What are you wearing? Is it really you?
I don't know about you, but I can get stuck wearing the same outfit. It makes me feel comfortable, secure and is a staple that defines me. And just like my outer wear, I can get stuck wearing the same inner wear and identify myself with one name. At times, its' one that makes me feel comfortable and secure. Then other times, it's a name that brings worthlessness and insecurity .
As women, there are seasons when we might wear the label of wife, mom, business woman, caretaker, or volunteer, etc. All noteworthy and honorable, but what happens if there is a failed marriage, loss of a job, a child is lost or never born, our health begins to fail? Have we lost our identity?
What about the label of a particular sin? Whoa, that can steal an identity real quick. Here is what we can tell say to ourselves:
· "I did this, so I must be a ___________"
· "I failed at________ so I am doomed to be a _____________"
Whatever you have labeled yourself , I want to give you to know that it does not define you.
Ephesians 1:4-5 says,
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. (NIV)
So what does that mean?
1. God knew our sins before creation, yet says when we accept Christ as our personal Savior, we are now called blameless as a child of God. Our sin does not stamp us with a brand name.
2. Because we have the right to be adopted by Him, our true identity comes from being a child or God. Wife, single, ex-wife, widow, mother, motherless, entrepreneur, stay at home is not the only name we will ever have. We have a promise in Ephesians 4:23-24 that says,
"to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
I have been guilty of giving myself a label that I knew would be my style forever, but I was wrong. When I found freedom in my true identity in Christ, I was able to pursue who He wanted me to be in every season of life. I had a label that would never go out of style.
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Personal reflection:Offer 3 questions for readers to meet the goals and outcomes expected from this chapter. Questions must help reader identify a similar event they have personally experienced as well as steps they can take for better outcomes in the future.
1. Are you wearing a particular name to define you identity, positive or negative?
2. What obstacle could you begin to overcome if you learned and embraced all of who God says you are as His child?
3. Where are you in the CW process of fulfilling God's purpose for your life? (dreams, healing, Identity, Health, Purpose, Inside/Out/Fashion). How could you move forward if you begin walking in your true identity in Christ?
