Worry, despair, careless heart malnutrition
Low self-esteem, selfish ego-ambition
Pride, envy, sloth, wrath, lust, gluttony, greed
Heart ailments spiritual remedies need

To grow in one’s heart, these diseases require
A grim precondition, a foundation dire
Identity error, confusion, or mix-up
Believing untruths about self! What’s the fix-up?

The “father of lies” spews a million deceptions
Apparently harmless, but Trojan inceptions
“You are what you do”, “what you think”, “say”, or “feel” 
“Define your reality”; “Who knows what’s real?” 

What antidote is there, or immunization?
The answer is found in divine revelation
Identity truth heals identity error
Truth captured in titles from heaven’s Truth Bearer

The Christ! He not only reveals God to us
But also reveals who WE are; that’s His aim(1)
A human like us in all things but sin’s fuss
He teaches us WHO we are through truthful names

These titles, if taken like pills from a doc
Declared every morning, indeed, round the clock
Are known to bring healing and peaceful relief
As antidotes strong to the lies of the “thief” (John 10:10)

If taught in your childhood, these titles might stay
In only your mind, if with them you don’t pray
Ask God, “Plant Your names for me deep in my heart
As seeds to sprout peace and make lies to depart”

The Lord calls you “Chosen One”, “Crown”, “My Redeemed”
“Delight”, “Oak of Righteousness”, “Apple of [My] Eye”
So let “God-esteem” be your true self-esteem
To prove your own worth, you need not! Please don’t try

God’s own Son names you “Light of the World”, “Friend”, and “Bride”
Your identity bought on the Cross when He died
In the Baptism Font, God forever defines you
His “Child”! From the enemy’s lies, He unblinds you

Your identity comes as a gift from above
So relax! You’re a “son” or a “daughter” belov’d
All one’s skills or tattoos(2) can’t define WHO one is
Rather, WHOSE does! Declare: “He is mine; I am His” (Song of Songs 2:16)

…Better yet, hear Him say in your heart, “You are mine”(3) (Isaiah 43:1)

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(1) Pope John Paul II, Angelus, December 15, 1996

(2) I’m not suggesting that this is the motive everyone has for getting a tattoo

(3) Full verse: “Thus says the Lord, he who created you…: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.‘”