How did you see yourself before you were saved? Before surrendering your life to Jesus, you were broken and lost. Perhaps you did things you are completely ashamed of. You may have had a temper and said things to those you love most that you wish now you could take back. Maybe you had a coveting problem and decided stealing was the only way to get what you wanted in life. There are numerous scenarios of who you were before you were saved. The good news is you are no longer that person. You have been made new. Let me say that again. You are no longer that old, angry, thieving person. You have been washed clean and remade into a brand new person! 

Dealing With The Old Self

What happens when that old person creeps up? Well, first you repent. You declare you no longer think like the person who allows their temper to control them. You proclaim you are no longer a thief. Changing the way you think about yourself will allow you to start to see situations with different eyes. Just like Ephesians‬ ‭4:17, 22-32‬ (‭ESV)‬‬ says:

“Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds… to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Change The Way You Think

You need to quit thinking like the unsaved (Gentiles) because their thinking is confused and distorted. Instead you need to renew your minds through the power of the Holy Spirit. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your spirit and change the way you see yourself. Remember you are now made righteous and holy, just like your Father in Heaven.

Does that mean you will never again be pushed and want to lose your cool or be tempted to steal? No, but it does mean that you now have power residing inside you to help you conquer those temptations. You have the power to, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29 (ESV). 

Likewise, the thief has the power to, “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” Ephesians 4:28 (ESV).

Every word from God contains the power to accomplish it (see Luke 1:37).

The Best News

Here’s the best news of all! You have the power to forgive those people who have hurt you. You have the power to dig out all roots of bitterness, anger, slander, and any other thoughts and emotions that do not come from God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit you have the power to completely forgive everyone who has ever hurt you or done wrong to you. 

The Holy Spirit will teach you to turn your anger into love and compassion. He will show you how to give instead of taking. You will become the biggest giver because you have been made new. Likewise, people will know you as the most patient and kindest person because the Holy Spirit has renewed your thinking. 

How Does God Describe Me?

There are so many more adjectives God uses to describe you. Below I have compiled a list of ways God describes you. As you read through each of these descriptions, I encourage you to ask yourself if you believe what God says about you. If you find one you don’t believe just yet, ask the Lord to show you how this is true. Then, if needed, copy it down and stand in the mirror and declare this truth to yourself everyday. I promise the more you proclaim the truth of who God says you are, the more you come to believe it, and then you will act on it. 

I have done this and seen amazing results. For over two years I looked at myself and declared, “I am brave. I am courageous.” At first I didn’t feel or act brave or courageous. In fact, deep down in my heart I believed I could never be brave or courageous.

Now looking back I am amazed at the brave and courageous things I have done. When God asks me to tell a friend something difficult, I am able to do it because I have the power of the Holy Spirit living inside me. Sure, I’m not always perfect when doing these brave things. However, I would rather be imperfect at saying or doing what God asks me to say or do, than to be a coward and never obey the calling God has on my life. It’s worth the risk to allow people to declare who God sees when he looks at them.

Some People Choose Freedom…Some Don’t

Sometimes people hear the truth and change the way they are thinking and seeing themselves. These people become free from the shackles that either they put on themselves or others have put on them. I love when this happens because I have the privilege to see these people grow tremendously in their relationship with God, others, and even themselves. 

Of course there are those who aren’t ready to be free, and they generally end up rejecting the words I speak to them, and lots of times they end our relationship. While this is painful, I would still rather risk the relationship because I love these friends more than I love my comfort and myself. It’s worth the risk to see the people who choose freedom become free. 

It is my desire for all of us to live in freedom from the tormentors (see Matthew 18:34). I want all of us to see ourselves just like Jesus sees us. This is my mission. It started with a teenager asking God what he sees when he looks at her. Over the years God has answered that prayer made by a young, vulnerable girl. Now, that same girl is tasked with spreading that same message to anyone who will listen! Are you ready to learn more of how God describes you? 

Who Does God Say I Am?

I am forgiven	Luke 7:48, Ephesians 4:32
I am a child of the king	Ephesians 1:4-5, 13-14
I am a new creation	2 Corinthians 5:17
I am no longer a sinner	Ephesians 1:7
I have a new mind	Romans 12:2
I am at peace	Galatians 5:22
I am no longer dead but alive	Ephesians 2:1-5, Colossians 2:13
I have a destiny	Ephesians 2:10
I am powerful	Acts 1:8, Ephesians 3:16
I am righteous	Romans 8:10, Romans 5:18-19
I am love	Galatians 5:22
I am bold	Ephesians 3:12
I walk in a manner worthy of my calling	Ephesians 4:1
I am joyful	Galatians 5:22
I am confident	Hebrews 4:16, Ephesians 3:12
I am good	Galatians 5:22
I am faithful	Galatians 5:22
I am equipped for every good work	2 Timothy 3:17
I am made righteous	Ephesians 4:24
I am patient	Galatians 5:22
I am accepted	Romans 15:7
I am strong	Ephesians 6:10
I have self control	Galatians 5:23
I am kind	Galatians 5:22
I am free	Galatians 5:1
I am more than a conqueror	Romans 8:37
I am healed	Matthew 8:16, Mark 1:34, 1 Peter 2:24
I am gentle	Galatians 5:22