THE POWER OF “I AM”

In the Old Testament, Exodus 3:14 Moses asks what he shall call God, and God answers, “I AM WHO I AM”. The words “I AM" hold great creative power. In our own lives we use the words I AM all the time. Too often, without thought, we say things like: I AM SAD, I AM ANGRY, I AM WEAK, I AM ILL, I AM AFRAID. But what of the power that we give away when we make these statements? Do we want to be sad, angry, weak, ill, afraid? Probably not. For who would actively choose these states of being? However, when we use the power of “I AM” casually and without thought, that is precisely what we are doing.

The words I AM declare something to be so. If we want true well-being, prosperity, health and wholeness, then we need to follow those two very big words with equally big thoughts: I am whole, I am prospered, I am creative, I am strong. “I AM” needs to declare something truly important, powerful and valuable about ourselves and the way we wish to show up in the world … to declare the things we desire to be ours, declare the events of our lives to be enjoyable and meaningful. What follows “I AM” determines the trajectory of our lives, the events we experience on a daily basis and the quality of our relationships with others, with ourselves and our relationship with God.

God has given us free will to direct our lives, but when we use that free will frivolously or carelessly we are missing out on the great manifestations that we are capable of achieving, and the powerfully loving relationships we are capable of cultivating. We have more power than we realize, more power than most of us will ever use in our lifetimes. The seeds of greatness lie deep within our hearts. And it is easier to get in touch with that greatness when we take time on a regular basis to step away from activity in order to go within … to sit in silence and listen to our hearts in the stillness where God speaks to us.

When we have a problem, a concern, or a worry, it is important to remember the power of our thoughts and our words. When we direct our thoughts and choose our words wisely and compassionately -  away from worry, doubt and fear and toward those very qualities and events we wish to experience - we are more likely to experience them. In this particular time in the history of our country, this is especially crucial. The more negativity and fear from the outside world we are exposed to, the more important it is to take time apart, just as Jesus did so when he left the crowds to spend time in silence in the desert.

During WWII, Winston Churchill declared to the people of his country and to the world - “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” If ever there was a time in history since then when those words ring powerfully true, it is right here and right now. Fear cripples. Fear keeps us in a dark and depressing place. But, if we recognize fear as the “boogeyman” in the closet that makes us prisoners - then, instead of being held captive - we see the boogeyman as the powerless phantom it truly is. And, instead, we decide to embrace the power of faith, the wisdom of hope and the healing that occurs when love replaces fear. Love is the most powerful antidote because it finds its roots in God, the Good, Omnipotent.