Identity
2020-03-26Psalm 139:16 NLT
How we see ourselves determines the kind of relationships we establish. Many of us live with low self-esteem. We believe everyone else is more important than ourselves and think meeting their needs is more important than meeting our own needs. We compare ourselves and allow others to determine who we are, and then we found our whole identity on their approval. But we shouldn’t look at another person and say, ‘I wish I were like them.’ God made each of us to reflect a unique aspect of His glory. We’re all one-of-a-kind creations who can’t be compared. As Christians, we’ve been given a new identity as children of God. The Bible says: ‘If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!’ (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV). God’s making us more like Jesus, and making us whole (have a read of 2 Corinthians 3:18). In Him we don’t ever need to be afraid to be who we really are. The psalmist wrote: ‘You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!’ (v.15-16 NCV). God knew each of us before we were born. He already knew what we’d be like, and the things we would do. He already had amazing plans and purposes for us in His kingdom. When we find ourselves depending on others for approval, we don’t allow God to speak the truth of who we are over us. We should never forget that we’ve been uniquely created by the ultimate Creator, and that we’re always lovable and acceptable to Him.