Post By: Angela Parlin
Do you know who you really are?
A friend told me recently that her Mom used to have her stand in front of the mirror and recite truths about who God says she is. Isn’t that great? I’ll save it in my parenting toolbox, but the truth is, I’ve needed it myself.
Not long ago, I knew certain facts regarding who God says I am—but I didn’t feel like they were true.
Have you been there?
There’s an identity crisis, within the church. It begins with our understanding of God, and our understanding of who we are in light of Him.
We can name details about God, but do we really know Him?
And if we don’t KNOW the God who created us,
then how do we know our own selves?
I grew up in the church, so I learned numerous truths about God and about myself through the years. I also live in a world where I heard an abundance of lies about us both. There were those labels people gave me, those labels I gave myself, and the experiences that told me things I couldn’t forget.
But more often, I was oblivious to what was going on around me. The world and the devil did their thing, and I failed to see the false and fiery arrows shot my way.
While my foundation was forming,
the enemy worked to confuse my identity.
I didn’t know deep down in my heart who I really was–because of Jesus Christ. I didn’t live confidently out of the truth.
When you don’t have a firm grasp on who you are in God’s eyes (your identity in Christ)—
start with who God is.
Find Him in the quiet. Seek Him through His Word. Get to know Him more.
Meditate on who God is. Focus on who He says you are.
Look to the Word–not to the world–for daily affirmations.
Let Him change your view of Him and your view of you.
Let Him set you free from the lies that hold you down.
In time, God will transform your mind completely, giving you a whole new view.
You will understand who God is and who you are in light of Him.
May these scriptures be a starting place, pointing the way to the truth.
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him. Psalm 28:7
The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Job 33:4
Before I was born, the Lord called me; from my mother’s womb He has spoken my name. Isaiah 49:1b
She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me.” Genesis 16:13a
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
But 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
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Angela Parlin is Dan’s wife and Mom to 3 rowdy boys and 1 sweet girl. In addition to spending time with friends and family, she loves to read and write, spend days at the beach, watch romantic comedies, and organize closets. But most of all, she loves Jesus and writes to call attention to the beauty of life in Christ, even when that life collaborates with chaos. Join her each week at www.angelaparlin.com, So Much Beauty in All This Chaos.
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Thank you Angela for speaking the core of true identity. When I get off that truth, I find myself standing on sinking ground. Love you friend.
I’m with you on that! Standing on the truth…
Amen Angela. I agree, we need to constantly repeat back to ourselves who God is and who we are in Him. Such an important message. Thank you.
xoxo
Isn’t it surprising how quickly we fall away from truth and need to again REMEMBER? Thanks for the encouragement!
This is something I didn’t understand for the longest time, Angela- that I needed to now HIM first before I could truly know myself. Thank you for speaking truth into our hearts today, friend. You bless me with your words.
Thanks for your words, Abby…and I would agree. I didn’t understand this for a long time either. God is so good to continue to teach us and lead us to His heart.
LOVE this, Angela. There is an identity crisis. I’ve walked it right along with the next girl. Bleck! Starting with God ~ such a faithful and true start line. I love that you put Him first. The scriptures woven within give meat, they give a girl somewhere to start. Good word. Visiting today via #livefreeThursday.
Thanks for stopping by today, Kristi. You and me both! I love what you said about God being the faithful and true starting place. Thanks for your encouragement!
Angela, this is wonderful! Identity was something I struggled with for years. I didn’t know who I was, because I had a wrong view of who God was. Naturally I defined myself by what everyone else thought of me. love how you point to the scriptures. That’s exactly where my healing began. As I searched the Psalms and began to get to know who God says He is, I was introduced to who I was, daughter of the Most High, heir to His promises! Thanks for this beautiful reminder! Linking up with you at #livefreeThursday.
Alisa, isn’t that the truth? If we don’t have a true view of God, and our own selves in His eyes, that’s what we do–define ourselves by what everyone else thinks of us. So glad to hear of your healing by the Word as well. God is GOOD!
This is great! “The picture you posted at the top says it all! When you don’t know who you are in God’s eyes, start with who God is”! We can avoid so much struggle and pain when we look to God and discover who He really is. One of the big things that I’ve learned about Him, which in turn has helped me to discover who I am, is that He is a compassionate God. He never wastes a hurt and He uses all things for the good of His perfect plan. Knowing that tells me that I’m valuable. He loves me and that He cares about what happens in my life. That is the truth I’m clinging to! Thanks for sharing, Angela! (I popped over here through your blog link via #livefreethursday!
Blessings, Joan
Joan, Thanks for stopping by! (I LOVE the #livefree community!) Such a good word here about God being a compassionate God, using all things for His good plan. Knowing how He values us changes things, doesn’t it?
Oh my goodness, YES! Love love love this, as I have just come out of a season of not knowing “who I was”… BUT… God is always the same! Thank you for this reminder! #livefreeThursday
So glad you stopped by Crystal. Thanks for sharing this about the season you’ve been in. Yes, God is always the same, and our difficult / lost seasons are never too much for Him!
Dearest Angela,
Thank you so much for these words! They are spot on! God was literally just speaking to me about this a couple of mornings ago. I bookmarked this devotion for future reference! Very meaningful! Blessings to you!