Identity- Who are you?
How does our Identity, who we see ourselves as, impact our walk with Christ?
Galatians 2:20
Seen in light of the world
Seen in light of traumas
Seen in light of other’s perceptions
Vs
Seen in light of Romans 8:15-17
Seen in light of 1 Peter 1:3-5
Seen in light of 2 Peter 1:3-4
When we see ourselves in light of what Christ has made us, through his work on the cross, we are able to trust in Him and surrender to Him and His will.
When we don’t know who we are then we accept the phrases, you aren’t loveable, you aren’t wanted, you aren’t seen, you aren’t heard, no one wants to be with you, you are unworthy of anything.This can profoundly impact how we view the promises of God, and whether they apply to me or others.
“After my divorce I truly believed God blessed others, and I openly prayed for it. I could not reconcile that God would ever bless me or give those promises in His word to me. I was spiritually stunted and couldn’t accept the nature and characteristics of God to call me, to justify me, to glorify me.”
Why is knowing our identity key in abiding with the Lord?
When I know who HE is, I can start to trust in him. When I start to trust in Him I trust in His word and the scriptures that speak about who I am. I accept His words as truth. When I do this, now I can allow him to transform me through His word. The more I do this, the more I find the hope I have in his plan is greater. That brings about a greater sense of Faith. Then as He shows up and affirms me more and more, through abiding, then I find my trust and hope grow even more. When that happens my faith grows. Through this cycle, I find I focus on him more and more, my flesh even starts to accept this as legitimate. It starts to override all the old habits from the old man, the sin nature that was crucified and no longer alive. I want to abide. I deeply desire to abide. I desire his word. His instruction. I find Psalm 119 come alive in my own life.