Who Am I? Part 3
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We need to embrace our true identity if we're going to be able to fulfill our purpose.
Identity is about knowing who we are.
So, who are we?
In part 2, we learned: I Am A Princess.
We're princesses of the King of kings because we're his children. If you missed that post, click here to catch up.
Do you know who else you are?
You Are Powerful
Let's personalize it and say that with me: I Am Powerful.
We Are Not Broken – We are POWERFUL
After Eve ate the fruit, she gave some to Adam, her husband. Realizing they were naked, they tried to cover up with fig leaves. God came looking for them. Then a festival of blame began. Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the serpent. The serpent didn't have anyone in the lineup to blame.
Here is God's response to Eve:
Genesis 3:16
To the woman he said, "I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."
What Eve thought would give her power like God made her feel powerless.
From the time we were little girls, many of us have felt as if we're broken or powerless. You may have felt powerless because of something someone did to you emotionally or physically.
The words that have been like a broken record in my head for decades were:
"You're not good enough."
"You're not pretty enough."
"You're too loud."
"You're not talented enough."
"Your brother is the 'gifted' one."
When you think of your value, are there any broken words that come to mind? Please write it down.
These words have become so natural to us that we believe them. They've altered what we think we're worth.
This false value affects us in ways we don't fully comprehend. It's changed what we believe our identity is. It robs us of understanding our value. It makes us feel powerless. It's holding us back.
It's time to remove the lies and discover our true value!
How?
God gave us the POWER to Reprogram Our Thoughts.
The Bible calls this "renewing our minds." Science calls it neuroplasticity. It's a POWER God gave us to change our thoughts.
Romans 12:2 NKJV
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Renew (anakainósis) in this scripture means a renewal, renovation, complete change for the better.
How many of you like Fixer Upper or Extreme Makeover (or another home show that fixes up old houses)? Don't you love how they go in and take that old and decrepit house and change it into something astonishing?
That's what we're doing when we renew our minds to God's truth. We're renovating our thinking.
When the old, negative thoughts (lies) come, replace them with the truth of God's Word. Replacing removes the old identity–the lies we've believed about ourselves.
You can't hold a negative thought and a positive thought at the same time.
So, each time the negative thoughts about yourself come (the lies)–replace them with what God says about you (the truth).
And, this is not a one-and-done thing. You'll need to replace the thoughts each time they come.
Here's just a few fabulous things that Father says about you:
Ephesians 2:10 NKJV
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.
Revelation 5:10 AMP
You have made them to be a kingdom [of royal subjects] and priests to our God; and they will reign on the earth.
You are not broken.
You are His MASTERPIECE.
You are not powerless.
You are POWERFUL.
We must exercise our POWER to renew our minds to the truth so we can believe it and walk in it.
In the next post, we're going to conclude this series by discovering your true value.
Until next time, Live Fearlessly Free.
Discussion
What is your favorite scripture to use when you feel powerless?
My favorite is. I am reminded that when I abide in the Vine, Jesus, I can bear fruit even if I don’t feel I can because He’s working in me and through me.
John 15:5 NASB
I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
When I abide in the vine, Jesus, I can do all things through Him because Jesus is strengthening me.
Resources
Books:
The 4:8 Principle: The Secret to a Joy-Filled Life
(The 4:8 Principle helped me pull out of a multiple-year depression 8 years ago. I read it every year to refresh myself and continue renovating my mind.)
Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking by Jon Acuff
(This is my favorite book I've read lately! I've read it three times now and keep coming back to it.)