Jesus, I pray that my readers feel your love and presence.
I pray they are encouraged by what you’re doing in my life to where they cant help but praise you and allow you to wreck their life.
You are so holy and just, you are lord over my life.
Thank you
-Your Child
It is day seven of living in Georgia. This first week has been filled with morning devotions, worship, multiple sessions a day, squad time, and playing lots of games. I have been filled with many emotions this past week, I don’t have the words to even describe it. I was sitting on the dining deck staring at my computer screen and a friend came and sat next to me and he literally said just to write what I have experienced this week or what stuck out. So here we go!
Wednesday morning I got up like normal, sweaty and all. Fast forward through breakfast and worship, right to our morning session. Bill, one of the squad leaders was teaching on identity. This topic is hard because I’ve always felt pretty confident in my identity, but I think everyone deep down has some sort of insecurity or doubt about who and whose they are.
Identity:
1. What you believe about God
2. What you believe about yourself
Bill shared that throughout seasons of his life he would hide behind the veil of portraying himself as someone he wasn’t, yet wanted to be. Whether that was in a church, job, or with friends. He didn’t feel he was enough just as he was. Bill thought he had to change himself to be liked and to fit in.
What kind of world is this that gives us the reality of being someone so far away from who we were created to be?
I was sitting in the black wobbly chair following every move Bill made, with tears running down my face, completely agreeing with it all. Realizing that I have hidden the real me behind someone I thought everyone would approve of. In sports, school, church, and even relationships with friends. I have even found myself starting to try and fit in here by masking who I really am. But wait, I thought I was confident in who I was, in who God created me to be? What happened to that?
After the session we split off into our teams. I tried to wipe away any evidence that I was crying. Jackie my team leader asked, “so, how is everyone?” and I just couldn’t hold it together. “Brooke do you want to share?” So I explained what I was feeling and we then went around the circle sharing some of the lies we believe about ourself. It was absolutely heartbreaking.
1. They are faking their love/likeness of me
2. I don’t fit their standards
3. I seriously am not enough
4. I am unworthy of love
Next, we went around and spoke truth over everyone, which was so easy. Though it was very hard for me to accept what they were speaking over me. Like why? Why can’t I let myself believe the good about who I am? The worst part of it all, was we then went around and spoke and “I am” over ourself. I was the last one to go and the words struggled to come out. Even though they came, I still struggle to believe them.
We are created to be loved. If we believe we are unworthy of love we will never receive it. Satan is going to do everything he can to keep us from believing that truth.
Am I going to let him win this game?
We have all fallen short. But God has given us the opportunity to be loved beyond our understanding. Will you accept it?Join me in the process of being fully confident in who you are but more importantly whose you are.
I love you guys :))
This was just such an amazing reminder of my favorite thing that God made the heavens and yet He knew I needed to be here too. I love your words and your openness and your response and reminder to us all. Love it.
Brooke, we see Christ’s love beaming from your face. We feel Christ’s compassion as we hear you talk of sharing your life with others through mission. God has his hands all over you. We continue to pray for you.
Brooke, as I read what you write I feel what you are saying. Satan loves to try and make us believe lies about ourselves. But God! Shows us in his word who we are and whose we are. I will join you in praying that you and everyone will not only understand but believe the Truth without wavering! You are loved.
I can feel your pain. Most of the times being honest with ourselves is harder than being honest with others. You are an amazing young lady who is going to grow so much through this experience. Keep shining your light on a hill!!!
B Rooke!!!! (Think of that the way I would always say it to you)! This post reminds me so much of what has always amazed me about you. You are wonderful beyond words, brilliant beyond measure and yet don’t even know it! (There may also be a bit of stubborn in there but I wouldn’t change a bit of that 🙂
But YOU ARE everything loving and wonderful everyone is saying about you. I feel so much in reading your words.
The simple act of belief is so very powerful, imagine what happens when you’re able to believe in yourself whole heartedly with the love of God!! I am over the moon proud of you and can’t wait to hear more about how your heart is being opened and your character refined!! I know you’re going to impact the world.
Boyce
Satan would like nothing more than for you to forget whose you are and who you are. Because when you forget God, you are on your own and easy prey to his schemes.
But God’s Word is Truth. His Word tells you that you are loved, valuable, that He gave His only Son for you and that you’re purpose is to follow Him in love.
I AM knows who He is and who you are, do you? Have you allowed people and things in the world around you to fill you with doubt of who you are and who God is?
That’s not hard to believe when everywhere you go you are slammed with who you should be, what you should look like to be “beautiful”, or what you should be doing. The world would also like to tell you that God did not create the world, is not actively working in your life and does not love you!
Those are all lies to keep you from knowing you are a child of the God.
Job 33:4 have the breath of the Almighty
Psalm 139:14 fearfully and wonderfully made
Psalm 17:8 The apple of His eye
1 John 3:1 lavished in His love
2 Corinthians 5:17 In Christ, new creation
John 1:12 A child of God
Romans 8:9 you belong
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 not your own
Romans 8:38-39 you are loved
Colossians 3:9-10 you are His
Everywhere you go, everything you do and all around you, place God’s reminders of whose you are to help you never forget that you are His.
Brooke , I am excited to know you are seeking God! When we seek Him , we find Him! I know you are going to be changed inside and out after this journey ! I Praise His name for all the Joy that has already been released and for all that is yet to come!???? Love you and I am praying for you??
Brooke! Thank you so much for sharing how God is working. I am sure every reader of this blog is identifying with what you are sharing…we can believe the truth of who God says we are for other people but it so hard to believe for ourselves! Our identity is in Christ and yet we care far too much what everyone thinks. Ugh! Praying you keep having rich opportunities to soak in God’s truth and to speak truth to your teammates. What an amazing experience! Thank you for “taking” us with you!!!
Love this! Thank you for being so transparent! Transparency is so important when sharing the gospel, because it is how we let other know what God has done and what he can do in your life!
God is going to use you so mightily!
Praying for you!
Brooke you are so right! I felt the same about my own identity before reading this, but now feel very convicted. So many people struggle with their identity, especially people my age. Being able to decipher lies from the truth plays a huge role in our identity and it seems to be a lifelong process.
Brooke lm so glad God is allowing you to feel what you are feeling. Aunt Robin has always struggled with it,but l know God made us and it’s up to us to do for him and you are on the Wright track. We love and we continue to pray ?? for you and your team on this Amazing Journey ??
Wow! You are so right Brooke. I agree with you – the enemy wants to steal, kill and destroy, especially our identity so we’ll be too paralyzed to walk out our calling. I’m glad you could recognize this. It sounds like your group all needed to hear what you shared. God used you to allow each of them to lay down those lies and receive truth. I’m so amazed by you and so proud of you!! Thank you for this reminder!! I love you!