Embracing God’s truth about who I am in Christ is the first step toward healing and wholeness. You and I live in this complicated world, where personal identity has been hijacked. I’m not talking about our personal information and online presence, although that kind of identity theft is a huge issue too. No, I’m talking about something far more insidious than that, if you can imagine.

The Bible tells us that God created everything, including humanity. We were made in God’s image designed to reflect His glory, and commissioned to govern over the earth (Genesis 1:27-30). This is probably not new information to you, yet because of our human sin nature, we are all a little displaced and disoriented. 

That’s what sin does, right? It separates us from the goodness of God. And to be clear, the goodness of God isn’t about stuff it’s about God Himself. Connection to God gives us access to the fulness of who He is. 

Communion and intimacy are intricate aspects of God’s design of humanity. He created us to exist  in relationship with Him so, our identity is not based upon what we do, it’s rooted in our being. Recovering god-given identity and purpose begins by when you can embrace what God says about who you are.

Who am I?

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

John 10:10, ESV

 

Go ahead and just sit with that for a moment. Understand that it is only in Christ that you and I will find life. The goal of the enemy is death and defeat, but Jesus came that we might have life. The identity questions can only be satisfied through Christ.

 

How would you define abundant life? 

 

Seriously—take the time to reflect on that question. 

 

I think, in general, we have a very distorted idea of what Jesus means by abundant life. For most people, abundant life means prosperity in health, riches, community, and favor, but that’s not what Jesus was talking about. The abundant life Jesus was talking about in that passage in John is about wholeness and shalom. God created us to live and find our being in Him.

The enemy says a lot of things; lies that push us toward false security. He likes to distract with busyness while feeding the desire for validation with flattery and attention. The problem is that our identity isn’t in what we do, it’s in whom we belong. In Jesus, we find abundant life, and that is a life full and good because it is rooted in Him. 

Truthfully, you and I need to embrace the who I am in Christ statements found in scripture because these are the foundations that keep us rooted in Jesus and anchored to truth.

Who I am in Christ Statements

It’s hard to cut off lies when we entertain them and give them space to live.  Recovering god-given identity begins by ruthlessly cutting away everything that is not true. Rehearsing the truth will change the way you think and see and while this is not an exhaustive list of who I am in Christ statements, it’s a pretty good place to start.

 

I am wonderfully made 

(Psalm 139:14)

I am a child of God

 (John 1:12)

I am God’s workmanship

(Ephesians 2:10)

I am loved by God 

(John 3:16, Colossians 3:12, 1 Thessalonians 1:4)

I am chosen by God 

(Colossians 3:12)

I am rescued by God

 (Colossians 1:13)

I am forgiven by God 

(Colossians 1:14, 1 John 2:12)

I am a new creation

 (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I am free 

(Romans 8:1, Galatians 15:1)

I am a saint 

(Colossians 1:2)

I am righteous and holy

(Ephesians 4:24)

I am complete 

(Colossians 2:10)

I am the temple of God 

(1 Corinthians 3:16)

I am a member of the body of Christ 

(1 Corinthians 12:27)

I am a joint heir with Christ 

(Romans 8:17)

I am a citizen of Heaven

 (Philippians 3:20)

I am a minister of reconciliation 

(2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

I am Salt and light to the earth 

(Matthew 5:13-14)

I am clean

(John 15:3)

I am a friend of Jesus

(John 15:15)

I am victorious 

(1 Corinthians 15:57)

I am more than able in Christ 

(Philippians 4:13)

I am an enemy of the devil 

( 1 Peter 1:4)

I am anointed by God 

(John 2:27)

I am and alien in this world 

(1 Peter 2:11)

 

Embrace the grace

The key to standing firm in the who I am in Christ statements is grace. You and I are forgiven—period. No amount of striving, earning, and proving can change how God sees us. We must embrace His forgiveness and believe Him. 

Sounds good, but not so easy, right? This is why we need to cultivate that habit of practicing or rehearsing the who I am in Christ statements. They are promises of God—His word, backed by the fullness of who He is. 

The grace of God is relentless because He is always faithful. Failure is not fatal, so hear me when I say that mistakes don’t define us any more than our successes do. We need to live from the truths that God speaks and declares over us.

This amazing grace offers a much better way and it comes with a seal. The Holy Spirit comes and dwells in us, which means we have access to God all the time. Embracing this grace is about choosing to believe, God. Trusting God brings us into alignment with His truth which enables us to rest in His goodness.

Trust the process

Resting in your god-given identity aligns you for life transformation, but it’s not always that simple. There are aspects of belief and faith that need to be re-worked and healed. 

Living from the who I am in Christ statements is a complete change in mindset. And that takes time.

I’m not the same person I was when I first began following Jesus, and I bet you aren’t either. Or maybe you are new to the faith and the whole idea of knowing Jesus is brand new? The point is, Jesus, saves so that we can become the people we were created to be. It’s not about behavior modification, it’s about complete healing and wholeness. It’s a process.

Quite frankly, I’m thankful that God works the way He does at recovering who I am in Christ. While there are times I’d like nothing more for Him to just snap his fingers and get it done, it is mercy that He moves low and slow. You see, it’s not the healing that’s so hard, it’s the deconstruction process that has to happen first. 

Dynamite may feel like a more productive approach, but God is about restoration. There are aspects of who we are that are worth keeping. And sometimes there are good things that that need to go too. That’s tough, right? I mean extracting what’s not beneficial may be painful but at least it makes sense. Sometimes God prunes the parts that seem good and fruitful for a healthier yield. 

We need to trust Him and trust the process. Faith keeps eyes fixed on His nature focusing on the nuances of His character. Trusting God allows the encounters and experiences of life to cultivate intimacy as He shows Himself along the way.

Living from the Who I Am In Christ Statements

The Who I am in Christ statements are powerful promises and declarations that God speaks over His sons and daughters. These scriptures are critical to know; to lean into and stand upon. Rehearsing the promises imbed the truths of God into the mind and heart. It’s about both knowing what’s true and believing it. This is active faith.

Living from the promises of God is not about ignoring feelings. There are times when I don’t feel like I am free. Feelings don’t tell the whole story, though. We need to engage with truth and connect with the Father in prayer when we are overwhelmed by words that contradict God.

How do we do that?

Well, you cannot take unholy thoughts captive if you don’t recognize them in the first place. The best way to develop discernment is through intimacy with God. If you want to know the voice of the Father, you have to know His heart. When your thoughts about yourself become destructive and are laced in condemnation, chances are they are lies from the pit of Hell. 

Feed your mind on the things of God. Listen to what He has to say about you, whom He calls Beloved, by the way. Surround yourself with people who will speak the truth over you. Be willing to listen to wise counsel, but always filter it with what God says through scripture. Search Him out and know Him as you press into His epic story. The testimony of God seeps through every word from Genesis to Revelation. 

Write these statements out. Place them in prominent places where you can see them regularly to remind your soul what’s true. Take the next step and walk in obedience, which, by the way, declares the glory of God.

Just one more thing…

Thanks for sticking around right to the end! I hope you found this post helpful and encouraging. If you know someone who might need to hear these words, feel free to share! If you want more like this, I invite you to sign up for my weekly devotional called, The Grace Notes. 

Always,

Maureen