4 minute read
by Bethany Rees

“Dear…” Series: Many of us put on a brave face or wear a mask to hide our internal struggles with: guilt, fear, comparison, unworthiness, regret, unforgiveness, rejection, anger, and grief. The “Dear…” series is dedicated to shedding light, hope, and freedom on these internal battles that we often face alone. BUT, we are not alone! Because of Jesus, we can win our battles and find freedom.

Dear Unworthiness,

Get out of my life! You tell me lie after lie that I don’t deserve God’s love or his forgiveness because of who I am and what I’ve done. 

You bring up past mistakes and play them in my head as though they represent the only thing about me. 

You cast shadows of depression and confusion with your constant reminder to strive for affection and yet never feel as though I deserve to obtain. 

You constantly tell me that I am not deserving of love, attention, respect, or salvation and freedom.  

You use tricks and lies to keep in me bondage to my past.

Unworthiness, you are a liar warping my identity and security in Jesus and God has changed my heart and mind concerning you. 

I Confess: 

I have allowed you to keep my true identity in a locked cage of darkness away from the light of the SON. I believed your lies that I had to earn God’s love and my salvation. I confess that I became both a high achiever finding my identity in my accomplishments and an overwhelmed person by trying to sustain an image. I allowed your presence to constantly swing me on the pendulum between busyness and striving and depression and paralysis. It is I that allowed your lies to chain my identity to my past and present performance, but now I see you for what you really are: 

• a distorted view of the character of God posing Him as a one that could never love a wretch like me 
• a warped sense of identity in thinking that I am nothing more than my past mistakes
• a threat that I’ll never amount to anything or anyone 

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

Romans 5:6-9 “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”

I Repent:

Unworthiness, your presence in my life has kept me working for God’s affection and my salvation, but I repent. I will gladly accept the free gift of grace and mercy from my loving God through the sacrifice of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Because of my acceptance of His free gift of salvation, I am no longer who I used to be; I am a new creation. 

Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

I Cast Off:

Unworthiness, in the name of Jesus, I rebuke you. Unworthiness, your lies will no longer be believed in my heart, mind, and soul.  When your darkness tries to overcome me with lies of being unqualified, I will pray and speak the truth of scripture over you.

Romans 8:37-39 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I Bless:

In reading God’s word, He reminds me and blesses me because I get to know His true character…He is a loving God who wants all to come to Him.  I am a child of God and I belong to Christ.  

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

1 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

John 1:12 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,”

1 Corinthians 3:23 “and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.”

So Unworthiness, by the time you read this blog post…know that Jesus has covered my past and is with me in my present and future. I am a new creation in Him.  Unworthiness, I know who I am as Christ follower and I am free of you. 

Know Better. Do Better. Live Better. My Identity belongs to God.

Rocks before Sand!

Scripture: 

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~ Romans 8:37-39

Theme Song: 

Who You Say I am (Lyric Video) - Hillsong Worship

References Used:

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Bible Verses About Unworthiness: 

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

Romans 5:6-9 “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”

Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Romans 8:37-39 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

1 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

John 1:12 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,”

1 Corinthians 3:23 “and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.”