#1. I am a soldier in the battle (2 Timothy 2:3).
“Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my arms for battle, who
prepares my hands for war” (Psalm 144:1). In this Exercise, I will wield
the divine weapon of God’s holy Word to fight the good fight (Hebrews
4:12, 1 Timothy 6:12). And I will boldly proclaim the truth that God has
revealed to me about my identity (Ephesians 4:15).
#2. I am a warrior for the Lord (2 Corinthians 4:7-12). There
is a war going on in my mind – and I will engage in this battle today
(Exodus 15:3). In this Exercise, I will put on the mind of Christ and
deliberately think about what is good, what is true, what is beautiful,
and what is loving (1 Corinthians 2:16, Philippians 4:8). And so here we go…
#3. I am a beloved son (daughter) of the Father (Mark 1:11). This
is not just a nice thing God says about me – this is my true and
deepest identity (1 John 3:1). God is my Father – and I am His son
(daughter) (2 Corinthians 6:18).
#4. I am the cause of the Father’s joy (Isaiah 62:4).
This is not some pious idea – this is a core reality of who I am
(Isaiah 62:5). I bring joy to the heart of my heavenly Father – and he
delights in me (Mark 1:11).
#5. I am God’s masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). This
is not some proud statement – this is a fact that God has revealed to
me (Jeremiah 1:5). God has formed me in his own image – and I am his
treasured possession (Genesis 1:27, 1 Peter 2:9).
#6. I am fathered by God (Isaiah 64:8). The
Father is active in my formation (Ephesians 2:10). The Father is
committed to my growth (Hebrews 12:5-11). And he is always fathering me
(James 1:17).
#7. I am cared for by God (1 Peter 5:7). The Father knows me by name (Isaiah 43:1). The Father knows my heart (Psalm 139:1-4). And he cares for me (Jeremiah 29:11).
#8. I am loved by God (1 John 4:9). The
Father holds nothing back in loving me – all that He has is mine (Luke
15:8). The Father has shown me this love on the Cross and given me this
love in the Eucharist (1 John 3:16, John 6:54-57). And he is always
labouring to love me (1 John 4:16).
#9. I am rescued (Colossians 1:13). The
Father has rescued me from the dominion of darkness (Colossians 1:13).
The Father has transferred me into the Kingdom of his beloved Son
(Colossians 1:13). And he has claimed me as his own (Isaiah 43:1).
#10. I am blessed (Ephesians 1:3). The
Father “has blessed me in Christ with every spiritual blessing”
(Ephesians 1:3). I don’t have to grasp for anything (Genesis 2:6). I
don’t have to prove myself to anyone (Galatians 1:10). I have everything
that I need because I am blessed (Philippians 4:19).
#11. I am chosen (John 15:16).
The Father “has chosen me in Christ before the foundation of the world
to be holy and blameless before him in love” (Ephesians 1:4). My life
has meaning – my life has purpose (1 Corinthians 10:31). I am chosen for
greatness (1 Peter 2:9).
#12. I am a friend of Jesus (John 15:15).
All that Jesus asks of me today is to be His friend and live every
moment in the grace of this divine friendship (John 15:9). Everything
that I want and desire – all my happiness and all my holiness – follows
from friendship with Christ (John 15:11, 16).
#13. I am never alone (Joshua 1:9). Jesus
is with me always – especially right now (Matthew 28:20). Even if I
walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for Jesus is with
me; his rod and his staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4).
#14. I am worth the death of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:8). That’s how much God loves me (John 3:16).
#15. I am secure in Christ’s love (2 Corinthians 1:22). Nothing and no one can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus my Lord (Roman 8:39).
#16. I am not the Messiah (John 1:20). I
do not have to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders (Matthew
11:28-30). I can allow God to be God and me to be me (Isaiah 46:9).
#17. I am not my past (Isaiah 43:18). I
no longer define myself by my past sins, flaws, failures, or brokenness
(John 21:15-19). For I am a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians
5:17). And Jesus is making all things new in my life (Revelation 21:5).
