Your I.D. Bracelet

Know your real label.

I was praying last Saturday morning in Serena's room while Tye played with the girls in the living room. The room was so peaceful and as I paced the floor, the rose gold jar on her dresser caught my eye. It has a few small mementos from her birth, including her tiny hospital I.D. bracelet, that says, "Baby Girl Hefner." My mind filled with the wonderful memories of that day. Then the Holy Spirit said, "I gave you one of those."

What?

He reminded me that He marks us even before we are born. (Psalm 139) He is the one that knitted us together in the womb, and He put His identity on us. We are His. My question to you is, Did you know that God put His I.D. bracelet on you, and that you are wearing it right now?

Isaiah 43:1 says, "Thus says the Lord,

who created you,

And He who formed you,

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by your name;

You are Mine!"

Hospital bracelets are a sentimental keepsake, but while you're staying there, they provide the very vital need of making sure babies are matched correctly to the right parent-- to prevent babies from being switched at birth. He reminded me that the enemy actually tries to switch us at birth and steal our identity. He tries everything to get us to forget WHO we belong to, and WHO we really are. This is something we MUST do DAILY, in order to live a victorious life as a child of God. I want to give you three simple steps to remember who you are, and who you belong to!

How To See Your I.D. Bracelet

1. Start your day by talking to the Holy Spirit right when you wake up in the morning.

We can wake up stressed, overwhelmed and set the wrong tone for the day by rushing around trying to get everything done (or abruptly woken up to your kids asking for breakfast or the baby crying!) How you first approach your day sets the tone that lasts. Tell Him, "Good morning, Holy Spirit, thank you for being with me! I am Yours! Show me what you think about me today... Speak to me, Holy Spirit! What are you saying right now?"

2. Read the Bible throughout the day, keep verses around the house and glance at the verses between tasks, pausing to read it's truth.

The Bible is His living Word, and it is His love letter to you. It tells you thousands of ways He loves you, who you really are in Christ, all about your real Father, and all the things God has already given you through Jesus's sacrifice on the cross, His stripes, and His resurrection. If you forget His Word, the enemy will try to get you to believe a wrong identity.

3. When difficult things happen (stress, discouragement, strife, conflict, personal attacks from others, sickness, loss, lack or any hardship) find verses about it, and remind yourself of the truth!

The enemy wants to knock us off track by sending storms to rock our boat, and sends attacks to derail us from God's plan. Don't fall for the devil's tricks or take his bait. Don't believe any of his lies (such as: you're not good enough, you've failed again, you'll never get it right, this is your fault, God is "testing" you(!) etc. If you go back to His Word and truth about any situation, it sets you FREE. Instead of believing the lies, you fill yourself back up with God's TRUTH:

- I am Loved, Called and Chosen by God!

- I am safe, protected and cared for in my secret place with God! (Psalm 91)

- I am good enough through Christ, because it's not me that lives, but Him living through me! (Gal. 2:20)

- I can do all things through Christ's strength in me! (Philip. 4:13)

- Jesus already paid for me to have healing, prosperity, joy, peace and success! (Isai. 53)

- I my Father's good pleasure to give me His kingdom, and ALL of it's promises! (Luke 12:32)

- Through Jesus I am a new creation, and He has a prosperous plan full of hope for me! (Jer. 29:11)

- I am the head not the tail, above not beneath, and a victor, never a victim!

- All God's promises for me are Yes and Amen! (2 Cor. 1:20)

- I've got the SAME zoe, resurrection LIFE living on the inside of me that raised Jesus from the dead! (Romans 8:11)

- I am called to be Salt and Light to the world, change many lives for eternity, and stay connected to Father God in a close relationship!

- I am more than a conqueror, always triumph in Christ and no weapon formed against me will prosper!

- I am His Beloved child! I belong to Him! He has written my name on the palm of His hand! (Isai. 49:16)

- I abide in Him and He abides in me! I remain in His love! (John 15:4)

If you could see the spiritual realm with your eyes, and look down at your wrist, you would see a golden I.D. bracelet with your full name, birthdate, and the title: Child of God! Loved, Called, Chosen for His kingdom and purpose! In fact, TRY THIS: look up beyond your wrist and see an ocean. A vast ocean full of sand, upon a white sandy beach. Psalm 139 says, "All of His thoughts toward you outnumber ALL the billions of grains of sand!" Now that is mind-blowing. Remind yourself of this, reject any lies the enemy throws at you, and ask the Holy Spirit to show you all the ways He sees you, and who you REALLY are!

#identity #whoyouare #growth #dailytips