It's not what you know, it's WHO you know...

Everybody tells us that our choices, mistakes, and character make us who we are...but did you ever consider what a hopeless feeling that leaves us? We are sinners who fail continuously because we are human....Those "good choices" we make? Consider your motives; to make yourself look good, to make yourself look better than someone else, to be a good person. These choices are made out of pride and selfishness, which is sin in itself, rather than to give gratitude to the One who gives them to us.

And as for mistakes, praise God they do not reflect who I am....I have asked for forgiveness for them and they are washed away. Only when we realize that it is not about who we are, but about what has been done for us through the sacrificial Lamb, can we experience a life worthy of the calling we have received and be blessed in the way He desires to bless us.

And when you come to this realization, you seek to discover who you are in Christ--who HE says you are...and it's gonna rock your socks off :)

There's a small hump you gotta cross first, though, the thing that holds us captive, Christian and non-Christian alike: FEAR.

(a little disclaimer: I hold a Biblical world view and the Word of God guides my life so the rejection of these fears is based on Biblical truths...St. Augustine said it best, "If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.")

if we fear it is because we have believed a lie...

fear rejection? someone once told you that you weren't good enough or worthy enough...

The king is enthralled by your beauty;

honor him, for he is your lord.

-Psalm 45:11

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me

together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully

and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;

my soul knows it very well.

-Psalm 139:13-14

fear failure? someone once told you you failed past the point of forgiveness...

My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart

and my portion forever.

-Psalm 73:26

Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,

because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

-Lamentations 3:22-23

fear death? you didn't believe the assurance of salvation and the promise of eternal life through Christ's sacrifice ...

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord,"

and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,

you will be saved.

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified,

and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

-Romans 10:9-10

"For God so loved the world that he gave

his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him

shall not perish but have eternal life.

-John 3:16

fear loneliness? someone told you that you need another person to make you happy or satisfied ...

"...being content with what you have;

for He Himself has said,

I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU,

NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU."

-Hebrews 13:5

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,

nor angels, nor principalities,

nor things present, nor things to come,

nor powers, nor height, nor depth,

nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us

from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

-Romans 8:35-39

fear pain? someone told you that you had to face it and survive it by yourself ...

God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

-Psalm 46:1

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power

is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast

all the more gladly

about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power

may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake,

I delight in weaknesses, in insults,

in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.

For when I am weak, then I am strong.

-2 Corinthians 12:9-10

fear the future? someone told you that your future reflects your past because history repeats itself ...

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD,

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

-Jeremiah 29:11

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,

and all these things will be given to you as well.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,

for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

-Matthew 6:33-34

The prince of lies is so good at targeting our weakest points and the lies we believe the most...

BUT!!!!!!!!!

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

-1 John 4:18

Happy Friday!!!!! I have an exciting weekend ahead...a very special and handsome date, amazing friends, and maybe even some job offers! God bless