`WHO AM I?’

By: Nancy H. Abiera

 

“Who Am I?” Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. . . So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 2: 26-27

“Beauty is not just vanity but in actuality the true expression of our humanity as creative and supernatural beings of God.”

“Who you are is a blessing from God. . . Who you become is your blessing to God. . . Knowing God is knowing the best blessing of who you are. . . Thus, you become an “I’m possible blessings to yourself, to others and to God.” Rev. Nancy H. Abiera

People love to buy signature clothes, brand-name shoes, top-of-theline cars, things that shout symbols of economic status or perhaps for quality reasons while others may just be dictated by other emotional justifications.

There is nothing wrong with feeling good in the inner core of ourselves or even making ourselves look good from the outside. Some even said, “When you look good, you feel good.” But the essence here is: Why do we do such things? Is it because that is who we are? Are we trying to be someone we are not? Are there some underlying reasons behind all these things that we think, perceive, say, or do? To put it bluntly, sometimes, we do things to add value to ourselves as we think something is missing. Like education, material possessions, who we are married to or our children or who we associate as friends or other social, political, religious or professional networks, the jobs or title we have, our accomplishments, and many others built as self-protection to mask the real us. And I can go on . . .”My father once told me, it is not the clothes that carry you. You carry your clothes.” And if I may add, “It is not the clothes, shoes, cars, homes or other things that carry you. It’s just you.”

A month ago, I happen to meet a gorgeous, multi-gifted and sweetspirited young woman of God, named, Belinda. As we were initially exchanging names, out of the blue I said: “Your name is ‘Be-Linda’ and not ‘Do-Linda’. The “Be” comes before the “Do” even in the alphabetical sense. I know a little bit of Spanish and a thought came to my mind that the name meant “Be Beautiful” or “You Are Beautiful”. There is nothing more or less needed to be added nor subtracted. Just like the flower rose. Roses are made to be beautiful and fragrant. They do not have to try to be beautiful. They are beautiful per se. They do not have to try to be fragrant. They are fragrant as it is.

As I am writing this, it brought to my memory a quote from a powerful former, first lady, Eleonor Roosevelt: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Obviously, Eleonor Roosevelt knew exactly who she is. She does not have to prove it to anybody nor seek the approval of others. She is secure enough to maintain her true perception of her selfworth. I believe only a few people have this kind of healthy self-image.

On the contrary, I went through my memory lane on the movie, “Pretty Woman” when the rich tycoon played by Richard Geere asked Julia Roberts, the prostitute: “How did you become a prostitute?” She replied, “People put you down and you start to believe.” And, if I may guess, the majority falls under the Pretty Woman category. Thus, they start to misrepresent who they are based what other said about them. What people say begins to be dominant in their self-understanding. They become disconnected with themselves, others and God. They become independent of how God made them. Worst, they become dependent on others’ view. Or, perhaps both. Then, the behavior changes to what is expected of them by others. Self-deception starts to form a web that clouds their thinking. They become chameleons in order to be accepted. They blend in with the color or expectations of their environment. They live like puppets controlled by people other than themselves. As part of the coping mechanism, they control others too. On the inside, they still cry out to be part of something and longed so deeply to have a sense of belonging. But because of the disconnection with self and isolation from God and others, they soon wither and eventually lose themselves.

Self rejection and self-hatred takes a foothold that eventually becomes a stronghold. This is masked by unloving spirit, a false humility in disguise hiding the wounding by pride. And just to survive, they live through the lives of others. They attach to different temporary life lines other than their own. This is what people see as double life. Some labels include (BPD) borderline personality disorder. Other calls it multiple personality. Some say it is the fragmentation of the human being or some kind of brokenness. A few name it (DID) dissociated identity disorder. We made simple things so complex that we lose touch of the basics.

Just like during my younger years, I was an extremely busy woman. It was like a never-ending life cycle of climbing the ladder of success and stress. It was like Frank Sinatra’s song, ‘That’s Life,’ with my own version: “I’ve been a lover, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a pastor, a dancer, a singer like diva and a friend. I’ve been up and down and over and out. But I know one thing. Each time I find myself flat on my face, I pick myself up and get back in the race.”

This was not to mention my other roles in the corporate world, church and other volunteer work in the social arenas. I was trapped in the “human doings” and failed to see that I am a “human being”. I did not even realize that I was a “success-driven addict” until the Lord showed me. Thank God that I was able to break away from all these obsessions of life. I finally reach the end of myself and needed God’s intervention. I seek a lot of questions from God and reflected on the life I was living. Thus, I am directing you similar questions that helped me.

Who are you? Remove all the positions or titles and roles you played. Take out everything that wraps around you: your family, your education or degrees, your culture, etc. It was scary at first yet you have to step in to see the real you. At times, it is so easy to see ourselves identified with family affiliation like parents, spouse or children, your racial or ethnicity lineage, your cultural identity, which group or community you belong. Then you go on with what you do personally, professionally, etc. At some point, you end up defining yourself with what your roles are rather who you are in your truest sense. The “do” became predominant as opposed to the “be”.

And if I were to ask another question. . . Who are you? Who is like you? What is your brand? Whose signature label do you have?

Who you are is totally dependent on who made you. It is determined by who created you. It is not what you do that defines who you are. The truth of the matter is: it is who you are solely based on Your Maker that defines and calls what you do.

As you reflect, ask the Lord to reveal His character and attributes to you. Who is God? Write a letter as though God was writing a letter to you. As you know God, then you begin to know who you really are. Meditate on the names and characters of God. Open your Spirit and receive them as they are like genetical blessings from God depositing His DNA in you. Envision the Father transfusing His Blood through His Son Jesus Christ to you through the power of the Holy Spirit forgiving and cleansing you. Remember, like Father: like daughter; like Father: like Son.

Do you see yourself that way? Or, do you see yourself in a broken mirror, still confused and have some discomfort even accepting who you are, your looks, your color, your hair, your weight, and many others? Please do not play “Hide & Seek” with God. Just like after the Fall of Adam and Eve, God said, “Adam, where are you?” Repent right away and be back on track, “Here I am Lord in You. In You, here I am.” This was the revelation I got in the middle of a corporate worship. I was caught in the Spirit and got an instant revelation while singing with Paul Wilbur: “I enter the Holy of Holies. I enter through the blood of the Lamb. I enter to worship You only. I enter to honor I Am”.

His name is “I am” not I was. . . not I will. . . but I am. He is the great I am. And as we continue to be transformed to be more and more like Him, our Abba Father, we become His replica, His image, His likeness. Like Father, like son or daughter. We become I am in His presence.

I encourage you to bless “the God, I Am” and “bless the I am in You”. As you bless God, you bless yourself and you become a blessing to God, to yourself and to others.

Declare this to give praises to our God: “Lord, I praise you for creating the beautiful me made in your image and likeness. I praise you because I have access to the wisdom of Jesus Christ. I praise You God because I am a woman or man of destiny, a woman or man of strength, a woman or man of multiple gifts and talents. With God, I’m possible.”

My Prayer for you: “May the peace of the Lord be with you. The shalom of the Lord be with you. May His Spirit rest within you to reveal Himself within you. He is right beside you, inside you, above you, and behind you, constantly reminding you. You are a child of the King. That is who you are, the great I am. Thank you Father. Thank you Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus. Amen.”

Choose “On A Bright Side”. I love you readers with the love of the Lord bit God loves you the most. Smile and be a blessing. . . ###