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One of my favorite songs by the Christian band Casting Crowns came to mind when I saw the prompt phrase “I Am” for this week. The title is Who Am I?, and it begins with these words:

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth 

 Would care to know my name 

 Would care to feel my hurt? 

 Who am I, that the bright and morning star 

 Would choose to light the way 

 For my ever wandering heart?

Not because of who I am

But because of what you’ve done

Not because of what I’ve done

But because of who you are

I am a flower quickly fading

Here today and gone tomorrow

A wave tossed in the ocean

A vapor in the wind

Still you hear me when I’m calling

Lord, you catch me when I’m falling

And you’ve told me who I am

I am yours
I couldn’t explain who I am in clearer words – and I only quoted the first verse and chorus of the original song.

• I am a child of the Great I am, Jehovah God, the Lord of all the earth. And I am privileged to be a part of His family. He knows me and calls me by name. However, I AM NOT GOD. As the title of a book by Max Lucado says,  It’s Not About Me.  It’s about Him, about listening to what He says and obeying Him. I’m His servant, not the other way around.
• I am a sinner saved by grace. I didn’t to anything to earn my salvation. God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for my sins, and for yours too. Salvation isn’t a wage we earn. It is a gift we receive, by faith in the shed blood of Christ on the Cross and in His resurrection from the dead. Jesus took all of our sins upon Himself on the Cross, and in exchange He gives us His righteousness.
• I am a woman who has walked with God for many years, and yet I sometimes forget He is the bright and morning star who guides me down the path that is best for me. I may not understand why He allows certain circumstances in my life, but when I grab a “dim flashlight” and to go my own way, I’m likely to stumble or fall. God’s knowledge far exceeds mine and yours, and He knows what He’s doing. Fortunately, He’s there to catch me when I’m falling.
• I am “a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow.” This doesn’t reflect a desire to die. It’s simply reality. Our days on earth are limited, and I have more years behind me than I do ahead of me. The good news is when this life is over, as born-again children of God, we have the promise that we will enter a new life, eternal life in an everlasting kingdom where Jesus will reign as King. All the pain and physical limitations we live with will be in the past. The emotional trauma we’ve experienced will be forgotten. As in says in Revelation 21, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”” (Revelation‬ ‭21:3-4‬ ‭NIV)

My Prayer

Father, as I reflect on who I am, I’m overwhelmed with gratefulness for all You’ve done in my life. No, I don’t understand everything You have allowed me to go through. But as it says in Isaiah 55:8-9, Your thoughts and ways are higher than ours, sometimes beyond human understanding. Yet, I thank You for salvation, for the forgiveness of my sins, and for Your mercy and grace poured out on me daily. I thank You for the many blessings You have given me, and for the joy filling my heart more and more each day as I come to know You better.  And yet, Father, I know that the pleasures and blessings You have in store for us in heaven will be beyond compare to any good things You have given during our years on earth. Help me to seek Your will and obey You, from now until I see You face-to-face. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.