Identity

God’s Grand Masterpiece

What does 'Identity' mean? Is it who or how we see ourselves as individuals, or how others may perceive and label us? Every one of us has been created with our own DNA, that is fundamentally unique and bespoke for each one of us. No two people or fingerprints are the same.

Our primary identity is in Jesus Christ, and the gospel truth that shapes and equips us in life through the God inspired word in who we are, and how He sees us. Our identity encompasses the values we hold; within the decisions we make every day.

What does 'true' Identity mean to you? How do you see yourself right now? The first steps to answering these questions, is to be honest and true to you, in who you are. Could our identity hold us in those negative places of the things we have done to others or things done to us? The heart and direction of Jesus is to release us from those painful places of self-perception, that has defined us as a victim rather than a victor. Jesus' mandate over our lives is to release and restore to us our holistic healing and identity. Jesus' heart is to bring freedom in its fullness. Today, is Jesus calling you to see yourself differently in the direction or perspective of how you see yourself?

Where do you place and hold your identity? Is your identity wrapped up in your ministry, family, home or work? Is your natural tendency to search your identity in external things? For instance: your appearance, reputation, career path, financial success or status, to provide you with a sense of worth or value. Maybe your identity is in the doing and not in the being, I must be seen to be busy, active or important. All of these good and great intentions may seem a solid foundation to us, but none of them are lasting or permanent. We end up living in self-denial of our distorted self-image, or becoming burnt out!

So, with all that said, where, or by whom do we get our identity from? Could it be through the people we hang around with, amidst those good or bad intentions in the work place, or when people speak over us? Could it be through our personality, abilities, affinity, or desires? We are not defined by our successes, accomplishments or the overwhelming imploding failures, but rather we are defined in who we are in God' sight, as sons and daughters, joint heirs with Jesus. How do we see ourselves?

Actually, we should be defined by the very words God speaks over and through us. We are His and He is ours. We can openly rely in that secret place fully on God as our father, and trust in his unswerving plan for our lives. It is by our faith in Jesus that we are adopted into an eternal kingdom family, and known on earth as in Heaven, as His adopted child. Can I encourage you in this space to reflect on that for a moment! We are known on earth as in heaven as children of God. Wow! That just takes my breath away!

Ephesians 1:4 - makes known to us that we were chosen before the foundations of the world. In and through His love and affection towards us, we are predestined to be adopted to himself as his child through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, re-uniting us with our heavenly Father, creator God, according to the purposes of His will towards us. Therefore, our identity is in Christ Jesus, if you choose deeply to accept this. We are chosen and accepted as sons and [daughters] into His likeness.

John 1: 12-13 again speaks about our Identity, as children of God. He gave us the legal right to become His elected, appointed child. As believers we are brought into God's family with all the rights and privileges extended to us by his unconditional love and grace that we should honour and respect. Here is our real identity in God. We are joint heirs with Jesus, born not of the will of born, but by God. We belong to an eternal kingdom that is unshakable and unchanging. We can trust in our heavenly Father, for He is the same yesterday, today and forever. If we place who we are in Him, we will never be disappointed, because He is unshakeable and trustworthy.

Whose Identity?

I, like most others, look for my identity in

Who am I? What am I supposed to do? Think? Be?

Always coming up empty

Because I’m seeking answers to the wrong questions

Who is God, the Father?

This is the right question since He created me

For such a time as this.

So, the question becomes:

Who did you create me to be?

What did you create me to do?

To even begin to know the answer to these questions,

I must seek out who God is.

What is His nature?

What is the plan?

By Janet McCauley

Poem from her latest book

'Drawing out your Destiny'

One of the ways of finding our identity in God suggests it is not about who we are, but actually, who He is and what He says about himself. The book of Exodus 34:6-7 tells us he is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. We are created into His image and likeness; therefore, this is where we can define who we are through God our Father.

How many of us feel trapped from our own perception of how we see ourselves? God did not choose us based on our performance, success or the things that we do well, or the mistakes that we make occasionally, but purely because He wanted us for His own, 'warts and all'.

We were never created or designed to be a replica of another person, or to try and hide who we are in the success of others, pretending to be that dynamic speaker or that charismatic worship leader on Sundays; or be someone we're not in order to attain something we want. Lastly, simply trying to impress others to hide our own imperfections or flaws. Be who you are, resist settling for less! Let's choose to live our lives in the light and power of truth, and live in the identity God has given you.

May we never be found dishonouring one another,

or comparing ourselves to each other,

for each of us is an original. 

Galatians 5:26 (TPT).

Take away....

Carve time out to spend a moment with Jesus today in prayer, asking Jesus where you need to unlearn in order to relearn about his thoughts towards you, led by His example and invitation, to Identify the person, He wants you to be or to become. To make sure the values you hold in your heart are in line with the ensuing values Jesus speaks over you and your life. Be authentic, real and transparent in how you see yourself, warts and all, because Jesus loves you! Are there any areas in your soul (mind, emotions, and will) where you need healing from past hurts, disappointments or negative words spoken towards or over you? Do you need to shift your stance, perception or viewpoint from a place of a 'victim' to a platform of the 'victor'?

Let's pray....

Help me Jesus to find my true identity in you.

Show me if I am hiding my identity in someone else, that I need forgiveness for.

Help me Jesus today to see with a clear 20 20 vision the plans and purposes that you have over my life.

Will you unlock my heart Jesus to be fully alive to my true identity in you,

and give me a clear revelation to see myself in the way that you see me.

Help me to stand on your word and truth, against my accuser, and guard my heart with all steadfast vigilance.

Thank you, Jesus, that I am a work in progress,

to see myself as your Grand Masterpiece!

Amen!