John 1:12, John 15:15, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Corinthians 3:16, Colossians 2:10, Ephesians 2:10, John 15:16, Jeremiah 29:11-13

Lucy Paculabo Mhondera

Who are you? What defines you? What do you stand for? What makes you different? All of these questions are about you, not about me, not about your family, not about your friends, but about you!

What are you going to do to make a difference? How are you going to leave your stamp on the world and the lives of those around you? We are constantly told by the world that we need to be rich, beautiful and skinny, have a six pack, drive particular cars and do certain things to be accepted, complete and successful in life. For so many years of my life I tried to be someone I'm not. I tried to look a certain way, act a certain way, and think a certain way. But even when trying to impersonate someone else, I was left feeling unsatisfied and empty because it was not me. When I became a Christian I discovered who I really was and no-one can be better at being you than you, so why try being anyone else? Don't let the world steal your identity; let's have a look at who you really are.

YOU are a child of God
John 1:12: Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

YOU are Jesus' friend
John 15:15: I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

YOU are a new creation
2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

YOU are God's temple
1 Corinthians 3:16: Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?

YOU are complete in Christ
Colossians 2:10: You have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

YOU are God's workmanship
Ephesians 2:10: For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

YOU have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit
John 15:16: You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

This is the foundation of who you are, not just words written in the Bible for people during that time, but they are about you. God chose you. He has plans and purposes all mapped out for your life, plans that were in place before you were even born. You are unique, no-one can be you or live the life that God has given to you. He wants you to reach your full potential and has equipped you with the right gifts necessary. I don't know about you but I don't want to get to Heaven and hear God say, "You did ok Lucy come on in, but how could you have wasted all those amazing gifts and opportunities I gave to you?" can you imagine, you would be devastated! Don't waste those amazing talents God has gifted you with, ask Him to use you and be available to be used.

So what are you going to do? Are you going to live quietly with your head down and try and get on with life living in a box or are you going to open that box and let God's rollercoaster adventure take you on the ride of your life? Be different, be available, be obedient and most of all be YOU!

Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.