As I looked in the mirror this morning, I smiled because I was wearing a t-shirt that said BLESSED on the front of it. When I saw my reflection in the mirror as the very first image I took in, it reminded me that I am indeed blessed. In fact, I am blessed beyond measure by my Abba-Father – the God of the Universe (and every Universe for that matter). It gave me pause…what is the message I receive from my typical reflection? Do I see a blessed daughter of the Most High King or do I see a lowly peasant that lacks love and is alone? So, I present the question to you…What does your t-shirt say?

When I am not wearing this t-shirt, is “blessed” my first thought of the day about me? I would have to type truth and say, not always. I have grown in this area of my life, but on very rare days I sometimes awake to a label of “lazy”, “unloved” or sometimes even “worthless”. Those labels are not from me, they are labels the enemy of my soul has been whispering to me for years. For years I took them as truth about me. I believed those labels and lived in a way to fulfill those labels because, hey, why not, it was the truth. I knew I could not be anything different than what those labels said, so why try?

Whew and Yuck! Typing those words hurts my heart now. At this point in my life, I see myself as a Beloved Daughter of God, fully known, fully loved and fully walking in His Grace. That makes me label myself – grateful. There are many more labels from God that I can call myself these days because I know where my identity is found – In Christ.

Do you know where your identity and worth is found? Is it found in your work? Maybe it is found your spouse, children or family? Is it found in your health? Or, perhaps, it is found in that boardroom where people “listen to you”? If your identity and worth is found in any one of those places, or anything else worldly, my heart breaks for you. You will live a life with fierce ups and downs. You will live a life tossed like a ship on stormy seas and will be exhausted by the effort to stay afloat. When your career is going well and your family is showing affection, you will be sailing on calm seas. You will feel the sun on your face and be able to enjoy life with a smile. But, when your career hits a bump and your family is turning their back on you, you will be in the midst of a tempest holding on for dear life. You will see only darkness and be confused and exhausted by the effort to steer your ship back to the calm seas.

On the flip side, if your identity is found in Christ, you will sail on calm seas. Sure a gusty wind storm may pass through at times, but it will not tip your ship. You will float secure in the knowledge of your worth, knowing that this storm will pass and you will be stronger for it. That sounds like a nicer existence, doesn’t it?

The sad truth is that so many people, Christians included, are sailing on tempestuous seas. As a former tempestuous sea sailor, I can now reflect on how I sailed those seas for many years and paid the emotional price. I found my worth in what others thought of me 100% of the time. If people liked me and I was “performing” at the top of my game, then life was rosy. But, if people were dissatisfied with me and I made a mistake (any mistake, even minuscule) then my ship was tipped and I was quickly sinking to the depths of the sea.

This led to deep, dark depression culminating in a very near successful suicide attempt. Medical science was unable to treat this depression with any effectiveness. I was prescribed, literally, every depression medication on the market, to no avail. I even underwent Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), where they shocked my brain in the hopes it would help me. Not kidding on the ECT and it didn’t help me either.

None of the man made prescriptions could help me because my issue was not chemical imbalance, it was mistaken identity. I needed a counselor to help me discover who I was. Luckily for me, I had a Wonderful Counselor just waiting for me to come to Him. You may know Him, His name is Jesus.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ~ Isaiah 9:6

This Counselor was different than the myriad of earthly counselors with which I spent hours of time. This Counselor loved me for who I was, and who He had made me to be. He knew me intimately and was willing to spend the LONG hours required to help me. He didn’t even care what insurance plan I had. He began a work in me and has seen it through to fulfillment. Now, I enjoy His presence as a Friend and yes, still a Counselor, as I look to Him to guide my every step in this world.  

This Counselor led me to the truth about me. The healing began when I was instructed to inspect my thoughts.

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. ~ Proverbs 23:7

My Counselor showed me that I had to start “thinking about what I was thinking about” and led me to the book Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyers. That book, and all the scripture references, helped me realize that I was feeding myself negative thoughts and reinforcing those thoughts over and over again. Those thoughts became truth to me and it took the realization that those were not MY thoughts and had nothing to do with MY worth to start the healing process.

I encourage you to to take inventory of your inner thoughts. Are you thinking a host of negative thoughts and expecting a positive life? Are you finding your worth and identity in worldly affairs or basing your worth on the firm foundation of God’s love for you? Recognizing where your worth comes from and building your life upon the unwavering love of God is the ONLY way to live a free and fulfilled life. Seek your Wonderful Counselor to help right your ship and begin to renew your mind with His thoughts about you. Here are a few to get you started:

God loves you, so much (John 3:16, Ephesians 3:17-19)

God knows everything about you – even the number of hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30)

God will never leave you, nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5b)

God fights for you (Exodus 14:14, Deuteronomy 3:22)

God knows when you wake, when you sleep (Psalm 91)

Lean into learning where your True Identity comes from and it will change your entire life. That is a 100% guarantee! How can I make such a claim? I can make that claim because I am living proof and I know the One who created you and me so intimately that I KNOW He will NOT let you down when you seek Him with all your heart.

May you begin this journey today and realize it is never too late to renew your mind, right your ship and begin sailing on the calm seas that God has for you. May your t-shirt always say “Blessed”.

Blessings and Love,

Pamela