DO YOU KNOW YOUR IDENTITY? (FIND YOUR IDENTITY!)
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Identity is defined as the fact of being who or what a person or thing is (Google definition)
Table of contents
Knowing your identity gives you confidence because no labels placed on you by anyone will faze you. Knowing who you are makes it easy for you not to identify with who you are not. Because when you do not, you will fall for anything other people tell you. It takes time, however, to get to the place where you know who you are. Society, culture, and backgrounds often shape our identity. And whilst that is not necessarily a bad thing, we often identify with who we are not. What I mean is that the identity that we should really identify with as Christians is the one God gave us. His identity is true and not shaped by a culture that we know is dynamic and fickle.
In John 8, Jesus gives us a model of how firm we should be in who we are. He knew who He was while He was on earth. And it did not matter the labels the Pharisees placed on Him, that did not change who He was and is. Even when the Pharisees failed to acknowledge what He said, He was not fazed.
Then Jesus said, “I am light to the world and those who embrace me will experience life-giving light, and they will never walk in darkness.” The Pharisees were immediately offended and said, “You’re just boasting about yourself! Since we only have your word on this, it makes your testimony invalid!” Jesus responded, “Just because I am the one making these claims doesn’t mean they’re invalid. For I absolutely know who I am, where I’ve come from, and where I’m going. But you Pharisees have no idea about what I’m saying. For you’ve set yourselves up as judges of others based on outward appearances, but I certainly never judge others in that way.
For I discern the truth. And I am not alone in my judgments, for my Father and I have the same understanding in all things, and he has sent me to you. “Isn’t it written in the law of Moses that the testimony of two men is trustworthy? Then what I say about who I am is true, for I am not alone in my testimony—my Father is the other witness, and we testify together of the truth.” Then they asked, “Just who is this ‘Father’ of yours? Where is he?” Jesus answered, “You wouldn’t ask that question if you knew who I am, or my Father. For if you knew me, you would recognize my Father too.” John 8:12-19 TPT
In verse 12, He told the people that He was the light of the world and still is. And those who would embrace Him would experience life-giving light and would never walk in darkness. Unfortunately, this offended the Pharisees, and they were so quick to point out that He was blowing His own horn and there was no evidence (or so they thought) that could back His claim. Anyway, despite the fact, Jesus was not perturbed, He remained adamant. He told them that just because He was the one making the claims; the words were true and valid. He even pointed out the fact that He not only knew who He was but also where He came from and where He was going. Amazing, right?
Jesus had a revelation of who He was and whose He was. And even when the Pharisees tried to throw stones at Him, He did not change His claims.
Jesus modeled to us the confidence we need to have as Christians. He showed us that as long as we know the truth of who we are, what others say about us does not matter. Jesus also proved to us that sometimes who we truly are might not be evident to others simply because it’s not time for our unveiling.
But just because God has not revealed our identity to the world doesn’t mean that it is not true. A butterfly knows it is even while it is in the pupa stage. You see both a moth and a butterfly go through the same stage, which is the pupa stage. But a butterfly does not forget its identity in the pupa stage. You should not allow your hidden season to make you forget who you truly are. God has hidden you for a season. And your identity is within not outside. Hold on. So, how do you discover your identity?
HOW TO KNOW YOUR IDENTITY.
Jesus wants us just like Him to know our identity and that is why He came to the world in the first place. We were lost and full of sin and because of His Mercy and grace, Jesus came to the world so that He could restore us to our real and true identity in Him. So now that we know that, how then can we discover our identity?
Steps to help you know your identity.
The first step
Is believing and RECEIVING Jesus as your savior? Jesus is the only true and solid foundation that stood and still stands the test of time. So, for you to be rooted in your identity, you need to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Before you can find yourself, you have to find and know Him and root your identity in Him. In doing so, you will unveil your identity, the one God had for you before the beginning of time.
