At some point in all of our lives we ask ourselves the question "what will I be known for?" I know personally this question was followed up by "what legacy will I leave behind when I'm gone?" I think that at some point we all find ourselves asking these questions and wondering how we will be remembered long after we are gone.
For me, I pray I leave behind a legacy of grace and zeal. I have talked about this a few times over the last few years, but I wanted to take some time to look at this concept again, only from a different view. It has been a prayer of mine for years now that I would be remembered for uncharacteristic grace and a zeal for the things of God, unlike anything that has been seen before.
I want to leave behind a legacy of grace and determination, one of zeal and a renewed sense of joy. A legacy of self-love, but more importantly a love for others that was plainly evident. Recently, we were talking about learning to love ourselves and it got me thinking about how often we say we know who we are and claim to love ourselves, yet in reality we know so little about ourselves. Scripture tells us:
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! - 2 Corinthians 5:17
We have been made new in Christ. We are no longer our past mistakes, we are made new and given a fresh start. Out with the old and in with the new. It does not matter what you did in the past, the mistakes you made, it has all been washed away. You are new and you are already enough. So I want to ask you a question, "Do you know who you are?" Don't try to answer right away, think about it first.
For most people the answer that comes to mind first is all the mistakes they have made and the lies they have been feed by the enemy, I know this because that was once me. The first time someone asked me this question, I can still remember the lies that filled my head instead of the truth, but they challenged me that day to drive deeper into God's word and find out who He says I am. Once I knew who He said I was, I finally knew without a doubt who I am.
The answer will vary slightly for each of us, but there are a few truths that apply to all of us. In case no one has ever told you who you are, I'm going to now:
You are :
LOVED
CHERISHED
A DAUGHTER OR A SON
NEEDED
WANTED
KNOWN
YOU ARE A CHILD OF THE MOST HIGH!
Your challenge this week is to think about the question I asked earlier. "Do you know who you are?" Really take some time to think about this question and the legacy you will leave when you are gone. Life is a precious gift and even though it can be hard and messy at times it is beautiful and extravagant.
You have a God-given uniqueness!
Alianna C.
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