Who We Are

This morning, I woke up with the words discouragement, defeat, and  despair on my heart. Not because they are actively at work in my life now, (although I have been at some raw places in the past, so if you are there I get it), but because God has brought to my attention to write about some areas of (en)couragement and where we have victory in Christ.

I read the devotional Jesus calling this morning and here is what it said for yesterday:

"You are on the right path. Listen more to Me, and less to your doubts. I am leading you along the way I designed just for you. Therefore, it is a lonely way, humanly speaking. But I go before you as well as alongside you, so you are never alone...

I am revealing to you the path of Life day by day, and moment by moment. As I said to My disciple Peter, so I repeat to you: Follow Me."  -Sarah Young, Jesus Calling

John 10:4

I love the illustration of Jesus calling His sheep by name in John 10 and the fact that he leads us and we follow him when He is not a stranger to us. In that, if He was a stranger, we would run away because we would not recognize a stranger's voice. 

There's such a sharp contrast given in John 10 between all the others who claim or claimed to bring life and the life Jesus brings.

 He says "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves or robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate, whoever enters through it will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (v 7-10).

I love Kari Jobe's song "We Are" as it does remind me of who I am (and who I'm not), and perhaps reminds us collectively of who we are, living loved under the fullness of a big God. 

Not the secrets, shames, or pains.

Not trapped in the darkness of fears.

"Children of the day."

Not alone.

Called by name

More than conquerors.