Friday, February 12th, ‘10
All rights reserved © message by Kris Jackson
A BAD CASE OF THE I AMS
“Look not upon me, because I am dark, because the sun has tanned me…” (Song of Solomon 1:6)
Here is a case of lousy self-image. “Don’t look at me, because I am…” Later in the drama Solomon confirms to her how beautiful she actually was – “You are all fair, my love, and there is no spot in you” (4:7) This is a common self-inflicted wound. Many ladies suffer from comparison-it is, or the “I ams”. God used the tag in a positive way. When Jehovah introduced Himself to Moses from the burning bush, He declared, “I AM THAT I AM”. That was the height of sureness and security. Jesus catalogued more “I ams”, “I am the bread of life”, “I am the true vine”, “I am the good shepherd”, etc, all positive, all reinforcing. But most “I am” talk is self-deprecating, I am too fat, I am too short, I am not good at Math, I am feeling sick, I am going to fail and so on.
When tempted to spout a negative “I am” change it to an “I was up until now”. Do not categorize yourself. Did you know that the Greek word for “accuse” is katagora? Satan, the “accuser of the brethren” is a categorizer. No person is all one thing or another. To say “I am bad” cannot be wholly true. No one is all bad as no one is all good. Perhaps you have “done badly” but that is not categorical. What are we comparing to? “I am stupid”. Compared to what? Could you whip a donkey in a spelling bee? I should hope so. By that standard you would be considered genius. Paul said, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Cor 15:10). You could be better but you could be worse. What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God. If you must use “I ams” then change your self-talk to “I am improving in that area” or whatever.
Some parents have named their daughters “Ima”.
We name ourselves that too. Ima Democrat, Ima slow learner, Ima
Sagittarius, Ima lesbian, Ima
middle child. Whatever you think you are, it can be changed, modified or
totally reborn with the Lord’s help. Ima winner
sounds better. Ima goin uppa
yonder some sweet day. “Let the weak say, I am strong” (Joel 3:10).
Don’t evaluate yourself by the mirror, by TV commercials, by