The essence of a being can be unfolded through careful evaluation of these three concepts. I encourage you to consider how you answer these about God, and then how you answer them about yourself. Reviewing your answers will reveal much about how you understand God to be, who you understand God to be, how you understand yourself to be, and who you understand yourself to be. This exercise is simple yet revealing. It will illuminate the inconsistencies and the opportunities for growth that so far have remained dormant beneath the surface. I can tell there are no more important questions to ask. All aspects of your existence hinge on the way in which you see God and yourself. Is there any greater need than careful and dedicated time given to exposing what lies beneath?

Below I will reveal how I have come to know God and the answers that I believe are most faithful. I encourage you to consider how you would answer. This is undoubtedly a practice of worship, which I trust becomes abundantly evident as you read.

Who You Are.

You are a father. A son. A king. Rescuer. Shepherd. Creator. You are one who loves deeply, who doesn’t abandon that which you find valuable. You redeem. Restore. You enact justice. You uphold truth. You are so good. You are patient and kind. You have so much compassion for others. You love justice and hate all which gets in the way of it. You are gentle. You are intentional – planning and working. You are alive and active. You listen to the lowly prayers of the insignificant. You feed the sparrows. You are wrapped in light, honor, and Majesty. You are love.

What You Care About.

All your children coming home. You care about everyone and everything that you created and you long for it all to be right. You care about the little, the insignificant, the easily tossed aside and forgotten. You don’t toss aside. You. Don’t forget. You care about your kingdom – and you won’t ever stop expanding it, for it is the essence of justice, goodness, and love.

What You Do.

You rescue. You protect. You. Break down oppressive strongholds. You bring to light. You burn away dross. We build. You liberate! You speak. You sing over us. You show us what you are doing and invite us to join. You make us rest. You produce and protect. You hear our groanings. You see our mistreatments. You come down to rescue. You bring righteousness. You’ve shown us the vision and you bring it into reality – although slowly. You are. You exist with us and in us and, as we allow you, you widen our hearts for those others you care about who still need the rescuing touch of your presence.

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I encourage you to spend some time answering these prompts for yourself – who do you know God to be? Is that version of God good? Is it faithful to Scripture? Humbly consider allowing the Holy Spirit to correct any mis-vision of who you’ve identified God to be.

Next we turn inward. Who God is, what God cares about, and what God does all have huge implications for our own personal identities. While keeping in mind what we’ve said about God, consider who you are. If God is one who deeply loves each individual creation, your identity begins with being one who is deeply loved. If God is one who sees the groanings and mistreatments of the oppressed – you are one seen by God in your affliction. If God is one who liberates, you are one in the process of liberation!

Who are you. What do you care about. What do you do.

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Here at Black Dove Society we believe significant things about the God of the universe and this informs both what we care about and what we do. We know God cares about justice, God hates oppression, God hears the needy cries of the small and afflicted, and God acts to rescue, restore, and redeem. We see what God cares about and does and we follow in that path. We have our ears open to the needs of those in our communities and country and we seek faithful steps to be and bring the love of God in tangible ways. Join us.