Let the God Who Made You - Define You

How do you define yourself?

How would you finish the statement, “I am ___”?

Maybe you would answer with a description of what you do: Hi, I’m _____, I am a business owner/artist/gardener. (We usually introduce ourselves with an explanation of what we do.)

Or maybe you dig a little deeper and describe more positive attributes of yourself: I am a good cook, a great friend, and an adventurer.

Sometimes (mostly internally) you speak of yourself in negative terms: I am too fat, not good enough, and angry.

Where are you frustrated with your identity?

• Did you use to be someone important, but now find yourself tirelessly working at home with little to show for it?
• Are you feeling crippled because you are jobless or in a job where you find no fulfillment?
• As an empty-nester, are you not sure who you are anymore without a house full of people to take care of?
• Or are you a businesswoman feeling like you can’t keep up with the seemingly all-together family next door?

The Good News is that your “I am __________” is not as TRUE as God’s “You are __________”.

Let the God Who Made You – Define You

As believers in Jesus Christ it is easy to have an identity crises if our first response to “I am ______” is based on occupation, feelings, words spoken to us by others, self-talk, or the lies from the enemy of our soul.

If we remember that our identity is grounded in God first, then we will not cling to false identities that continue to rob us of joy, peace, and contentment.

An identity grounded in God would mean that when we think of who we are, the first thing that would come to mind is our status as someone who is deeply loved by God.

David Benner, The Gift of Being Yourself

Embracing the Truth

Confidence in our identity and purpose grows in our lives when we believe and embrace the truth of how God defines us.

Here are 4 ways to build confidence in the “You are _____” that God speaks:

1. Start with Christ

One of the richest passages about identity in the Bible is found in Ephesians 1:3-14. Paul explains your new identity as “in Christ”.

You have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ: chosen, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, grace-lavished, and unconditionally loved and accepted. You are pure, blameless and forgiven. You have received the hope of spending eternity with God. You are in Christ and your identity will never be altered by what you do or how you are feeling.

You are in Christ and your identity will never be altered by what you do or how you are feeling.

2. Recognize Lies

Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44) and his goal to replay lies over and over again in your mind until you give up hope that you can be anything other than what the world says about you. He knows that if he can get you to believe a lie, then you will never walk fully in everything God has created you to be.

It ain’t what they call you, it’s what you answer to.

W. C. Fields

3. Tear Down the Accumulated Junk and Pain in Your Soul

Sometimes the lies you believe are connected to a painful experience. If so, take time to grieve. Invite God into this broken place. Forgive the people involved. Ask God to help you believe the truth about who He says you are, and to help you be aware of the times you are not believing it.

The first step in any spiritual awakening is demolition. We cannot make headway in seeking God without first tearing down the accumulated junk in our souls.

Jim Cymbala, Fresh Wind Fresh Fire

4. Embrace the Truth

The truth about who you are and how God sees you is found in the Bible. Ask God for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so you can grow in knowing Him: deepening your intimacy with God, light illuminating your eyes, your heart filled with hope, and his power released in you. (Ephesians 1:15-20)

Don't try to get in touch with your feelings; get in touch with TRUTH and your feelings will change.

One of the most amazing and transformative books in the Bible about identity and purpose is Ephesians.

My newest Bible Study, Confident, is a verse-by-verse study of Ephesians.

I know without a doubt that this Bible Study will change your life. I know because the Word of God is powerful and active in your life. When you dedicate time to study and soak in the Word, it plants itself inside you and begins to work changing and transforming your life from the inside out.

You can purchase Confident HERE.