Who You Really Are!

How often have you allowed what others think of you to dictate who you really are? Perhaps as a child, your parents ran you down? You never lived up to their expectations? Maybe they were harsh and critical which created feelings of insignificance or of no value?

Maybe as you ventured out into the real world, you discovered people can be extremely harsh and condemning? You discovered there were always those ready to run you down and criticize everything you tried to do? The critical thoughts of others about you led you to begin to wonder who you really are.

I have some great news for you today—GOD doesn’t view you as the world views you! You are important to Him! You are His special creation. He has a plan and purpose distinct for you regardless of what others may think of you.

Consider the man, Gideon, for a moment. The Lord came to him while he was hiding out, in fear of the enemy. The Scripture says: “Then the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said: ‘The Lord is with you, mighty warrior’” (Judges 6:12 HCSB).

Then, “The Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the power of Midian. Am I not sending you?’” (v. 14). Gideon responds by sharing how insignificant and valueless he and his life are (v.15). Here you have a man who others considered worthless and of little value to society. Yet, GOD calls him “Mighty Warrior!” GOD saw Gideon for who he really was.

From that day forward, Gideon went forth as the mighty warrior GOD called him to be. He carried out great and mighty works, not based upon what others thought about him but upon who he really was in GOD’s sight.

Who you really are is not based upon what others think about you but what GOD has to say about you! The LORD says this about you in Isaiah 43: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine…you are precious in My sight and honored, and I love you” (vv. 1,4). Peter calls you: “a chosen people…a royal priest…God’s very own possession” (1 Peter 2:9 NLT).

Who you really are is based upon GOD’s thoughts about you. He loves you and you are His own! He places great value upon you, your life and the purposes He has for you. Who you really are? A child of the living GOD!

Scripture Reading: “But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, ‘Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you. Do not be afraid, for I am with you.’” (Isaiah 43:1-5 NLT).

Prayer: Father in heaven, I often look at my life and wonder what good I’m doing here. People have looked down on me; they have criticized me; they have taken away any sense of value I may have ever had in myself. I often wonder why I am even here. But then I think about what You have done for me by sending Jesus to die for me. I realize You see value and potential in me. I am not what others think about me; I am what You think about me and that is uplifting. Help me to recognize my value, my purpose and Your plan for me. I love You and thank You for seeing me in a special way…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!