Tied Up in NOTs

I CAN NOT… make it, break it, take it.

I CAN NOT… do it, be it, see my way through it.

I CAN NOT measure up.  I CAN NOT live it down.

I CAN NOT… sort it out or work it out.

I CAN NOT prove it.

I CAN NOT change “it” — whatever has power over me.  The person.  The problem.  The past.

I CAN NOT change me.

I CAN NOT stand it anymore.

I WILL NOT — I DARE NOT — even try.

What is worse, Lord?  Is there something behind or beneath every CAN NOT, WILL NOT and DARE NOT?

What about “I AM NOT”?

I AM NOT… enough.  Not smart enough, strong enough, capable enough, attractive enough, rich enough… good enough.  To be… what?  Taken seriously?  Satisfied?  Happy?  Accepted?  Chosen?  Successful?  Significant?  Liked?  Loved?

So many I AM NOTs.  Is that why You, Lord, call Yourself “I AM”?

“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)

I AM — the God Who is always present, always able, always more than enough.  Is that why, Lord?  Because, in Youthrough You, with You, because of You — we can be, too?

In Christ…

I AM LOVED.  “For God so loved the world [Diana] that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that [when] whosoever [Diana] believes in Him [she] will not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16)

I AM GOD’s CHILD.  “Yet to all who received [Jesus], to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”  (John 1:12)

I AM CHOSEN.  “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.  In love, He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will…”  (Ephesians 1:4-5)  “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last…”  (John 15:16)

I AM FORGIVEN.  “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, for forgiveness of sins.”  (Colossians 1:13-1)

I AM SECURE.  “Nothing… in all creation will be able to separate [me] from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus [my] Lord.”  (Romans 8:39)

I AM CONFIDENT.  “… He who began a good work in [me] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 1:6)

I AM SIGNIFICANT.  “[I am], therefore, Christ’s Ambassador, as though God were making His appeal through [me].  [I] implore you on Christ’s behalf:  Be reconciled to God.”  (2 Corinthians 5:20)

I AM ABLE.  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  (Philippians 4:13)

I AM NEVER ALONE.  “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:20)

And so much more… !!!

We are NOT destined to be tied up in NOTs.  We are destined — and enabled — to be FREE.  By You, Lord.  The Great I AM.

“Therefore… let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles [every NOT].  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith [the Great I AM]”  (Hebrews 12:1-2a)

AMEN???  AMEN!!!

Abba’s Girl

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