When God created you and me, He gave us an identity. He had a purpose and plan for each one of us. Your identity, plan, and purpose are hidden in Christ. In order for you to discover it, you have to receive and accept Jesus. The enemy will always try to give you a false identity. And unless you say yes to Jesus, you will live with a false identity. Your identity in Christ is not based on your qualifications, background, or even skills and experiences. Your identity in Him is based on who He is and because He is, so you are. So essentially, it is not performance-based but based on your inheritance in Him. You cannot earn your identity. You can only receive your identity in Jesus.
Jesus promises that when you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart the same, then He will save you. You find your identity in God. He is the one who can give you your true identity and also validate you. He is the only validation you need.
The second step
Read the Bible. Obviously, you cannot know who you are unless you know who God says you are. And how to know what God says you are is by reading the Bible. The scriptures are full of God’s words and scriptures of who you are, but also full of God’s thoughts on us as His children. One example is that God says that we are the royal priesthood and a special people. Now obviously if you don’t read the word, you will never know that you are.
Knowing your identity will help you find your authority. An example is we know God has given us power and authority through Jesus to trample on serpents and scorpions. This means that we do not always have to accept all the darts the enemy throws at us but can instead speak to the mountains just as the Bible says and command the situation to change in our favor.
Jesus says that as long as we are in Him and have faith, we can say to the mountain to move and be thrown into the sea and it will move. Our identity in Christ means that we have the power to shift atmospheres based on our words because both death and life are in the tongue and if we want our life to be favorable so we should be positive in our speech. This whole will come into our identity. We have power in our words, based on the identity given to us by God through Jesus.
Our identity in Jesus also gives us the confidence to wait on God when things are not working in our favor. In Christ, we have the confidence of a bright future because God promises that there is hope for a future in Jeremiah 29:11. With this in mind, you will not see the need to keep up with the Jones. You will also not have the fear of missing out because you recognize you are on a journey that is unique to you.
Do you know you are on a unique journey? As long as you know God has a great purpose for you, your season will not faze you. You will not allow material things or lack thereof to define you. Now of course material things are good after all, we need them to live, thrive etc. What I mean is that in dry seasons, nothing will crush your identity because God anchors your identity in Christ and not things or people.
The third step
It is getting rid of the old identity and embracing the new one. How we can do this is by speaking out about who God says we are. After you have read the Bible and found out what and who God says you are then counter the old identity and beliefs by speaking these new ones. So, let’s say you did not know that you are the child of God. Now that you know the Bible says that all God has given those who believe in Jesus the right to be called children of God, you can now start declaring that over your life when you feel you do not belong. Counter every lie that threatens your identity by speaking God’s word. Therefore, learn to decree God’s word over your life.
The thing you have to realize, though, is that simply declaring will not do much will because you have to Unlearn some things. Remember for you to transform, you have to have your mind renewed. The renewal of your mind comes from first acknowledging that you have had wrong thinking and through repentance, which is turning from the wrong ways, then learning the new through declaration and meditation. Always remember that you empower what you focus on. So, the more you meditate ON God’s word and who God says you are, the more you embrace your identity. It will take work. After all, it takes 63 days for you to create a habit. So it will take intentional declaration and meditation of who God says you are for 63 days for it to be ingrained in your mind.
Conclusion
Finding out who you are is vital to you and God too. So, He wants you to know who you are and live the way He wanted you to all along. It is time for you to elevate. Higher is waiting.
God wants you to discover your identity. This is because you can only be a solution to the world when you are walking in the fullness of who God created you to be. Your true self is your superpower. You will find your strength in your authenticity and your true identity. Always remember that.
There is no point in trying to figure out your identity alone. The Holy Spirit wants to introduce you to who you are.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him, we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ if indeed we share in his sufferings so that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8
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Radiantly Resurging
Mercy is the author and founder of radiantly resurging. She is a Christian and having gone through the wilderness season, she decided to impart the knowledge learned to help others navigate their wilderness season too
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