Who Does God Say I Am?

As I prepared this blog post, I became emotional. I am moved by who God’s Word says I am. These are wonderful reminders to all of us regarding our position in Christ.

I am God’s friend

Not only is Jesus my friend, but I’m His friend too. I can tell him anything in confidence. I mean, who’s He going to tell? And He’s confided in me through His Word.

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know

his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends,

for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

John 15:15

I am a child of God

My dad passed away ten years ago. But my Father is alive, and I am His beloved daughter. I believe in Him and received Him into my heart and life.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name,

he gave the right to become children of God.

John 1:12

I am loved, alive with Christ, and saved by His grace

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—

it is by grace you have been saved.

Ephesians 2:4-5

I am a citizen of heaven

Earth is my temporary dwelling place. I await my eternal home.

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await

a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:20

I am God’s coworker

Working side by side with Christ to be a light in the darkness, to love and encourage others, and to spread the Good News.

As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.

2 Corinthians 6:1

I am God’s workmanship

I am His work of art. He created and designed me for a purpose—to do good works.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

I am strong in Christ

He strengthens me with power, courage, and wisdom. Equips me with whatever I need so I can do what He’s called me to do. Christ is enough.

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13 

If you know Christ Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, these “I am” statements are yours too.

Be blessed today knowing how important you are to Him.

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All scripture is from the New International Version.

Photo by Pawel Czerwinski - Unsplash

3 Traits of a Godly Friend

Godly friends bring blessings into our lives. I don’t mean someone on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, unless they are a close friend. I’m referring to a person who speaks life into our heart and soul. Someone who’s there for us no matter what.

Friends Give Wise Counsel
A friend listens, empathizes, and supports. They won’t lead us astray. They seek God on our behalf and offer godly advice because they want what’s best for us.

The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.
(Proverbs 27:9, NLT)

The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray.
(Proverbs 12:26, NLT)

Friends Help Us Succeed
Friends share in our struggles, walk alongside for support, lend a helping hand, and pray for us. They enjoy spending time with us to encourage and share God’s Word. They make us accountable and invest their time and talents to help make our relationship with the Lord stronger.

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.
If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.
But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.
(Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, NLT)

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
(Proverbs 27:17, NLT)

Friends Always Love
Godly friends love us with Christ’s love. They show mercy, kindness, and grace. We may hurt or upset them, but they are quick to forgive us.

A friend loves at all times.
(Proverbs 17:17a, NIV)

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility,
gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults,
and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord
forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves
with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
(Colossians 3:12-14, NLT)

And let’s not forget, we are God’s friends. He gives wise counsel through His Word, helps in time of need, and always loves us.

So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God
because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
(Romans 5:11, NLT)

Take time to thank God for the godly friends in your life and the blessings they’ve brought you. 

What traits do you look for in a godly friend? Please leave your comments below.

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Photo by Krista Mangulsone - Unsplash

Insults Bring Blessings

If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 1 Peter 4:14 NLT

Have you been insulted because you follow Christ? I’d only been a believer for two weeks when criticism met me for the first time. Someone invited me to a bridal shower for a friend. With my gift in hand, I walked to her front door on a warm July day. The door stood open, and I heard my friend’s voice. “She must be bad if she needs to go to church two or three times a week.” Out of my old friend group, I knew their discussion focused on me. Hard to walk up those remaining steps and through the front door.

She didn’t understand. As a child of God, I was no longer bad. The blood of Christ covered me, and I had become a new creation. Clean in the eyes of my Lord.

As a baby Christian, I didn’t have a comeback. No idea of what to say. Every eye stared at me when I entered the house. I felt uneasy. I made them uncomfortable too. Not surprising when I read the above verse. They were uncomfortable because the glorious Spirit of God rested upon me as a new child of God.

Afterward, I realized I needed a new friend group. Friends who supported me in my walk with Christ. Had I stayed with the old group, they may have tried to pull me back into my old ways. Why go backwards? I’d found a new beginning. A better way to live. 

My church provided me with a warm and welcoming group of young people and adults who loved me, taught me, and wanted the best for me in my new life. Their support and encouragement gave me the stability and strength I needed and a rich foundation in Christ. That same group is where I met my husband, Kenn.

God has blessed me in so many ways throughout the years. His glorious Spirt resting upon me is one of those blessings.

The Whole Package

A Facebook friend (I’ll call her Monique) posted about an experience of being snubbed by another woman (let’s call her Jackie). Monique cited she couldn’t understand why because she’d never done anything to Jackie to cause this reaction. To make matters even more difficult to understand, this incident occurred at her church.

Made me think. When have I slighted others and why? Jealousy? Envy? I know resentment is wrong and have struggled with it in my own life. Why do we wander into this plight? What may have caused Jackie to snub Monique? Possibly comparisons?

Monique has a lovely singing voice. A successful husband and marriage. Two beautiful children.

Perhaps Jackie envied her. Would love to sing. Had a troubled marriage or husband without a job. No children but always desired to be a mom. Any of Monique’s blessings may have caused Jackie’s resentment.

Have you considered this perspective? A friend of mine at work shared a truth she learned from her mom with our Bible study group. We tend to look at someone else and envy one part of her life. Instead we need to consider the whole package—her entire life. We can’t just want one of her blessings. We need to consider all she’s experienced. Do we want everything in order to gain that one part?

What if we desire a friend’s seemingly perfect marriage? Do we want the torment she endured when her husband nearly committed suicide? Do we envy her large home and new car enough to bear her pain and suffering resulting from a son on drugs?

When I think about the people I’ve envied and look at their entire life, I realize my need to be content with what I have and to be thankful for God’s bountiful goodness.

Proverbs 14:30 says, “A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones” (NLT). A peaceful heart is a much better alternative to cancer in the bones.