Lent Devotional for Women: Third Sunday of Lent

Have you thought much about the verse Matthew 16:13 where Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Well, we’re going to think about it in today’s Lent Devotional for Women. This Lenten devotional today may stretch us some, that’s ok, all for the glory of God!

In today’s devotional, we’re going to consider who we say we are. But we’re also going to think about why we allow others to tell us who we are. And a quick time out, I’m linking to a free printable I think everyone should download. I have one hanging next to my bathroom mirror and we have one hanging in our other bathroom.

As a matter of fact, when I repainted the main bathroom in our home–the one our children and guests use, I had my office supply store blow that printable up to poster size! You cannot walk into that bathroom without seeing and reading the Scriptures about how God feels about us.

Part of allowing God to love us, in part, so we can love others, is to recognize who we are to Him. A few posts back I linked to a printable I keep in our bathrooms I call, “How God Feels About Me.” I love this printable because it doesn’t just say, “God loves you.” It lists in detail how important we are to God and backs it up by chapter and verse of Scripture.

I think everyone reading this Lent devotional needs this printable for a couple of reasons. First, how often do we tell ourselves “Hey Jenny! Girl, you are created in the image of God!” Probably never? What do we say instead? “Ugh, Jenny! Girl, what’s with the flab in too many places to mention? And how about those wrinkles? Don’t even fool yourself into thinking they’re “laugh lines! They are full-blown, legit wrinkles!””

Now, when those ugly lies come to mind, typically in front of the bathroom mirror, I can look just to the left of me and read the truth; the honest-to-God truth of who I am and how God feels and thinks about me.

Usually, when we look at ourselves in the mirror, we forget or don’t even know to remind ourselves, “The Lord walks with me, He will never abandon me, He takes pleasure in me, etc.” Instead, we tell ourselves “no one likes me, much less loves me, I’m all alone, If I didn’t…or if I did…then maybe people would like me…etc.”

Again, for me, it’s just a slight glance to the left of my bathroom mirror and Kapow! I’m reminded of the truth.

Here’s a second reason I think everyone should have this printable; the world, our friends, and our family will tell us things that aren’t true as well. Now, not everyone says untrue things to be mean, but they still hurt and they are still lies. Again, lots of times these comments from family and friends aren’t meant to hurt us. Lots of times people just don’t know what to say and lots of times they end up saying the “wrong things.”

Believing the lies others tell us about ourselves, well, they eventually can become our own truth instead of THE TRUTH of Jesus.

Jesus knew Who He was when He asked the disciples who He was. He also knew the false answers they would give. But if He hadn’t had, knew that He knew…that He knew (not a typing error) who He was, He could have been put off guard by the disciple’s answers. “Wait! What? John, Elijah, Jeremiah? Why would people think I’m them? Are they wishing I was more like them? Is something wrong with me? What do those guys have that I don’t have? I mean, how could they not know who I am?????”

Moms of large families will understand this question, “Are they all yours?” Sometimes I want to say, “Why? Do I look like a frazzled momma of 7? Is that why you guessed all 7 would be all mine? Is it because we’re all wearing, um, not even last year’s fashions? Like what gave it away here? My wrinkles and gray hair?????”

And moms of small families, single families, blended families, and adopted families, you all have your own set of questions that I’m sure make you go, “Wait! What? Why?”

People take a pretty generous path when labeling us, don’t they? Do we? I know I do. I’m not happy or proud to admit that, but the truth is the truth. Sometimes my assumptions are right and sometimes not. And sometimes my assumptions cloud reality. Another not so great thing to admit, but it is what it is and I’m a fallen sinner working our my salvation with fear and trembling.

And finally in our Lent Devotional for Women today, we need to know who we are because the enemy will tell us who we aren’t. Not only will he tell us who we aren’t, but he’ll also remind us of what we’ve done and what we’ve failed to do and fill us with the lies that we’ll never be any more than what we’ve done or what we are right now. He’ll be sure to heap on loads of despair, to keep us away from God.

I think one of the enemy’s favorite things to do is plant lies about what others think about us or see in us. And we can’t combat those lies by saying, “Nuh-Uh” on the outside while thinking, “Well maybe” on the inside. We need to be able to say like Jesus, “It is written…” Because ultimately, does it matter what others think or think outside of God? God’s the only one Who knows our hearts and can accurately judge our life.

One more thing on this topic, don’t ask and don’t accept who others think you are if it’s in any way, shape, or form out of alignment with who God says you are. Period. End of Story. Bye-Bye.

Read more Lent Devotional for Women posts.