Has Your Idenity Been Stolen

HAS YOUR IDENITY BEEN STOLEN

By Carolyn Dale Newell

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

Ephesians 1:4 NKJV

Who are you? If your answer is related to your position or your possessions, it is incorrect. If it is connected to your accomplishments, appearance, kids, or career, it is wrong. Who I am is defined by the I AM.

In Ephesians chapter one, we read that we were made accepted in the beloved. Our focus verse shows God chose us because He loved us. Therefore, we are the accepted, beloved, and chosen daughters of the King.

I recently discovered I had an acceptance issue. God woke me up one night and took me back to my childhood. My parents were the greatest, but not outwardly affectionate. As a visually impaired kid in school, kids teased me dreadfully. High school brought few friends but no dates.

At age seventeen, I found acceptance with the party crowd. That is who I identified with. After marriage, a child, and a divorce, I walked away from the party life. Even though I did not know God then, I credit Him for removing me from that mess.

When God saved me, I never identified myself as being accepted by Him. Truthfully, most of us cannot grasp God’s acceptance and love. We don’t understand it. We take it for granted. We doubt it.

It isn’t that our identity has really been stolen, but most of us never had it to begin with. Symptoms of a stolen identity appear as we derive our happiness from other sources than God. Things like food, clothes, money, homes, and careers. We do that when we don’t realize we are not genuinely craving our pleasure. We are craving God. That is why the satisfaction is short lived. Only God can satisfy those longings. Not chocolate. Not big bank accounts. Not a new wardrobe. Not pizza. Not a title.

And that is exactly where our enemy, Satan, wants us to be. When he can deceive us into not feeling like the accepted, beloved, and chosen daughter of God, he has stolen our power and authority.

Our feelings, like our enemy lie. Who I am is not defined by my feelings. Who I am is defined by the I AM.

Our identity isn’t found in our cabinets or closets. It is found in Jesus Christ.

Now that we know the truth, we can walk with our heads held high. We will no longer feel insecure. We will no longer be enslaved to the number on the scales or the number on our bank accounts. We are royalty. Now, we can answer the question correctly. look into a mirror. Who are you? “I am the accepted, beloved, and chosen daughter of the King.”

Heavenly Father, Thank You for making me acceptable and choosing to love me. Help me defeat the enemy by walking in my true identity in Christ. Amen.

DIG DEEPER

Read Ephesians 1:3-14.

HIKING THE TRAIL

When feelings of worthlessness arise, read God’s love letter to you. Spend time with the truth of Jesus Christ, not the lies of hell.