Mistaken Identity

Who are you?

If you asked me this question in 2019, I would answer with a long list of degrees, accolades, places I’d lived, and jobs I held.

God broke me in 2020. He shifted my understanding of identity. He restored the foundation of who I really was as a Child of God.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:1‭-‬10 NIV

God loves us. He loves our world-influenced, self-gratifying, sinning selves. He loved us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, Spirit personified, to earth in order to save us. How merciful is our Creator to send a savior to show us the way to abundant life?

When we accept God into our lives, we become brand new. Yet, so often, we hold on to the titles of this world. Names bestowed on us that we were never created to carry. Names that can hamper the identity we have in Christ and distract us from the calling we have on our lives.

From the first utterance of our names at birth, others begin to speak over us. Parents, family, friends, teachers, enemies, social media, society… We even add our own names based on lived experiences. How many times have we called ourselves clumsy, or not good enough, or unworthy?

When we accept Christ, we need to examine ourselves. We have to shed those names that are not aligned with the word of God. When we choose to live in one accord with God’s word, we can step boldly into what He has called us to do in every season.

Our identities, as believers, are important and subject to attack from the enemy. We must continuously discard the names and lies placed on us by the world. Consistenly seeking God and meditating on His Word helps us to discern our true Godly identities.

Take a moment to write down all of the names or lies you’ve been called throughout your life. Imagine each one as a rock that you are laying at the feet of God.

A Prayer…

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of identity. Today, we have taken a bold step by laying all of the lies of the world at your feet. We will no longer submit to the lies of this world. We are walking forward in our identity as a child of God. Amen.

S.L.E.