What the Father Says

"Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it."  Jer. 1:12

It was July. I only remember it was July because our AC had broke and we were staying with my husband's mother who graciously welcomed our family of six into her home. That morning I was busy folding laundry while Emma colored at the kitchen table when I heard her become upset. Peaking around the corner into the kitchen I noticed one of her colored pencils had rolled off the table and onto the floor. She was distraught. "My pencil! My pencil! Fall on the floor!" Quickly I finished what I was folding so I could go help her when all of a sudden I heard her say, "It's okay, Emma. Get down and get it."  I watched as she climbed off her chair, retrieved her pencil, and climbed back up again.  Once settled, I heard her say "Good job, Emma!" And without another thought about it, she continued coloring her picture.

A casual on-looker might have seen this and thought, "Oh, how cute!"  A child psychologist might have seen this and thought, "This child can problem solve and self-soothe." And they would both be right!  But as her mother I saw something else. I saw a child who had learned to say what her parent says. Her words were my words. They came up and went out of her mouth to give her both calmness and clarity and encouragement in her dilemma. It was a profound moment to fully realize the impact of my words on her! Not that on some level I haven't always known this, but hearing her speak her thoughts was a window into my ability and responsibility to teach her and to be her example.  It reminded me of a quote by Peggy O'Mara "The way you speak to your child becomes their inner voice." Truly, the powerful impact of a parent's words are undeniable.

This entire scenario got me thinking about my own "self-talk." Just like Emma, the words I speak to myself should be what my parent speaks to me; what my Abba Father speaks to me. His Word is not only His identity but mine because I am in Christ. But oh, how my mind must be continually renewed in this area!  My natural disposition is to say things that run contrary to His Word, but the power to create positive change comes from being in agreement with His Word. So I've borrowed an extensive but certainly not exhaustive list of my, your, our Biblically defined identity in Christ to help us take every thought captive (2 Cor. 10:5). This list can be found in the back of the Armor of God workbook ... a Priscilla Shirer study. (Coincidentally I was doing this study last July when this happened!) I encourage you to print this list off and keep it handy or to write down the scriptures that speak to you most and post them places that you frequent during your day (ie. laundry room, bathroom, car, refrigerator!) ... whatever helps you continually remember who you are and whose you are. I would also encourage you to speak these truths over your children, spouse, and other loved ones. I have been doing these things myself and am finding it very helpful in my thinking and fruit bearing in my loved ones.  Let's start speaking what the Father says knowing His Word is alive and active.(Heb. 4:12) It goes forth to accomplish His will because He is alert, watching over His Word to perform it! (Is. 55:11; Jer. 1:12)

- I am a child of God (John 1:12).
- I have peace with God (Romans 5:1).
- The Holy Spirit lives in me (1 Cor. 3:16).
- I have access to God's wisdom (Jas. 1:5).
- I am helped by God (Heb 4:16).
- I am reconciled to God (Rom. 5:11).
- I am not condemned by God (Rom 8:1).
- I am justified (Rom. 5:1).
- I have Christ's righteousness (Rom. 5:19; 2 Cor. 5:21).
- I am Christ's ambassador (2 Cor. 5:20).
- I am completely forgiven (Col. 1:14).
- I am tenderly loved by God (Jer. 31:3).
- I am the sweet fragrance of Christ to God (2 Cor. 2:15).
- I am a temple in which God dwells (1 Cor. 3:16).
- I am blameless and beyond reproach (Col. 1:22).
- I am the salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13).
- I am the light of the world (Matt. 5:14).
- I am a branch on Christ's vine (John 15:1,5).
- I am Christ's friend (John 15:5).
- I am chosen by Christ to bear fruit (John 15:6).
- I am a joint heir with Christ, sharing His inheritance with Him (Rom 8:17).
- I am united to the Lord, one spirit with Him (1 Cor. 6:17).
- I am a member of Christ's body (1 Cor. 12:27).
- I am a saint (Eph. 1:1).
- I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).
- I am chosen by God, holy and dearly loved (Col. 3:12).
- I am a child of the light (1 Thess. 5:5).
- I am holy, and I share in God's heavenly calling (Heb 3:1).
- I am sanctified (Heb 2:11).
- I am one of God's living stones, being built up in Christ as a spiritual house (1 Pet. 2:5).
- I am a member of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession and created to sing His praises (1 Pet. 2:9-10).
- I am firmly rooted and built up in Christ (Col. 2:7).
- I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me (1 John 5:18).
- I have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16).
- I may approach God with boldness, freedom, and confidence (Eph. 3:12).
- I have been rescued from Satan's domain and transferred into the kingdom of Christ (Col. 1:13).
- I have been made complete in Christ (Col. 2:10).
- I have been given a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Tim. 1:7).
- I have been given great and precious promises by God (2 Pet. 1:4).
- My needs are met by God (Phil. 4:19).
- I am a prince (princess) in God's kingdom (John 1:12; 1 Tim. 6:15).
- I have been bought with a price, and I belong to God (1 Cor. 6:19-20).
- I have been adopted as God's child (Eph. 1:5).
- I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:18).
- I am assured that all things are working together for good (Rom. 8:28).
- I am free from any condemning charges against me (Rom. 8:31).
- I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom. 8:35).
- I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God (2 Cor. 1:21-22).
- I am confident that the good work that God has begun in me will be perfected (Phil 1:6).
- I am a citizen of heaven (Phil. 3:20).
- I am a personal witness of Christ's (Acts 1:8).
- I am God's coworker (2 Cor. 6:1; 1 Cor. 3:9).
- I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm (Eph. 2:6).
- I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10).
- I can do all things through Christ, who gives me the strength I need (Phil. 4:13).