In the past six months, the phrase “I am” has been brought to the forefront of my mind. We use it many times a day. “I am going to work on this project.” “I am headed into a meeting.” “Nice to meet you, I am ____.”  “What do I do for work? Oh, I am an –insert job title here-.” “I am a student.” “I am a mother.” “I am so-and-so’s husband.”  

Sometimes it’s used as an action statement, other times it is used as an identifier.  

The Holy Spirit has been reminding me of how powerful those two words are by pointing me back to this passage:

Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.'” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.  Exodus 3: 13-15 

I find that in this day and age we use what seems like a simple phrase, “I am” too flippantly. 

At a point in every person’s life, they will likely struggle with their identity. When our identity is not rooted in God, we are at risk of believing the lies we hear. The lies that stem from societal standards, social media, our peers, and sometimes even ourselves. 

Each time we use the phrase “I am” to tell someone what we do or our relationship to someone, a piece of our identity is placed in that action or relationship. If you asked me what I did for work and I responded with “I am the Operations and Development Manager at Workmatters,” it automatically reminds myself, though often unintentionally, that a portion of my identity and who I am is dependent on my job.  

Although I love my job, it is not who I am. Everything in this world is fleeting. My job is fleeting, my emotions are fleeting, my family and friends are fleeting. If I place my whole identity in those things, when they are no longer, I risk feeling as if I have lost a part of who I am.  

It reminds me of the man who built his house on the sand (Matthew 7:24-27). The foundation of his home was swept away because it was unsteady. God is the only one who is safe, secure, and unmoving. He remains true and if I place my identity in Him, if I build my house on Him, I don’t have to worry about losing who I am. 

Over the past two months, the Lord has challenged me to observe who I claim I am, and at the same time, allow Him to remind me who He says I am. Today, I would like to pass along a few messages that He has reminded me of. 

You are a chosen Son or Daughter of the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:18) 

You are heard. (Psalm 145:19)  

You are redeemed. (Romans 3:24) 

You are rejoiced over. (Zephaniah 3:17) 

You are loved. (John 15:9) 

You are accepted. (Romans 15:7) 

You are God’s co-worker. (2 Corinthians 6:1) 

Pray those truths over yourself. I encourage you to dive deeper into who God says you are and allow those truths to be where you place your identity.