Photo Credit: Janice Tennent
“God said to Moses, “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
There is power in the great I AM. Singing those words sends a shiver up my spine, goosebumps along my arms and I feel a holy presence in the room. My heart races and a heavenly peace fills my soul. I can scarcely breathe knowing I am in the presence of the great I AM.
This God, whose love I don’t even deserve, is THE GREAT I AM. There is only one God, even the demons believe that and tremble at His name, King of Majesty. (James 2:19)
God says He alone is the great I AM:
- I AM the resurrection and the life. (John 11:25)
- I AM the Son of God. (John 10:36)
- I AM the door of the sheep. (John 10:7)
- I AM the Light of the world. (John 9:5)
- Before Abraham was born, I AM. (John 8:58)
- I AM from above, I AM not of this world. (John 8:23)
- I AM the bread of life. (John 8:23)
- I AM He. (John 4:26)
- You call Me Teacher and Lord and I AM. (John 13:13)
- I AM the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6)
- I AM the true vine. (John 15:1)
- I AM the Alpha and the Omega. (Revelation 1:8)
- I AM the first and the last. (Revelation 1:17)
Did you skim over those? Go back and read them a little slower, don’t worry–I’ll wait! Let those holy truths sink in a little and rest in Him. You know what I love best? On bad days when nothing has gone my way, I love to look up these verses and remember God has always been.
Before I wondered where our next meal would come from during hard financial times, God was there and He IS the Bread of Life. During those late nights rising with sleepless babies and stumbling down the hall in the dark to them, God was there and He IS the Light of the world. On those dark days when my heart cried our wondering how we could raise six kids to love the Lord, God was there and He IS the Teacher–His example is the model we should follow. Even before my mom passed away last year and my feet gave way beneath the mountain I was standing on, God was there and He IS the resurrection and the life.
Take a few minutes and listen to this song and the incredibly powerful poem by David Bowden which is about 2 minutes into it.
A new book is releasing soon, The Power of I Am by Joel Osteen. In the book, Joel isn’t talking about the great I AM; he’s talking about you and the power inside you. Friend, (lower your voice with me while I whisper) we are not I AM and we can sing motivational phrases to ourselves ’til the cows come home but we don’t have the power to change ourselves.
I know because I’ve tried. Over and over again I’ve banged my head on the same wall determined to do things my way and improve myself or my circumstances. It never works.
Only God can change me and He knows how hard I’ve tried to achieve success or the status of being “the good wife” or “the perfect mom” but I am nothing without Him.
Don’t make the same mistakes I did and chase all the wrong things to feel better about yourself or improve yourself. You are created exactly how God wanted you to be and you are important. Beware of speakers like Joel Osteen who come to us in sheep’s clothing but are ravening wolves. (Matthew 7:15)
I’ll tell you what I tell my kids–the best way to distinguish between the truth and a lie is to be filled WITH the Truth. Make a point to write down Scriptures and memorize them so when those wolves come around pretending to be sheep, you’ll know the difference.
The best way to distinguish between the truth and a lie is to be filled with the Truth.
Until next time,
The Farm Wyfe