I LOVEEEEE movies. I just can’t get enough of them. I especially love a good old school (well old school to me) Disney movie. One of my top faves will now and forever be The Lion King. I ain’t talking about no remakes or sequels either! Just give me that 1994 version, please.
While trying to focus during my devotional time (which only God knows how hard it is for me to settle), I happened to read a line that led my thoughts straight to one of my favorite scenes in the movie. The line is simply this— “Remember who you are.”
If you have no clue what I’m talking about, first of all, shame on you. The Lion King is one of those movies that you just have to watch. To this day, a lot of what happens within it STILL makes me cry. It’s also weird to think that we watched this movie at a young age and through it, learned about death, betrayal, sorrow, how animals just straight RUTHLESS…. Anyway, my bad. I’m getting off topic. Ok, so to try to make a long story short (and yes, I’m giving away spoilers, SORRY, not sorry?) Simba’s dad, Mufasa, who was King, is dead. Simba has lost his way for the most part and forgot that he was to rule as King once his dad passed on. Simba forgetting himself has allowed his evil uncle to take over his homeland. His people are starving. Things are out of wack and here goes Simba, wandering around the jungle, acting like he ain’t who he was always raised to be.
Thank goodness for Simba crossing paths with Rafiki. This clever baboon not only knew who Simba was, but he also knew Simba’s father (which means he knows Simba’s butt should be ruling as King, not being a bum in the jungle).
With Rafiki’s help, Simba was reminded of who he was and WHOSE he was.
Simba got the hope and push he needed to move forward into his destiny.
I said allll that to say this—aren’t we just like Simba though??
We go to church and hear a good word. We may even open our Bibles when we get home and read something as simple as this:
“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20 (NLT)
We read that and we say to ourselves, “Man! That sounds soooo good. I wish that was true.” Then we close our Bibles and go about our day.
We may cry about being lonely. We worry about how we’ll pay this or that. We think the God we heard about Sunday is somewhere in a locked room only to come back out again to make another special appearance at whatever church we decide to visit (or stream) next Sunday.
We forget what we read. We forget what He said. We forget who.we.are.
At what point are we going to believe the Bible as truth? At what point are we going to understand that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever? (Hebrews 13:8, NLT)
What God says goes. What God says is truth and that includes what He says about Himself and ESPECIALLY what He says about YOU!
YOU are a child of God.
YOU were created in the image of God.
YOU are a lender and not a borrower.
YOU are deeply loved.
You are never forsaken, never forgotten, always loved, and filled with purpose. God has soooo much planned for you that He had it written all down before you even came to be. (Psalm 139:16).
So let’s get busy like Simba. Once he got it together, he went home, shook down his uncle and saved his fam. Him knowing who he was helped get others saved. Just think, you knowing who you are could do the same. It’s time out for playing dumb. You’re either going to believe God’s Word or you’re calling Him a liar and who in their right mind would ever do that??
Remember who you are. I promise you doing so could be the ripple effect this world needs to wake up and find God.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for something as simple as a kid movie pointing me to You. I keep thinking I’ll run out of things to write about, but You keep showing me that You’ll never leave me empty. God I’ll admit this— I’m guilty of not always believing You. I question, I complain, I doubt, I’m fearful. I think I’m good one minute and the next, I’m forgetting You’re with me always. Help me God. Help US! Show us who we are. Show us who YOU are. Show us how to trust, how to pray, how to be consistent in our faith. Guide us, direct us, and remind us of Your Word, which never returns void. Remind us of your faithfulness. Cover us in our weaknesses. Help us to trust. Help us to forever remember who we are.
We love you, now and always,
❤️Key