#18. I am no longer a slave to sin (Romans 6:6).
I reject a life of sin and refuse to be mastered by it (1 Corinthians
15:34). For Christ has set me free for a life of freedom (Galatians
5:1). And so I choose to live this day freely as a child of God (Romans
8:21).
#19. I am a temple of the living God (1 Corinthians 6:19). The
Father has made His home in me (1 John 4:16). The Holy Spirit lives in
me (1 Corinthians 3:16). Jesus abides in me (John 15:4).
#20. I am guided by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16). Today,
I choose to follow the Spirit’s lead in the ways of “love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
#21. I am grateful (Psalm 7:17). “I
thank you, Lord, for the wonder of my being and the wonders of all your
creation” (Psalm 139:13). I thank You – I praise You – I bless you:
“One day within your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere” (Psalm
84:10).
#22. I am fearless (2 Timothy 1:7). “The
Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the
stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1). I am
strong – I am courageous – I am bold: “With God I shall do bravely, and
he will trample down all my foes” (Psalm 60:12).
#23. I am confident (Psalm 27:3). I
trust in Jesus’ word that “all things are possible for the one who has
faith” (Mark 9:23). And so, I place all my trust – all my hope – all my
faith – in Jesus: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens
me” (Philippians 4:13).
#24. I am sacrificial (Romans 12:1).
I offer up and consecrate all of my prayers, works, joys and sufferings
this day for the intentions and the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
(John 17:19, 1 Peter 2:5). And I choose to live sacrificially for the
salvation of souls (Colossians 1:24).
#25. I am patient (1 Corinthians 13:4). I
will not rush or hurry any task today (Proverbs 19:2). I will slow down
and allow the peace of Christ to set the rhythm and pace for me
(Colossians 3:15).
#26. I am present to this moment (Matthew 6:34). I
surrender my past to God’s mercy and my future to God’s providence
(Isaiah 43:18-19, Jeremiah 29:11). Only this present moment is precious
to me (Romans 12:2).
#27. I am a man (woman) of prayer (Psalm 141:2).
I use the full power and authority of Jesus Christ in prayer to take
captive every evil thought (2 Corinthians 10:4-5, Matthew 28:18). And
whenever I pray, I am engaging in the most effective missionary work for
the salvation of souls (John 15:4-5, James 5:16).
#28. I am
surrounded right now by a great cloud of witnesses – Mary, Joseph, and
all the angels and saints – are cheering me on to run the race set
before me today (Hebrews 12:1). And so,
I will lay aside every addiction, attachment and wrong desire and I
will run this race with courage, conviction, and confidence (Hebrews
12:1-2).
#29. I am consecrated to Mary (John 19:26-27). Mary
is my spiritual mother – she takes care of me (Luke 1:56). And Mary is a
warrior queen – she crushes the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15).
#30. I am consecrated to St. Joseph (Matthew 1:25). St.
Joseph is my spiritual father – he provides for me (Genesis 41:55). And
St. Joseph is a terror of demons – he shields me from the enemy (Isaiah
19:1).
#31. I am protected by my Guardian Angel (Matthew 18:10).
I have an angelic warrior from heaven who defends me from all evil
(Psalm 91:11). And my Guardian Angel is a saint-maker who guides me in
the paths of holiness (Psalm 34:7).
#2. I am on the journey (Psalm 23).
The Lord is my shepherd and I lack nothing on the journey of life
(Psalm 23:1). As a pilgrim awaiting my true home in heaven, I embrace
the journey that God has placed before me (Hebrews 11:16). And I will
courageously pursue the dreams that God has placed in my heart
(Ecclesiastes 3:11).
#33. And finally, I am certain that all things in my life today will work together for good (Romans 8:28). Yes,
Lord, you can make everything in my life work together for a good
purpose (Romans 8:28). Because you are that good – and I love you! (Ezra
3:11).
“O the happiness of the man who has filled his quiver with these arrows!” (Psalm 127).
