Day 8 "Freedom Found in God"

In my mind's eye, I am standing next in line after Moses to speak with God through the burning bush on Mt. Horeb. (Exodus 3). Finally, Moses moves out of the way, and I begin my approach to the burning bush. However, unlike Moses, my posture was far less reverent. Whereas Moses was told to come no closer to the burning bush because the ground upon which he was standing was holy, I made my way right up to the burning bush, with one of my arms stretched outwards towards the bush, my hand flexed at the wrist so that the palm of my hand was sending out the message, "Speak to the hand, God."

I was on a mission. "Okay, God," I began, "Unlike Moses, I don't need to know who you are, but, I desperately need to know who I am!" There was no hint of fear or trembling in my voice, just a desperate tone that was seasoned by years of anxiety, loneliness and fear. I needed to find some acceptance of my life and that my life had some bit of purpose and meaning to it. Awaiting a few moments in silence, I then heard God speak to me, "Mark, you are, who I say you are!" And then, I watch the flame died out, and I found myself in complete darkness and silence. "That's it?" I thought to myself, " Where is the profoundness in that?" But as I continued to stand there in the darkness, the words marinating my heart and soul, I slowly began to grasp what I just heard. If God, the creator of everything, just defined me, who or what could ever undefine me? Nothing, I concluded, absolutely nothing! Neither my job, my ex-wife, my children, my friends, my enemies, my accomplishments, my failures, my shortcomings, my co-workers, my boss, would no longer define who I was or who I could be. With one quick statement, God had dissolved my fears and anxiety and flooded my heart with His unconditional love and complete acceptance. I am, who God says I am. A paradigm shift.

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."

Colossians 3:2

I am reminded each day to look towards God for my identity and purpose. Often, when I do find myself looking at life from a worldly perspective, I sense the regrets beginning to set back in, again. I find that I start valuing myself by what I have done or haven't done. But I am pleased to say that it doesn't take too long these days before I begin to hear the whisper of God's voice, "Look up. Set your mind on things above. look at everything from a spiritual point of view." When I do, I hear the encouraging words again, breaking through like the sun piercing through the dark, stormy clouds, "You are, who I say you are!" And spiritually, so are you!

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life —is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j] 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:31-39

May your life, too, be totally changed knowing that you are who God says you are.

"Perfect love casts out all fear." 1 John 4:18

It is in the security and acceptance of such love, our lives begin to transform into seeing ourselves as God sees us and creating in us the desire to love others like He first loved us.

"We love, because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19

Make it a great day knowing that it is God, and God alone, who defines you! You are who God says you are.

Until next time...