So the purpose of this is to help me filter what I'm learning into a word. A single word. As you can see, this one is "Daughter." The reason for this is that it is what I like to say is my identity. We all have one, and maybe you haven't found it yet, maybe you don't know how to. Maybe this sounds really elementary. But you have one. And what I've found is that your identity is not merely a word that you choose that describes who you are to Christ, or who Christ is to you. It is your story. Identity isn't something you pick up the Bible and point at a word in the glossary to find. It is something you experience.
This experience for me came on August 22, 2012. My story, however starts a few years ago when my Dad lost his job and it sent my family through a whirlwind of hurt, anxiety and brokenness. But all you need to know, at least right now, is that I put a lot of stock in who my Dad was, where he worked, how we lived etc. And when that was taken away I felt betrayed. I got to a point where I didn't even know who my Dad really was and I struggled with forgiveness for a long time before I was able to say that if I could talk to him there wouldn't be any bitterness or malice (Ephesians 4:31-32). Enter Jesus. I've known Him since I was young, and I believe that that point in time was when I received salvation by faith through grace and the Holy Spirit came into my life (Ephesians 2:8-9, 1:13). However, we are also moved from one degree of glory to the next, and that can only happen through refinement (2 Corinthians 3:18, Job 5:17, Malachi 3:3).
SO. On August 22, with no correlation to the sermon that was given, though it was wonderful, I "heard" the Spirit speak to me for the first time. Ever. For real. How I know that this was the Holy Spirit speaking over me was that for the next seven days this word was in nearly every conversation that I had with anybody. Daughter, He said to me. You are a precious daughter of a Father who will never let you down, never hurt you, always protect and provide for you. The funny thing about finding your identity is that you can look back and see where it was in your story all along. Daughter. He provided when we were struggling with financial stability. Daughter. He gave you peace when your world was turned upside down. Daughter. He was the only one I could turn to without fear of rejection. Daughter. "and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Romans 8:17-18).
With that being said. I'm going to chronicle the words that have been processed before and since this time and then continue to do so as my story unfolds in glorious redemption for my good and His glory.
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