Who does God say that I am? Let’s talk identity.

      In the secular world, you will hear people say, “Love yourself, love who you are, find yourself.” While this is true, it is misconstrued in many ways because there is no central identity, it is all based on how you “feel,” “think,” or based on circumstances. In today’s society, people gravitate towards labels and forming their identities based on their sexual orientation,  on whatever gender they believe they should be, gender stereotypes or based on personal experiences. I’m here to tell you, none of those things make you who you are. Satan uses an attack on our identity to sidetrack us from our purpose in Christ and why we were created.

     Let’s begin in Matthew 4:1-11. The first thing Satan did was tempt Jesus with his identity.  “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted^[a] by the devil. ² After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” (Notice how Satan says, “if.” This is a clear attack on Jesus’ identity, trying to place doubt, confusion, and distrust in what God has stated Jesus to be, which is His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased in.

Thankfully Jesus answered with one of the most powerful weapons He could ever use, the word of God. Jesus said, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”

The great I AM is God our father and when Jesus walked on Earth, Jesus proclaimed to the Pharisees, “before Abraham was, I AM.” This means that Jesus was the exact representation of God, Jesus is one with the Father, Jesus is God. Jesus knew who He was and there was nothing Satan could do to change that reality. Therefore, if you are not yet in Christ, or you have not accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, your identity is in everything else this world tells you. Since the foundations of the Earth, God knew who you were in the womb and why He allowed you to be born. You have a purpose greater than just living and breathing, it’s to be an ambassador of the Kingdom of Heaven and to live for Christ.

Ultimately, what I want you to understand is that Satan is always looking for ways to attack your identity. If you do not know who you are, it’s time to self-examine and ask Christ who you are in Him. Ask Jesus to renew your mind, to redeem you, and you will be a NEW creation, born again spiritually and your old self will be gone. Everything Jesus is, you are.

Remember this: “I am the righteousness of God.” God made Jesus who had no sin be sin for us when He died on that cross. (2 Corinth 5:21)

Society will not only encourage you to continue down that rabbit hole, they will cheer you on and they won’t be there to help you discern and to have a clear mind. They will encourage you in the lie you currently believe because they themselves are blind. Perhaps you’re someone who is dealing with gender dysphoria, self-hate, depression, identifying yourself based on your sexuality, or simply you just don’t feel valued. Whatever it is…with all the love and compassion, I tell you today, Jesus says you are beloved and He wants to give you newness of life, abundant life. Will you accept it and will you allow yourself to be loved by the ONE who created you and has a plan for you?