DAY 5: Identity

You Don't Have To Prove Who You Are To God

Exodus 3-4:17

God said to Moses, "I am who I am."


We live in a society that defines us by our actions. When meeting people, we do not often ask, "who are you?", instead we ask, "what do you do?" What school do you go to? Do you play sports? Do you work somewhere? The value that our culture assigns us also has to do with actions. What are your accomplishments? How good are your grades? How many games have you won? How much money do you earn?

God rises above all these definitions. God does not need to prove who God is. God simply exists.

As creations and children of this God, it is not what we do that gives us our worth; it is who we are in Jesus Christ that makes us valuable. This is easy to forget because we can get wrapped up in what the world thinks of us. Even good actions like feeding the hungry and serving others can become accomplishments or "brownie points" we are trying to rack up, without God at the center. We need to take time in the midst of our busyness to stop and hear the reminder in Psalm 46: Be still and know that I am God.


How can doing too many things distract me from following God? (Make a list of everything you are involved in right now. What would you like to change?)


Prayer:
Gracious God, thank you for being who you are. Help me to remember that I am your precious child simply because you love me--always. Amen


Action step:

• Try spending a full five minutes in silence with God. (To help you focus, you could repeat in your head the phrase from Psalm 46: Be still and know that I am God.)
• When you do something for someone else, ask yourself: "What does God want to have happen here right now?" Pause and listen for how God's Spirit and Word are guiding you.

contributed by Pastor Erik and Desta Goehner