Defining ourselves

Why is it that a lot of us define ourselves by our past and where we came from? We came from the bad neighborhood, or we came from a broken family. There are Katrina victims and flood victims. I am an abuse victim and a rape victim. I wear it like a badge almost; that is where I came from and what I've survived. It's so hard to get past trauma that we forever identify ourselves by it. I went to Celebrate Recovery tonight for the first time (joining in); how we introduced ourselves really got me thinking. To me I could just skip over my name; who cares about my name. It doesn't define me. It feels like I am only defined by my shortcomings, my human condition. I've been through the wringer and now I have various ailments because of it. It can be a good thing to know where you came from so you don't go there again. There are things that should never be experienced again. But some like me where our badges because we can't see through them or past them. We are reliving those moments over and over again. Those are the badges that should be shed, and I am making the oath tonight to move on however I can. It's not going to be a pretty journey and it certainly won't be easy but God intends for us to enjoy this life and not just endure it. Are you wearing your badges so you don't go back to that place, or are you carrying them around as baggage? Love yourself; say after me- I have high self-worth, valu, respect, and love for myself because I know who I am through Christ.

I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15)
I am a citizen of Heaven (Phil 3:20)
I am redeemed and forgiven (Col 1:14)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1:-2)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom. 8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 )
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28 )
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16 ). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected (Phil. 1: 5)
I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)
I belong to God
(source unknown)

I know I am not the only one that needed to hear this. Let's stand together to work to live out these words every day. Let's let God love us and love ourselves.