I know who you are

“I know who You are.” It’s a prayer “go-to” for me. It reminds me of God’s character. It helps me focus on who I’m praying to more than the situation I’m praying about. It revitalizes my faith. It reminds me that he’s a good Father and that he only gives good gifts. It reminds me that he has all power.  It reminds me that his character never changes, who he was is who he is, and who he will always be. I love James 1:17, (NLT) “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” And this one, Hebrews 13:8, (NKJV) “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

During a particularly dumpster fire-ish time in my life recently, I was praying and I said this familiar phrase to God. “I know who you are.” He spoke back to me this time in a still, small voice, “Do you know who you are?”

 So, who am I, really? I’m his child, greatly loved and precious, heard and seen, accepted and safe in Jesus, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, a friend of God. John 15:13-14 (NLT) “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.”

In times of instability, our stability comes from knowing the God in whom we believe. Not just knowing of him, but actually knowing him.  It’s a lifelong journey and it starts with a personal relationship with him. Just like any relationship, as you navigate life’s circumstances with someone, you grow in love, trust, and understanding. He wants us to walk with him the same way. John 15:4a (NKJV) says, “Abide in me, and I in you. To abide with him, to stay close and really get to know him in a personal relationship, it’s why Jesus died. So that we can have access to him.

We do ourselves and our destiny a disservice when we settle for knowing trivia facts about God instead of seeking to really know God. Knowing him changes everything. Knowing him builds our faith and calms our fears. Really learning about his character teaches us that he’s trustworthy and everything we have and all that we submit to him is safe with him.  2 Timothy 1:12b (NKJV) sums it up this way, “Nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” And he’s not hard to find according to Jeremiah 29:13-14a, (NLT) “’If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,’ says the Lord.” Do you know who he is?

Hand in hand with getting to know him, is getting to know who we are in Christ. As we learn to see ourselves as God sees us, our perspective, our plans, our self-esteem, everything has to come into alignment with what he says about us. We are not the names we’ve been called, we are not the sum total of our mistakes, we are not our insecurities. We are exactly who our Creator says we are. We would do well to not ever forget that. Do you know who you are?