Finding is Through Faith

Since my last post, life has taken a few changes... through some prayer and much discussion, Brett and I decided that it was time for me to leave my job as a preschool teacher. It was a weighing decision on my heart because I have such a had time completely relying on anyone for everything. To have Brett currently be our only income while I ask the Lord/search for a new job is a huge stretch of my faith. I am so blessed to have this time to reflect on where the Lord may have me direct my attention in the areas of work, my gifts, and futures studies. It is a time of finding out who the Lord has created me to be and how He plans to use me for the advancement of His Kingdom.

I have been so blessed to be given the opportunity to lead the middle school girls small group at our church (Stillwater Community Church) in Rowlett, Texas, every Sunday. These girls at ages 11-14 years old, and are so much fun to hang out with. We just kicked off our group a couple of weeks ago, and I am amazed at how much the Lord has already taught me. We are using a Bible study called "Freedom in Christ," and I think it is so cool how everything about this study has to do with the journey I am going on myself. This week we discussed Session One of the study which talks about the subject of identity and who we are in Jesus Christ. The issue of my own identity has been something I have had such a difficult time figuring out. I was so excited to be able to teach a lesson on it to these girls so that maybe they would understand and believe who the Lord says they are at such an early age.

At the end of the session, there was a page of statements from God and what He says about us as His children. There were three words that He says (through these scriptures) that we ultimately are to Him: Significant, Secure, and Accepted. I realized with all of the biblical proof and scripture back-ups in front of me that the Lord was screaming worth into me that I never chose to truly receive and ultimately... BELIEVE. Hear are some of the things the Lord says about me and you are His children:

I am a temple of God where God's Holy Spirit lives (1 Corinthians 3:16)
I am God's workmanship, created for good works (Ephesians 2:10)
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)
I am free from any guilty charges against me from God (Romans 8:31-34)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39)
I am sure that the good work that God has begun in me will be perfected (Philippians 1:6)
I am kept safe with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3)
I am a child of God and I am safe from any evil (1 John 5:16)
I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Jesus' chosen friend (John 15:15)
I have been forgiven for all the things I've done wrong (Colossians 1:14)

(These are all paraphrased or are not the complete verse, look them up for full content.)

Having the Lord so constantly speaking what He thinks about me gives me the significance, security, and acceptance that I was searching for. I realized that it was up to me to choose to believe what He said was truth above what society, peers, and the world says is truth about who I am (or who I should be). Finding myself was all about strengthening my faith in Christ.

Blessings,

Brandi