Transformation

Why Is It Important to Know Your Identity in Christ?

I recently went to lunch with a friend who asked me a life-changing question.  We were talking about finding our worth in God when she looked into my eyes and asked, “Why is it important to know your identity in Christ?”

She then told me that she didn’t truly know what it meant to find her identity in Jesus.

I told her about a difficult time in my life when God taught me how to find my identity in him.  (You can read about it here.)  Then, we discussed why it’s important to find our identities in Christ.

Why Is It Important to Know Your Identity in Christ?

Ultimately, knowing who we are in Christ leads us to freedom.  Let’s talk about four kinds of freedom we find when we know who we are in Christ.

1. Freedom From Excessive People Pleasing

When I know that I am, first and foremost, God’s beloved daughter, I am set free from the need to excessively please other people.  I am set free to follow Christ, share his love with others, and let the opinions of others roll off of my back.

I know that God loves me, and this is enough.  It frees me from needing to be liked by all people.

2. The Freedom of Having Nothing to Prove

I spent years of my life trying to prove myself to others.  I was consistently trying to prove that I was intelligent, fun, and funny.

As I learned about my true identity as God’s beloved daughter, his love began to define me.  I learned to soak in his love every morning.  As I basked in God’s love for me, he changed me from the inside out.

I no longer needed to prove my worth to others because I knew that the King of Kings loved me and would always love me.

3. Freedom to Love Others Without Receiving Love in Return

When we grasp God’s love for us and allow this love to define us, we are free to love others without craving their devotion or love in return.

Christ’s love sets us free to walk into crowded rooms and ask, “Who can I encourage and love?”

This is much different than walking into a room and asking, “Who will love and include me?”

4. Freedom to Embrace Your True Calling

Knowing our true identities in Christ sets us free to follow God wherever he leads us.  We no longer make decisions based on the approval or applause of others.

When we live out of our identities as God’s beloved children, we are free to follow him into our true callings on earth.

Let’s now take a few minutes to soak the truth about our identities in Christ:

Who I Am in Christ According to Scripture:

“I am created in God’s image” (see Genesis 1:27).

“Before God formed me in my mother’s womb, he knew me and had a plan for me” (see Jeremiah 1:5).

“God made me. God knit this body together” (see Psalm 139:13).  

“I will go ahead and be the woman I was made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing myself to others and trying to be something I’m not” (see Romans 12:5 MSG).

Dear friend, do you believe these words are true for you?  Before you read more, pause right here.  God is with you, and he loves you more than you can comprehend.  He wants these truths to reach from your mind to your heart.

Ask him to help these words move from your mind to your heart.  Ask him to speak his love over you as he confirms your true identity.

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These two books are free on Kindle Unlimited or available to purchase in print:

God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone.  Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life.  Find this life-changing book for free on the Kindle Unlimited plan or for 12.99 in print right here.  This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!

Calling all mothers and daughters!

Additionally, my 12-year-old daughter, Bekah, and I wrote a mother-daughter devotional book to help mothers and daughters grow closer together while connecting with God.  Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith includes 60 devotions with Scripture, commentaries from both of us, conversation starters, and even a shared journaling section.  Multitudes of mothers, daughters, mentors, and younger women are being transformed by this book!  You can find your free Kindle Unlimited eBook or buy it in print for just 11.99 right here.

 

 

I’m passionate about equipping others to encounter God in powerful and life-changing ways. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me hiking, jogging, exploring wild places with my three young children and husband, leading small groups, and mentoring younger women. A certified special education teacher, I am on leave from the classroom for a season of chasing frogs and playing in creeks with my little ones. Most of all, the compassionate love of Jesus has forever ravished my heart, and I'm emphatic about making his love known to the world.