the truth about me

I heard myself say, "I'm not smart enough" this week.  And not just once...several times on at least 2 different days.  And then I ignored the red lights and alarms that went off in my head in response...my built in lie detector.  Spoken words are so powerful for me, but when they come out of my own mouth they pack even more punch.  They go straight from my ears to my brain and then lodge deeply in my heart.  And before I know it, the lies that I speak about myself have become "truth".

Truth is a difficult concept for me to grasp about myself.  It isn't necessarily about numbers or measurable quantities.  It definitely is not about my feelings or my perceptions.  Truth is not always what appears to be real or factual.  What is true is always true regardless of my feelings, regardless of how people respond to me, regardless of my IQ or my weight.

Here's an example.  I'm a runner...that is truth.  The numerical facts are that I haven't run more than 4 miles at a time in months and I have never run a mile in 10 minutes or less.  The reality is that I often need quick walk breaks during my runs.  I have never run more than a 10K.  Do any of those observable facts mean I'm not really a runner?  No!  I am a runner!

The devil lies to me all the time, telling me that my feelings and my perceptions are truth!  He traps me in comparisons of myself with my very talented friends.  There is a reason the Bible calls him the father of lies!  I'm learning to pay attention to the warning lights and sirens...they work again!  I'm learning to fill my brain and my heart with the truth about me...what God thinks about me.

And the truth is that God loves me!  I am His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for me to do!  (Ephesians 2:10)  I am fearfully and wonderfully made!  (Psalm 139:14)  God gave me gifts that He chose specifically for me.  I am unique combination of abilities found in no one else!  There is no one else on the planet who is like Dawn Marie Dow Karr!  And THAT is the truth about me!