Life Declaration Card –
I am a Child of God

One of the ways we ensure a consistent approach to emotional healing and spiritual formation is through the use of what we call Life Declaration Cards.

We know that the deep wounds of abuse create unhealthy views of identity and form unhealthy responses to the world. Many abused kids are told by abusers and family that they’re worthless, that they are dirty, that they will never amount to anything. And the pain of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse leads many to unhealthy behaviors such as self-harm, uncontrollable anger, addictions, and difficulty coping with life’s challenges.

Life Declaration Cards are a set of 16 3×5 cards given to each child in a Safe Haven program to keep with them. Each card articulates a vital biblical truth: a value we are called to live by, or a statement about our identity in Christ. Kids Alive staff reference these cards throughout the day with the kids, in devotional or Bible study times, in counseling, and even in a conflict on the playground. They provide a consistent framework on which to build new spiritual foundations of identity and values.

The second card-I am a Child of God-reminds children in our Safe Haven programs that the most important part of their identity is their status as an adopted Child of God.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” -John 1:12

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!'” -Romans 8:15

Challenge your Thinking: What does it mean to you when you think about your status as a child of God? How does this frame how you think about your value? How does this knowledge impact your day to day life and the way you relate to others?