What is going on everyone!! Man, so this week, I have been thinking on the lines of, “how do I see myself”. I believe that everyone deals with this question in a major way. Our identities can stem from so many outlets. I know personally, that my identity could come from the past; it could come from the likes I receive on my posts and speaking; it could even come from what people say about me, or what I THINK people think of me. When we let these thoughts creep into our hearts and become our foundations of belief, it becomes so much more easy for the enemy to attack our minds and lower our self perception. When our self perception is off, or is low, it becomes easy to live like you have no purpose.
But thank God that our Creator thinks so highly of us. I really want us all to come around the fact that when we let what God says about us rule our hearts and mindset, we are being set up to live as overcomes in any situation life throws our way. Galatians 4:6-7 gives us a look at our identity through Christ. It says, “Because you are his sons (and daughters), God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba Father. So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir” (Galatians 4:6-7). Let that sink in for a second. The Creator of the Universe has called us into His family. We are not just as slaves following a master. We are children of God, and God sees us as His own, desiring to help us grow and to cheer us on and challenge us to not stay where we are. Being children means we have direct access to our Heavenly Father, and He has the best for us at the forefront of His mind.
We are not defined by our past. Nor are we defined by our mistakes and shortcomings. When God sees you and I, He sees a creation that is “beautifully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). How humbling is it that a perfect God looks upon us imperfect people with love and compassion. He sees us as beautiful. I really, really want us all to let that become our heart set because when we live out of that truth, then we become unshakable in trying times. I’m not saying that we become cocky people that look down on others that do not follow Christ. On the contrary, it should bring us to a place of compassion that says, ‘when I was still broken, Jesus came and rescued me and called me His own’. That is the gospel. That is the big bold letters of our story.
I just want to encourage us all that we are defined by the love of Christ for us, not by the decisions we have made, good or bad. We are a chosen people to bring love and the story of this amazing grace to the world. Let us show the world what real identity looks like, and how to be secure in who we are. The world is dying for an unfailing love, and to know what it looks like to be confident in their self; so let’s show them.
Much Love,
Ryan W.
