Day 1 — Who Do I Believe I Am?
WHO AM I REALLY?
When we meet someone for the first time, one of the first things we usually do is tell them a little about ourselves.
"I'm a teacher."
"I'm a mother."
"I'm a business owner."
"I'm married."
"I'm retired."
We often describe ourselves by what we do, the relationships we have, or the roles we fill in life.
But here's something worth thinking about.
Who are we when those things change or come to an end?
What happens when we retire from a career we've spent years building? When our children grow up and leave home? When a marriage ends or someone we love dies? When circumstances beyond our control change the life we've always known?
If we've spent years defining ourselves by those things, we may suddenly find ourselves asking a question we never expected:
Who am I now?
Before we discover who God says we are, let's take an honest look at who we believe we are today.
WHAT SHAPES THE WAY I SEE MYSELF?
Why Start With What I Believe?
Recognizing what we believe about ourselves is one thing. Changing those beliefs can be something entirely different.
We may read something in God's Word, understand what it says, and even agree that it's true. Yet when it comes to applying that truth to our own lives, we may find ourselves struggling with beliefs we've carried for years.
Knowing what God's Word says and learning to live according to it aren't always the same thing.
That's why we're beginning this challenge by taking an honest look at how we see ourselves today.
Over the next 30 days, we'll explore what Scripture says about who we are, reflect on what we're learning, and discover how those truths can influence the way we think, make decisions, and live.
We're not expecting to change everything in 30 days. We're beginning a journey of learning to SEE OURSELVES THROUGH GOD’S EYES AND HOW TO LIVE IT.
What Does God's Word Say?
We've considered how our experiences and the opinions of others influence what we believe about ourselves. But what happens when we begin looking at those beliefs through God's Word?
Here are two passages from the Bible that help us see a different perspective.
God Knows Me
Psalm 139:1–3 (BSB)
1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down; You are aware of all my ways.
David describes a God who knows him completely—his thoughts, his actions, and the ordinary details of his life.
We often see ourselves through our experiences, successes, failures, and what others think of us. But God's knowledge goes far beyond what anyone can see on the outside.
God knows us more completely than we know ourselves.
REFLECTION QUESTION
What difference might it make to know that God understands me completely?
Search My Heart
Psalm 139:23–24 (BSB)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the way everlasting.
Knowing that God understood him completely, David asked Him to search his heart, reveal what needed to change, and guide his steps.
What if we approached God with that same willingness? Instead of relying on what we've always believed about ourselves, we can ask Him to help us recognize what is true, challenge what isn't, and discover what His Word reveals about us.
God knows us completely, and His Word reveals what is true.
REFLECTION QUESTION
What beliefs about myself might God be asking me to reconsider?
Keep Your Day 1 Lesson Worksheet
Take your time answering the questions. When you're finished, save your worksheet somewhere you can easily find it.
We'll return to these same questions on Day 30 to see what we've learned and how our understanding of ourselves may have changed.
The way we see ourselves doesn't develop overnight.
From childhood through adulthood, our experiences, relationships, successes, and disappointments influence what we come to believe about ourselves.
Sometimes those beliefs are encouraging.
"I'm dependable."
"I'm a good friend."
"I'm capable of handling difficult situations."
Other times, they're not.
"I'm not good enough."
"I always disappoint people."
"I'll never be successful."
Perhaps someone said something about us years ago that we've never forgotten. Or maybe an experience left us questioning our abilities, our worth, or our place in the world.
Over time, these thoughts can become so familiar that we stop questioning them.
But just because we've believed something about ourselves for a long time doesn't necessarily mean it's true.
And those beliefs matter because they can influence our decisions, relationships, and the way we respond to everyday situations.