Who is Jesus?

A couple of weeks ago, our Sunday School Teacher challenged us to think and consider, "Who is Jesus to you?"  Now, I attend a Ladies Class at our conventional church.  I love this bunch of ladies.  We pray for each other.  We check on each other.  We send a card or two (hundred).  The thing that most impresses me about these ladies is that they are a very discreet bunch.  The heartfelt burdens that come to our class stay in our class.  We DON'T discuss them with others outside our class.  I realize this is a huge blessing.  I pray that God protects it as only He can.

But, to get back to our topic, "Who is Jesus to you?"  At first, I just figured I'd tell my story like anyone else but then it became clear that I needed to write it down.  It's a part of my testimony.

Who is Jesus to me?  He is my saviour.  He was this before He was anything else to me.  He is my faith.  He is my creator.  He is my salvation.  He is my judge.  He is my conviction.  He is my conscience.  He is my shelter.  He is my guide.  He is my friend.  He is my lover.  He is my husband.  He is my peace.  He is my strength.  He is my sword.  He is my shield.  He is my knowledge.  He is my stableness.  He is my joy.  He is my grace.  He is my mercy.  He is my strong tower.  He is my source.  He is my God.  He is my everything.  He is my hope.

Take note...  HE IS because HE IS the great I AM.

You see, when God talks to me He says, "I AM your Saviour."  "I AM your Creator."  "I AM your Salvation."  "I AM your Judge."  "I AM your Strength."  "I AM your Joy."  "I AM your God."  "I AM your Hope." And, so on.  When I dwell on what God is to me, there is no room for confusion.  There is no room for doubt.  There is no room for the ungodly, vile, fleshly me.  What a wondrous and joyful place to be.  So, who is Jesus to you?

(Father God, thank you.  I praise you that you are.  I thank you that you've made yourself known, not just to me but to everyone.  I thank you for the faith that provided me the light to see you.  How awesome that you are right now.  I sing with the four beasts, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."  I praise you in the name of Jesus, Amen.)

The Real Me (Part Two - My BIRTHDAY!)

I am a child of the King.  I have been adopted by the Most High. I am loved. I am blessed.   I am protected.  I am forgiven.  I have peace.  I have joy.  I have patience.  I have faith.  I have self-control.  I think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely.  I dwell in the shadow of His wings.  I know mercy.  I know grace.  (Read Gal 5:22, Phil 4:8, Eph 2:8-9, and the Psalms.)

This is the REAL me. My spiritual birthday came 10 years and 5 months after my physical one.  Most of my life has been a battle when the flesh would win. I wasn't properly equipped for war.  But one day nearly a decade ago, that started to change.  I began to see more victories.  I began to plug into the Power.  I dumped my fleshly weaponry and started using God's.  I truly rested in His sovereign care and I've been there ever since.

Oh, I still fight battles.  I still have much to learn about leaning on God.  But He is victorious.

(Father God, thank you for the day I accepted Christ as my Saviour.  Thank you for the day that I rested fully in you.  Thank you for providing your Spirit so freely.  Keep this part of me ever in front of the other part of me.  I look forward to the day you call us to your side either by death or by trumpet.  Make straight my paths.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen.)

The Real Me (Part One - It's My Birthday!)

I have lied.  I have stolen.  I have yearned for things so earnestly that it consumed my every thought.  I have profaned the sabbath.  I have failed to obey and honor my parents both as a child and an adult.  I have accused my neighbor of untrue things.  I have used the name of God with irreverence and as profanity.  I have served myself as superior and sought other gods before Him.  I have committed adultery.  Out of ten simple rules, I have broken all but one at some point or another.  (Read Exodus 20: 1-17)

This is the fleshly me.  This is the one that was physically born today multiple decades ago.  (I'll spare you the exact details of how long ago it was.)  I know my heart is deceitful.  I know it will lie to me.  I know.  I know it leads to all those things listed above. It even tries to convince me that I'm a good person, that I don't need anything.

However, there's another part of me that knows there is a Creator.  There is Someone who loves me and desires to be with me.  There is Someone who cares when I do things that harm me.  There is Someone who wants only the best for me and He knows what the best is because He designed me.  We all know this.

(Father God, I know you are here.  I pray you will lead according to your purpose and will.  Thank you.  In Jesus Name I pray, amen.)