But as you can imagine, when external things have the power to build you up, they also hold that same power to tear you down. I was not solid in my identity, even early in my walk with Christ. I love Jesus, but I still defaulted to the old standard measurements for success.
And if you’re struggling to identify who you are in Christ, I want to talk to you today about three steps that you can take to find your identity with confidence.
Are You Ready?
Step #1 – Learn what God says about you. For many who struggle to embrace their God-given identity they have believed lies that they didn’t even know were lies. So the best way to overcome a lie is with truth. So what does God say about you?
#1 – You’re Made In His Image. Genesis 1:27 says, “so God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God He created them, male and female.”
#2 – You are a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away behold the new has come.”
#3 – You are an extension of Christ. Galatians. 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me and the life, I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
#4 – You are special. Psalm 139:14 says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
#5 – You are an ambassador. 2 Corinthians 5:20, says, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
What else does God say about you? He says you’re forgiven. 1 John 1:9 reminds us that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just will forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
My friends I could keep going on and on, but I want to challenge you to dive into God’s word for yourself to see for yourself what God says about you.
Step #2 – Determine what you say about you. We all have an external voice and that voice is often a parrot and it just repeats. What is heard the most often and the most loud, and this internal voice can be from God, demons, parents, or partners.
If it’s been ingrained long enough it is likely a voice that sounds a lot like your own, my friend because you’ve rehearsed the lie so long you actually believe it. So what do you say about you? Do you think that you’re too far gone to be loved by God? Do you think that your looks are your most valuable asset? Do you think that success in business is what defines you? I know I did. The world sets a high and ungodly standard of identity. But Romans 12:2 reminds us, tells us that we should not conform to this world. So now, what?
Step #3 – Cross reference. If your belief matches up with Scripture, meaning if your belief matches up with God’s truth, then you’ve got yourself a keeper, but if it doesn’t get ready to move on to step four.
Step #4 – Choose. Picture this, I have what God says about me and I have what I say about me I’m going to have a choice to make. I can’t embrace one and the other you can only embrace one or the other. So, my friend, which will you choose? Your identity as a pretty woman or is it ambassador? Your identity as a mistake or a new creation? Your identity as filthy or forgiven?
Will you choose the identity that your mother gave you? Or the identity your Heavenly Father gave you? It is your choice. You can take the identity that this world is putting on you, but that doesn’t make you a victim by passivity you actually have chosen to assume that identity. So there is no identity that just comes on us. We actually have to appropriate it for herself and even in passivity, if we don’t reject it. We are possibly choosing it.
And you can attend six conferences and listen to a dozen more videos on your identity, but it will always come down to this. Your choice. And choice is an act of a will not a feeling. Look, I get it I don’t always feel like an extension of Christ. So when I’m not behaving like one, I choose not to come under that condemnation. I choose to repent, and I choose to receive forgiveness, and I choose to move forward in my God-given identity. My garment may have gotten a little soiled, but I take it to God my cleaner. I don’t take it off and then put the old filthy rags back on again.
My friend. It is your choice. Embracing a new identity takes intentionality, your nature and Satan’s plan would be for you to default to your old identity. And since you wore that identity for so long and actually became kind of comfortable and familiar, you’re going to need to fight against that old nature and purposely put on the new nature. Embracing takes intentionality and effort. If you think that your new identity is just going to jump on you like a knapsack in the hands of the kidnapper you are sadly mistaken and you’ll be waiting a very long time. My friend, your clothes don’t just jump on you in the morning. You have to intentionally put them on in the same thing is going to be true for your identity in Christ. God has given you this identity so that you can wear it like a crown and walk in it with boldness, but He is not going to force it on you. Will you commit to choose God’s truth over yours?
If you are struggling in your faith, or you want to grow in your faith I want to invite you to join us for a free five-day Mountain Moving Faith devotional. It is my gift to you because I believe that you too, my friend have Mountain Moving Faith.
