26. Who Do You Think You Are?

Who do you think you are?

This title could be taken a number of ways. Because have you ever heard someone say, "Who do you think you are, anyway?" Or, "Who does she think she is?" The tone in which the question is spoken makes all the difference, doesn't it? Today we're asking ourselves this question without the accusatory tone and with a whole lot of love. We're asking it not to question who we are, but to remind us who we really are. Because who we think we are matters greatly. It affects our thoughts, our actions, our very lives. Who we think we are matters and it makes a difference.

So, who are you? Who do you think you are?

How do you describe yourself?

Are you a talented singer? A committed employee? Or maybe a good cook?

Are you a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend?

Are you a member of a certain club, group, or political party affiliation?

Do you describe yourself by your job, your religion, or your position in life?

Or do you describe yourself by what you've accomplished, or a title, or what someone else has said of you?

Who do you say you are?

Think about the last few days. Think about the words you’ve said to yourself about yourself. About the thoughts you’ve allowed to enter your mind about who you are. Were they more negative or positive?

You know? Just the other day I called myself an idiot for making a mistake. I labeled myself as "old" just a couple days ago when I was talking to my son. In a conversation with my daughter, I called myself a mess. Do you call yourself names too? (I hope not.) But what we call ourselves and what we say about ourselves is powerful. Those words originate in our thoughts, and when we hear ourselves call ourselves names, either positively or negatively, they cement in our minds. And the more we say them, the more we believe them.

God’s Word is very clear about who you and I are. And "idiot" is not a word He ever uses to describe us. Neither is "a mess up," or "a failure," or "old," or "unworthy." Or any other word we can come up with. We look at a few examples in God's Word in this week's episode.

But sometimes our thoughts and words follow what we've been told.

Sometimes it's the labels we remember. Oftentimes it's the labels that influence who we think we are.

Sure, I remember the encouraging words my assistant high school basketball coach shared with me my senior year, and the many times my parents told me they believed in me. But what stands out to me is the time as a young adult I was told I had “thunder thighs.” When a boy I liked in high school told me I wasn’t pretty enough. When my boss at my first big girl job said I talked too much.

I remember these almost as if they happened last week.

In this episode we look at what researchers say about how our brains retain and recall more negative experiences than positive ones, and how the enemy uses them to affect us with labels and lies. And we tangibly do something with the labels and lies we've believed.

Listen in by clicking the player above. You'll find encouragement and hope to answer the question, "Who do you think you are."

Links in this episode:

• Episode 24, The Day After the Most Depressing Day of the Year
• What researchers say about remembering negative events
• Romans 8:38-39 NLT
• John 3:16 WE
• Free printable "Embracing Who You Are" in my Resources
• Psalm 139:13-14 VOICE
• Genesis 1:27 NIRV
• Encouragement for Real Life Community Facebook group

God bless you!