Who are you?--Identity

Many people don't know who they are, and you might be one of them. (No shame!! Let's talk about it!)

My pastor would be proud. This is one of his most talked about topics. His subtle questions were actually what helped me start this journey for myself my senior year of high school. It's one of the most crucial things that people need to know about themselves. It's more important than what career you want and who you will marry. When you have a solid understanding of who you are IN CHRIST, your world could crumble but you'll stand sturdy. If you know who you are in Christ before you have to make the larger life decisions, that helps eliminate potential future self-compromising problems down the road as well.

"We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin."

Romans 6:6

First and foremost, we do not have to identify with the way we have behaved in the past. We do not have to let that take a hold of our lives. There will be instances of strongholds and chains that require a process of removal. There will be instances of stumbling because, hey, nobody is perfect!! We can not let who we WERE be who we ARE. In all honesty, the way Paul writes about that makes it almost sound instantaneous. (There are other passages that dictate the struggle, yes.) However, we all can attest to the fact that living for Jesus is an ongoing choice and His constant forgiveness and grace is what makes it possible. I am so glad that I don't have to be the needy, attention seeking, lying, angry damsel in distress that I used to be anymore. I am NEW through Jesus. (That was step one to my identity journey four years ago.)

"You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light."

1 Peter 2:9

In here, Peter is writing to Christians in various areas of the Roman Empire. NO DOUBT they needed encouragement in the midst of what they were going through. I believe we can apply these verses to our everyday. WE are ALSO those things Peter spoke out. The key to not getting bogged down by the lies of the enemy is to speak life over your situation. It's really easy to let your circumstances control your outlook. For me in high school, I let what other people thought of me or were doing effect how healthy my mindset was. Step two of my identity journey was balancing just HOW MUCH I cared about people. It's totally possible to care too much). Just recently, I went through a whole slew of issues with my health and a couple of people in my life, BUT the way I responded was so much healthier than in the past. I ran to Jesus. I filled up a few prayer journals. I let GOD tell me who I was rather than my icky situation. I WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL for this shift in my thinking. The hard part about this is that it doesn't necessarily stay natural. You have to work to keep that kind of mindset. Press in to God so you don't end up back-sliding.

Side note--YES. You will still get sad. You will still mourn. You will still be mad. You will still feel every emotion God gave you. There will just be a difference in your outlook on everything. Do. NOT. Let. People. Shame. You….for going through something. If your identity is strong, it won't matter what they say anyway. Go through it with God.

"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God."

Colossians 3:1-3

To affirm and go into different detail than the last point, here is Paul talking about setting your sights on Heaven. Something I have to do is ask, "God, what do YOU say is true?" And let Him comfort me. Sometimes people will go through the trouble of speaking unnecessary and unwarranted criticisms into your life. Sometimes a wrench is thrown at you at your job (not literally unless you're a mechanic or something lol). Maybe your health randomly plummets with no warning. Someone betrays you. You have to move.

If you focus on God, you gain perspective.

It's a process. Knowing your identity in God is a PROCESS. Like…. ALL CAPS, BOLD, UNDERLINED, AND ITALICIZED PROCESS. It can get confusing. Satan will probably try to throw you off track. The cool thing is, the Bible is filled to the BRIM with truth that still applies today. I combatted a self-destructive thought pattern with God every day for about a year and totally figured out who I was because of that and the people I was around. Maybe I don't have a traditional career path in mind, but since discovering who I am in CHRIST, that hasn't mattered. As long as I'm doing God's will, life is so peachy keen. I love who God created me to be. I love that I was able to figure all of this out at such a young age. I am STRONG in who I am. Set your eyes on Heaven; it can't possibly crumble like the things of this world, therefore neither can your identity. I now know why Pastor Jason is so passionate about the topic. Thank you, PJ!