When I was struggling last year with the question “Should I keep writing? and What should I keep writing about?”. God told me clearly to keep writing and specifically to share my faith journey with you. To share what I am learning about God, faith life, prayer and my One Word (which this year is IDENTITY- click here to find our more about my One Word process).
This is very scary because it is real, vulnerable and present.
But I guess that’s the best place to be in God’s kingdom because that is where truth and freedom happens.
So do you want a bit of truth and freedom today? then read on…
Here is a foundational verse for developing our God Given Identities:
“in him we live and move and have our being ” Acts 17:28a ESV
If we don’t get the source of our true identity right, we will be susceptible to adopting false identity beliefs based on social media, friends, family, our culture and the world.
It is through Christ that we have our identity.
Identity= who you believe you are + who you identify as.
Who do you identify as?
How do we find out?
I think our thoughts and actions are a telltale sign. They shout out who we think or believe we are. And they are probably wrong.
Do you have continual anxious thoughts and feelings? – you have identified yourself as a worrier.
Are your words mainly negative? – you have identified yourself as a half glass empty kind of person.
Do you catch yourself saying that things never change, that you can’t change? – you have identified yourself as a person who can’t take up a new challenge or opportunity and things are probably going to remain the same.
But here’s the good news for believers – our true identity is not what we have believed in the past. It is not what our teachers, parents or friends have told us. It is discovered, chosen and experienced in Christ. I say chosen, because we get to choose who we identify as. That is good news!
I am sharing this because I believe that our perceived identity powers our thoughts, actions and feelings – that’s our very soul. Soul = mind + will + emotions. If we want to change who we are this year then we need to start with a soul change. A change in mindset. A change in who we think we actually are.
Here are some potentially life changing verses to meditate and journal on this week:
- “By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter” Hebrews 11:24 ESV
Where you were born. Who your parents are. What culture you grew up in. Whether you were a middle child or first born. These don’t have to become your identity. You can stand up, like Moses, and refuse to make your upbringing or past your identity. That’s powerful.
- “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” Romans 6:6 ESV.
In context, this verse is saying that the old nature that was addicted to sinning and living life without God has gone. It’s power has disappeared because of God’s marvelous rescue plan.
I will end with this amazing verse:
- “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but God who lives in me. And the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” Gal 2:20 ESV
For God to want to rescue us and place His Spirit inside we must be worth something, right?
Here are some quick statements I wrote down in my journal from meditating on the above:
- Identity is the CORE of who I am
- Everything I do or say stems from my confidence in who I believe I am or not
- My identity affects my whole life – relationships, work, physical health
- We can allow things (life experiences, bank account, abilities) or people define my identity if we don’t define it for ourselves (through God’s eyes)
Action Step: Take time to meditate on the verses listed. Ask God to speak to you about who you identify as. Comment below or use the contact me page with your discoveries and let’s do this together!
Keep Leaning into God – Start 2019 Well
Rachel Larkin
p.s. next week I will share about exchanging a worrier/fearful identity to a super conqueror identity – look out for it in your emails. If you think this would help a loved one please send them to this page to sign up and receive the emails too so they don’t miss out.
This Weeks Resources:
- # 65 The Next Right Thing Podcast: (10 min or download the transcript) this episode really spoke to me. It is titled “Take off your crown”. She addresses stress in our lives and how to successfully deal with it. I love this quote ” I am one in whom Christ dwells and delights. I live in the strong and unshakeable kingdom of God. The kingdom is not in trouble and neither am I.” That was a “mic drop” moment for me!
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