Who U R

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Who am I?  And why am I here?

The answers to those questions I’m beginning to fear.
Am I a rose blossoming in the light?
Or am I only a left over fragrance fading in the night?
What am I?  Could you tell me?  Or do I want to know?
Am I just another flower that belongs in a row?
Among the gardens of flowers do I want to be found?
People staring beneath my blossoms
At the thorns and roots by which I’ve been bound?
Those roots – they are sucking in the water too fast!
Drowning my future…overwatering my past!
Oh how they’ve held me, and those thorns how they’ve torn-
My thoughts into two, I’m becoming so worn.
But go on without them, do I dare?
Pull away from the comfort that I’ve planted there?
My thoughts, my feelings…how do I show that I care?
Someone, please, rid me of all my confusions!
Take the time to show me that happiness
Is not just another one of life’s delusions...
Could you at least attempt to answer me this -
Or do I want to know?
Am I a rose blossoming in the light?
Or just another flower in the garden
Whose fragrance is fading in the night?
~written by Katrina Wylie ‘98

 

One of the things I’ve been struggling with the last few years is losing weight and getting back into shape after first: a car accident that resulted in a neck injury, and second: the pregnancy and birth of my daughter which also resulted in more physical injury and limitations.  Though getting healthy is definitely on my “need” list, it seems every renewed attempt I’ve made has ended the same way – giving into temptations due to a perceived lack of results.  Every time I’d get dressed, and every time I’d look in the mirror, I’d see the me that I didn’t want to be anymore…the extra me, if you know what I mean!  Then, out of discouragement, whenever a craving would present itself or when it became time to do a work out and I had a million other things to do, the attitude I found myself adopting was: “What’s the point?” I think this same thing can happen to us in our Christian walks...
 

Even as Christians, when we look in the mirror, it’s often times “the sinner” that is reflected back.  Whether it is sins from our past or sins from that very day, when they are what we still see after the many attempts at ridding ourselves of our sinfulness, we can become discouraged.  Then when temptation enters into our minds, or it comes time to pick up our Bibles for the day or go to church that week, we may find ourselves acting out of a “What’s the point” type of attitude.  What I’m realizing in all of this is that, although my identity questions from my poem/my past were answered when I found and accepted Christ, I still as a believer struggle with my identity.  What God has also shown me this week is how that struggle has fed my struggle of getting fit.

 

In this world, we have hundreds of mixed messages being hurled at us from every direction, every day, telling us who we are and/or who we should be.  It starts from the day we are born with our parents, and grows as we grow.  From our teachers to our bosses, from books to movies, from our friends to complete strangers, from the media to our government…the list goes on and on and on, all eager to put their two cents into shaping our hearts, minds, and souls – help us to “discover” who we were born to be.  And let’s not forget the enemy too, who is all-too eager to jump in and take advantage of any confused and doubtful minds and lead them astray.  As Christian’s, however, we look to God’s Word for the truth and the Bible is very clear about our identities. 

 

Even though God’s Word does indeed confirm that we are sinners in Romans 3:23 – “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” the Bible also says we are children of God and have been made new in Christ.

 

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” ~Romans 8:16

 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” ~2 Corinthians 5:17

 

While it is important to know and be aware of the fact that we are all sinners, it is not what we are to put our focus on.  God’s Word tells us, in Colossians 3:2 to: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”  Have you ever noticed that what you set your mind on is what you tend to act on?  I believe this is a part of why we’re told to focus on heaven and not the world in this scripture.  When we focus on the fact that we are sinners, our sinful nature is what is magnified and then reflected back to us when we look in the mirror, thus perpetuating sin in our lives.  But when we focus on the fact that we are a child of the Most High God, it is our identity in Christ that is magnified and reflected back, eternalizing our growth in Christ-likeness.  The same holds true for anything we focus on.

 

When you set a goal to make a change in your life, whether it’s to be a better spouse, or parent, boss, or employee, or if it’s like mine – to become a physically healthier you, you can’t continue to see yourself as that person who needs to change.  If you do, you will end up remaining that person.  Instead, you have to let go of that image of yourself - declare that that is the old you – surrender it to God!  Though your eyes and the world may still be deceived by what they see, don’t allow your mind to be.  Focus on the new you in your mind, and your actions will begin to follow, until one day in your future, you will be that person in reality.  This is what I began doing this week with my need to become a physically healthier me. 

Every time I went to grab or even think about grabbing something unhealthy, or I considered skipping my workout, I said to myself: “I am no longer that person.  I am a child of the Most High God.  He is transforming my mind, heart, and body.  I have been made new in Christ Jesus.”  I have found this to be especially effective when said out loud and/or when looking in the mirror.  This, for me, has been a tangible and effective way to tackle the temptations of my old self, day by day, moment by moment.  I am applying this to my Christian walk as well and every area I want to change and grow in and it is having a huge impact!  Before, when I was continuing to focus on the over-weight, out-of-shape, and injured person that I’d become, I couldn’t move beyond that identity, but by surrendering my old self to God, I have been able to start shedding that identity and start shedding the pounds.  I feel now I’m finally on my way to becoming the new me – the person God created me to be.

 

What about you?  Have you developed a “what’s the point attitude” in your Christian walk or some other area of your life that you’d like to change and grow in?  Are you struggling to let go of the old you or some piece of that person - those worldly identities that need to be shed?  If so, I challenge you to start surrendering that old self to God and instead begin to focus on who you are in Christ, either by using the declaration statement I’ve shared with you, or writing your own personal one that speaks to your heart and stirs your soul.  If you’re afraid you might forget to use it once you’ve found yourself in the middle of the hustle and bustle of your life, write it down and post it in multiple high traffic areas.

 

If you accept this challenge, please leave me a comment below so that I can pray for you, and if you’ve written a declaration statement of your own, please feel free to share it as well.  Then be sure to check back in next week and let me know how it’s impacting your transformation so that I can share in your victory with you!  But most importantly, when you look in the mirror this week, and every day after, remember that Who U R becoming is Who U really R.  You are a rose blossoming in the light.  You are a child of the God Most High!

 

 “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” ~1 John 3:1

 

“Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.  You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on your new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” ~Ephesians 4:21-24

 

“The world isn’t our ruler to measure by and when we allow it to be we let the world be our RULER.” ~Ginny Blankenship