Continued from “The Search for Identity Part 2”
The change I have experienced over the last 7 months have been some of the most uncomfortable change I’ve ever gone through but it has been the most rewording change of my life. It has been the most influential and freeing months of my life. They have fundamentally changed how I see my relationship with God, myself, and others. I’m so excited because I am starting to behave consistently with how I see myself, a son of God.
The “I am” list pared with the Holy Spirit has been critical in the growth I have experiencing. By itself it is just a list, a piece of paper with some words; it gets its life changing power from the work Christ did on the cross. Whenever I hear a condemning or destructive voice either from my old self, the enemy, or from the world, I can turn to the list and rebuild and strengthen those areas that are being attacked. I still struggle with thinking I have to earn the goodness of God. Every so often I will hear myself say, “you have sinned, you can not expect God to hear your prayers”. I can turn to the list and know that not only am I accepted and loved by God no matter what, but that I may approach God with freedom and confidence. Over and over again throughout the week, I will hear my old self trying to discourage or destroy but I simply turn to the list and use it to rewire my thinking. And it doesn’t just rewire my thinking about me but it is rewriting how I treat others.
Having a deeper understanding of my sonship through God and the freedom I have in Christ has allowed me to change how I treat and view people. Before this journey I treated people well, in general, but there was a lot of room to grow. I used to see people for what they could provide for me. It was like an investment, I was willing to invest in a relationship but I expected a decent return on my investment. Now, I am going to invest in loving as many people as I can, without worrying if I get a payback. I am going to love because I want to follow my Heavenly Father who loves unconditionally. I also used to strive for peoples approval and when I didn’t get what I thought I deserved I would resent them. But knowing that I am totally accepted in God’s love and grace frees me to focus on serving them and not trying to fill my own needs. I used to see some of my peers as my competition, I would bury myself in rivalry and when I would come up short, I would justify it, putting the blame on everything/everyone but me, causing me to be jealous and unable to rejoice with people in their success. Now, I realize that God is in control of my circumstances and that I can be confident in myself and my abilities. I can finally value other people’s gifts and abilities and rejoice with them in their blessings and success. I am becoming less and less threatened by others because I am secure in who I am. I am free to help others, I am free to see others as Christ sees them, I am free to encourage them, I am free to build them up, I am free to honor them, and I am free to love.
The new found strength and confidence that I have in who I am in Christ has been the single greatest thing I have learned on this journey. It has not only transformed my attitude but my outlook, my confidence, my drive. Everything has changed. Whether you are a brand new christian or a 40 year christian, having a solid foundation in who we are is critical to living our life the way God intends it. It will challenge the way you see yourself, God, and those around you.
It could be tempting to look at this list and say, “these are all things I know, I have heard them every Sunday since I was 9 years old”. But be honest with yourself, are these things you just have head knowledge about or are these things that you let shape your life? Are these things that you walk in daily?
I want to challenge you. For one week, prayerfully read through the list once a day. I find it is best to read it first thing in the morning (but I actually read it a few times a day). Pick 2 or 3 truths that you are lead to or that pop out, and pray over that part of your identity for a few weeks. Write them down on a piece of paper or your bathroom mirror. Put them on a sticky-note on your computer, keep it with you all the time. If you feel yourself or someone else trying to attack you, bring out the list and read those truths to yourself. I am positive that there will be positive change in how you view yourself, you will begin to feel more confident and secure in God, His promises, and the person He has created you to be.
There is a link at the bottom to the list and I give full credit to Neal Anderson, the only thing I have done is change the format, I also added a few verses. It is by no means a conclusive list but it is a great place to start to build a foundation in what our identity is in Christ.
If you choose to take the challenge, shoot me an email or something. I would love to pray with and for you. I would also like to know what areas you are working on. Remember, by itself the list is just some words, it is Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in us that makes the list so powerful and life changing. Are you ready for some God size change in your life?
