. One “I am” at a time.
I would challenge you to make your list today. Ask God to show you where (and how) to start. I promise if you show up, He will meet you there. One by one our “I am” list will end up saying: “I am the hands, feet and heart of Jesus in everything I do, to the best of my ability.”
What a glorious life that will be!
Prayer Prompt: Father God, thank you for telling me and showing me constantly who you truly are. You are so beautiful. I know you are pursuing me and I thank you for that. I repent for falling short so often. But I thank you Abba for forgiving me so thoroughly. As I write out who I am in my life, show me how I can bring you glory in every way. Show me how I can spread the love of Jesus Christ even when I am cooking a meal, being a grandma, or going for a run. You are here to lead me if I will just surrender. I choose you Father. I surrender to you here and now. I surrender everyone and everything to you Lord. Not my will, but YOUR will be done in my life. Thank you for your daily grace. Hold my hand and lead me through the rest of my day. With all my love and service to you Father… in Jesus name. AMEN!
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