We are so much more beautiful than we know, and more powerful than we realize. Often when we are solely preoccupied with the present, we can lose sight of where we are going and who we are becoming. We get caught up with negatives, burdened by our sense of lack. At this point we need someone to tell us who we are in Christ. We need people to remind us of our true identity. We need our companions to speak into our future destiny. Someone needs to see the treasure and not just the earthen vessel. (Graham Cooke, Coming Into Alignment, p. 21. Brilliant Book House)
I like the way Cooke said that. One phrase says that we need our companions to speak into our future destiny. That is another way of saying that we need to speak life over others. In the Kingdom, our “future destiny” is not so much about what we are going to do, but about who we are going to become. I’m more and more convinced that our sense of who we are in connection with whom God is, is everything.
Most of us, as believers, have a high view of God. We see him as majestic, powerful, able to do the impossible, eternal, loving, and good. However, we still tend to maintain a low view of ourselves coupled with the idea that we must constantly perform for our Heavenly Father in order to have his approval and in order for him to respond to our prayers. When our prayers aren’t answered immediately, our natural man wants to believe it is because we don’t “make the cut” with God and so we miss his favor.
That view of God’s love, favor, and who we are misses the gospel completely. Jesus died for our sins and God credited us with his righteousness. That is one, brief accurate expression of the gospel. We are always loved by God, who is always willing to act in our best interest, because we are always righteous in Christ. David had a prophetic handle on that truth we he said, “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does will never count against him” (Ps.32:1-2).
Because we are in Christ, God does not count our sin or our weaknesses against us. The sin that separates a man from God has been dealt with at the cross. God does not ignore our sins because he wants us to mature and become like Jesus, but he does not count them against us and hold a grudge because we stumbled. Paul tells us that “God calls things that are not as though they were” (Rom.4:17). God always has a future view so he sees you as the finished product of his grace rather than as the struggling person you may be today.
God wants us to do the same for ourselves and for others. I might not yet have great faith, but a prophet will address me as a man of faith because that is who I am in the eyes of God who sees me in the future. He is making me into that, so that is who I am to him. When that is spoken over me, my identity is shaped by that declaration or descriptor. Not only that, but it puts something into play in the spiritual realm to help make that a reality. When I say what God says about myself or others, then it is his word being declared and his word always fulfills his purpose.
When I can begin to see myself as God sees me, then my faith can rise because I know he loves me, esteems me, and has a great destiny for me. I will have assurance that he will answer my prayers, provide for my needs, and protect me from the enemy because he delights in me. Will he discipline me at times? Yes, because he loves me and is shaping me into my destiny. But you are always so welcome in the throne room of your Father who is eager to do good for you and he wants you to know that. Today, speak well of yourself because your heavenly Father does and be a source of blessing to those around you by the words you speak over them.
