When I was younger, my mom enrolled me in an enrichment program that was hosted by my church where we would learn various topics: etiquette, African American history, computer skills, etc. Every Saturday, my mother would make sure I put on my uniform and report to church. And every Saturday, we were required to repeat this call and response titled, “I am Somebody.”

They were written by Fred Thomas and based on Psalm 139. They are as followed.

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I am somebody that God loves, provides for, and protects.

For you created my inner most being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I am a marvelous work of art. The color of my eyes, the texture of my hair, the features of my face, the shape of my body were all conceived and designed by the Creator of the universe.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful.

God himself took time to watch over me while my parts were being formed. The plans for my life were laid out before I was born.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

I am so important that God keeps track of the number of hairs on my head. He thinks of me constantly and plans for my good.

How precious to me are your thoughts, o God! How vast is the sum of them. Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.

The God of the universe is my Creator.

I am Somebody.

I am precious in my Father’s sight, protected by my Father’s might. I am created by my Father’s hand, destined by my Father’s plan. Nurtured in my father’s love, I am heir to earth and all above. I am Somebody.

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Have you ever thought to consider that there’s a high possibility you’re experiencing low self-esteem, discontentment, shame, doubt, and anxiety simply because you decide to speak it over your life? Both out loud and internally? Do you always talk about how things won’t work out or complain that you’re always frustrated?

Related: How Daily Confessions Changed my Life

#TheConfessionsProject Challenge

If you are struggling with loving yourself or seeing yourself the way that God sees you, then I would encourage you to participate in this challenge. When you wake up every morning, before your feet even hit the ground, repeat these words OUT LOUD.  I challenge you to do this for at least 30 days. And don’t skip a day.

These words still ring true for me to this day even after all these years. They are empowering because you will go from doubting yourself to believing every single word that God says about you. I even designed a print-out of this poem that you can hang on your wall so you can be more accountable to read it. Grab it below!