Know Your Identity
” For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
— Psalm 139:13-14
” Did you know that from the beginning of time the whole purpose of God was to reproduce Himself? … And when we stand up here, brother, you are not looking at Morris Cerullo, you’re looking at God. You’re looking at Jesus.”
– Morris Cerullo
Wednesday, February 08, 2023
Statistics show that 76 percent of the population believe we best “define ourselves” by looking within. That is if we stare deep into our psyches and evaluate our feelings, personalities, passions, desires, and even addictions long enough, we will discover our true selves.
But looking only at ourselves can bring disillusionment and lead us to an empty place. Why? Because though our internal realities are true, they don’t define us. They don’t always show us who we really are. After all, isn’t the self always growing?
Isn’t the soul oriented toward God always changing on its journey to eternity? Staring into a mirror might show us what we look like at the moment, but it cannot show us who we are or where we’re going.
So how do we find our true identity, who we are, and where we’re going? The Christian faith leads us beyond the trappings of ourselves and into an identity rooted in something more solid, more immovable — God Himself.
Identity in Him is trustworthy and unchanging.
When your identity is found in who God says you are rather than in your highs and lows, your successes and failures, or your desires, affections, or shortcomings, you experience the freedom you were meant to enjoy.
When I need to be reminded of this, I read this list of phrases that tell me the truth about who God says I am, and it always helps:
I am a child of God. (John 1:12)
I am a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
I am a friend of Jesus. (John 15:15)
I am not ruled by fear. (2 Timothy 1:7)
I am forgiven. (Colossians 2:13)
I am God’s possession. (Titus 2:14)
I am free from the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 5:24)
I am a light in the world. (Matthew 5:14–15)
I am secure in him. (1 Peter 1:3–5)
I am loved by God. (1 John 4:10)
If you have worn your own identity label like a name tag, take a moment to ask God who you are in Him. Root yourself deep in that identity. Then, with an identity rooted in the God who gives wisdom, strength, and love, go out into the world, secure and confident in who you really are.
(Excerpted from Rhythms of Renewal by Rebekah Lyons)
LET US PRAY:
Dear God Almighty! I praise you for creating me in your image and making me your own.
Today, I renounce and reject every label that human knowledge, circumstances, my predicament, or people’s opinion have placed on me.
I repent of every wrong label that I have given myself.
Now, I call myself by the identity I have in Christ. I am a child of God. I am the work of God’s hand. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am forgiven. I am blessed. I am a blessing. I am a light of the world. I am not ruled by fear. I am unstoppable. I am a king.
In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen
(Kindly share with someone today)
