As an adolescent, my dad had a unique way of getting into my head before I left the house. He was never much of a lecturer, but he did have a way of getting his point across without saying much. Instead of telling me that he didn’t approve of the clothes I was wearing, the movies I was watching, or the tattoo I wanted to get, he would simply say to me, “Remember who you are.”
At the time I just thought it was some “weird dad” thing to say, but as I’ve grown older and become a parent myself, I can see now how my dad was showing patience, faith, and restraint by quietly letting the Holy Spirit do his work inside of me (instead of the other way around).
I now have two sons and a daughter, and when I found out I was having a girl, I was honestly terrified…….because being a woman in our culture is hard, right?! We often struggle with identity issues and wonder, “Can I be a good mom and still reach my goals?”, “Will I ever lose the baby weight?”, or “I wish I were more like_____.” But the Bible is FULL of God’s promises about who we are in Christ. God created each of us to be different so that we can complete our different callings.
Because I know this to be true, I prayed when I was pregnant with my daughter for God to help me be a good “girl mom”. He instantly reminded me of my dad always saying, “Remember who you are”. He then gave me some specific scriptures to hang in her room that I now pray over her every night. The prayer goes something like this:
“You are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14) You are a daughter of the King. (Galatians 3:26) More precious than jewels. (Proverbs 3:15) Be strong and courageous. God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9) And may you always know how much God loves you and find your identity in him.”
Two of our favorite bedtime songs right now are also “Who You Say I Am” by Hillsong Worship and “You Say” by Lauren Daigle. Try listening to these today as you reflect and ask God to show you what HE thinks about who you are.
Scripture Meditations
Ephesians 2:10
Galatians 4:7
2 Corinthians 5:17
Romans 8:37
Journal/Reflection Questions:
1. What lie is Satan trying to tell you about who you are?
2. What are some scriptures the Holy Spirit is showing you to combat these lies?
Kari Brookins is a stay-at-home mother of three from Mounds View. When she isn’t mommin’ so hard, you can find her in the gym, hanging out with friends, or reading books for fun. She loves coffee, beach vacations, football, and Asian food. Kari and her husband have been married for 11 years and have been attending Substance for five years.