Chronicles of a Believer

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Words are to meant to encourage and speak life into ourselves and others. But where purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable.¹

James 3:9 says: 

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it, we curse human beings who have been made in God’s likeness. (emphasis mine)

I recently completed a four-day devotional titled “I Am,” that talks about knowing your identity in God. ²

Identity: Who or what a person is

Our identity in God comes from Him because He created us and therefore, determines who and what we are.

Day two’s devotional was themed “Tame your tongue.”

Two of the verses that spoke to me were Exodus 3:13-14. 

If you are not familiar with the book of Exodus, it tells the story of how God freed the Israelites (His chosen people) from slavery in Egypt.

The first few chapters talks about the birth of Moses and how, when he was older, God came to Him in a burning bush and tells Moses that he will be the person to save God’s people from slavery.

Moses immediately disqualifies Himself, and then asks how would the Israelites know that it is God who is sending him.

God responds by telling him:

I Am Who I Am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I Am has sent me to you. (Exodus 3:14, emphasis mine)

God goes on to say:

This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation. (Exodus 3:15, emphasis mine)

At this point, you’re probably thinking “Okay so what does this have to do with the power of words?”

Just hang with me; I promise I am about to make a point.

Although God has many names, calling Himself “I Am” further solidifies that He is not limited; He is The Creator and everything that is created gets its definition and identity from Him.

Created: To bring something into existence; To be formed out of nothing

We see in Genesis 1 that God literally spoke the universe into existence with His words. We are made in His likeness and His image (Genesis 1:26) which means our words also have great power. (Proverbs 18:21)

Likeness: The fact or quality of being alike; representation of

Our identity comes from God and because one of God’s names’ is “I Am,” it is imperative that when we use His name to speak about ourselves, it reflects who He is and who we are in Him and to Him.

When we say harmful things about ourselves using His name (e.g. “I am stupid.” “I am ugly.”), we may as well be saying those things about God.

But then, what does God say about who we are and who He created us to be?

Well, I’m glad you asked. Let’s take a look.

I am a wonderful creation. (Genesis 1:31)

I am safe. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

I am created in a way that brings great joy to my Father. (Psalms 139)

I am His. (Isaiah 43:1)

I am precious to God. (Isaiah 43:4)

I am worth the penalty that Jesus had to pay on the cross. (John 3:16)

I am loved, every inch of me,  by God and Jesus. (Romans 8:38-39)

I am victorious over any challenge I face. (1 Corinthians 15:57)

I am brave. I am love. I am mentally healthy. (2 Timothy 1:7)

I am handpicked. (1 Peter 2:9)

I am gifted. (1 Peter 4:10)

I am forgiven for all the times I chose (and will choose) my ways over God’s ways. (1 John 2:12)

And to make it more personable, I love to add “God says” before each affirmation because it emphasizes who God told us we are and what He thinks about us.

For example: 

God says, I am forgiven for all the times I chose my ways over His.

God says, I am precious to Him.

Friend, I’m encouraging you (and myself) to remember to define words and phrases that oppose who God says we are as feelings. (e.g. “I feel ugly.” “I feel sad.”)

By adjusting the way we speak over and about ourselves, we confirm that what we are feeling is exactly that: a feeling that will pass and is not who we are.

¹ Dr. Myles Munroe in “Understanding the Purpose and Power of Women: God’s Design for Female Identity” 

² “I Am” Bible devotional by Sheri Yates

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