Some say we are what we eat. Probably true! I propose that we are what we attach to. Remember the scripture from yesterday…

⁹“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. ¹⁰When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. ¹¹I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! ¹²This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. ¹³There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. ¹⁶You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. ¹⁷This is my command: Love each other.

John 15:9-17

Much of what I am reading these days relates to identity and authenticity. In order to live authentically, I need a solid identity. Identity is not what makes me unique; rather, it is the foundation from which I live out my uniqueness. I know. It’s a hard concept to wrap the mind around. Be patient with yourself; it will come.

The first step to forming a solid identity is understanding and rehearsing how God sees you. In the passage above, Jesus said we are loved; we are his loved friends; his chosen loved friends; his appointed, chosen, loved friends.

Just reading those words doesn’t change you unless you believe them and attach to the truth of Jesus’ love for you. Perhaps a beginning step is to adopt this mantra — “Jesus said I am appointed, chosen and loved!” “I am appointed, chosen and loved!”