While at our sons first soccer practice with a new team of players I noticed it: kids quick to tear one another down with words. It wasn’t anything super mean spirited, just subtle words like “We need a different defense.” Implying that the current defense was not good enough. Ouch I thought, my son wasn’t on the receiving end of that comment but I know it is only a matter of time before he is. Here he is new to a team, nobody has seen him play before or knows what he is capable of. If someone says something mean spirited toward him… will he believe it? I found myself wondering if I have helped him really understand who he is. Does he know who God has made him?
When I was in middle school I remember searching for who I was, trying to fit in with a crowd..but not feeling at home anywhere. But somewhere in middle school, someone taught me about who God had made me…and it changed me. It gave me confidence and still gives me confidence to this day. So I decided to set out this fall to instill these words into my kids hearts so that they become second nature. I want them to know who God says they are, so that they can deflect the lies that will be thrown at them and have confidence in knowing who God says they are even when they don’t feel confident.
I’ve been wanting to do this dining room chalk board project for awhile…and this soccer comment finally gave me the energy to do it! My goal for every day or maybe even every week is to write one truth about who God says we are on the board and to talk about it at dinner.
Below is a list I have compiled of who God says we are…if you’ve never studied this for yourself, I have got to tell you…it’s life changing! Even now, I need these reminders…so I challenge you to study this list even if you don’t have children. Print these lists, hang them in your or your kids bathroom, cut them out and put them in their lunchbox. I’m praying that you would see God doing a mighty work in your life and your kids lives through studying these truths.
(I used 3 different translations of the bible in these verses, The message, NASB, and NIV).
