God has a dream for your life, a specific plan for which He created you. Scripture tells us, ‘Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.’ (Psalm 139:16)
This plan will dwarf your wildest dreams and expectations. In fact, it is ‘infinitely more than we might ask or think imagine.’ (Ephesians 3:20) God wants to bless you, provide for you, give you inner peace, security, and a clear calling and purpose. He wants you to reach a place where you are not anxious about anything but have the peace of Christ dwelling in you.
Identity
However, this wonderful inheritance in Christ can be radically influenced by the way we see ourselves. If our identity is formed by the way others perceive us or by believing the lies of the enemy about us, our identity does not reside in Jesus, and this will influence how our future unfolds. So, where do you find your worth?
The world judges people on five levels:
- Physical attractiveness
- Income or financial status
- Success and talent, e.g. in music or sports
- Personality (are you the ‘life of the party’?)
- Intelligence
It is important to acknowledge which of these worldly standards still influence the way you measure yourself. We may even feel judged on how ‘spiritual’ we are in church, for instance, whether we quote enough Scripture or say the right things. Perhaps you are carrying insecurities or even deep-seated wounds because brothers and sisters in Christ have treated you condescendingly.
Many of us may still be influenced by the competitive pressures we felt in childhood or past spiritual environments. We inadvertently compare ourselves to other people, asking things like, ‘Why is that person being used by God more than I?’ Although it is not pleasant to acknowledge feeling this way as Christians, we must because we are still being changed from glory to glory.
Our identity and destiny are also affected by hurtful and damaging words. Destructive words come from the world around us, and not from God. Here are some examples of words that can impact your identity:
- ‘You’re so stupid.’
- ‘Can’t you get anything right?’
- ‘You are useless.’
- ‘You are such a weakling.’
- ‘You will never achieve anything.’
- ‘You are a mistake, a failure.’
- ‘You are ugly.’
- ‘You are insignificant.’
The Affirmation of a Father
All of Christ’s security, confidence and identity lay securely in the Father—Jesus was loved, affirmed, and accepted by Him. He knew His Father believed in Him and backed Him up. Jesus was acknowledged by the Father with an audible voice during His baptism and at the transfiguration, where the Father said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen One: listen to him!’ Luke 9:35
John 13:3-5 says, ‘Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.’
Christ was so secure in the Father that He could wash His followers’ feet. This was the lowest task of the lowest servant in their time.
Many of us were not affirmed, approved and supported by our biological fathers, and this often results in bitterness, pent-up resentment, and anger. Despair begins to replace our excitement for the future. The absence of our father’s verbal and physical affirmation will undoubtedly lead to our struggle to receive our heavenly Father’s inheritance. Because of this neglect, you may still battle with some of these emotions:
- Rejection, fear, anxiety, mistrust
- Abandonment, neglect, disgrace, humiliation, lowliness
- Self-importance, arrogance, egotism
- Anger, irritation, annoyance
Sons & Daughters
From Scripture, it is evident that we are very special to God. He truly loves us and has blessed us in ways we can’t even fully comprehend. We are chosen, we are His priesthood, we are His possession to bring glory to Him. God Himself was personally involved in making and forming you.
So, if we have not yet become who He intended us to be, and if we are struggling to accept our election as His representatives, His priests, and as those who belong to Him, we don’t fully bring Him glory. By making use of and living out every spiritual blessing, we bring honour and glory to Jesus.
As His sons (this term includes His daughters), we are adopted. He is our Abba Father. “The word ’Abba’ is an Aramaic word that would most closely be translated as ‘Daddy’. It was a common term that young children would use to address their fathers. It signifies the close, intimate relationship of a father to his child, as well as the childlike trust that a young child puts in his ‘Daddy’.”[1]
We will share in His glory if we are willing to share in His suffering by laying down our preferences and surrendering our identities to Him, allowing His preferences to become ours. The key ingredient to all of this is faith—believing Him, trusting in Him, and remembering He is our ultimate reality and truth. When we receive Him as our Saviour, we receive supernatural power to help us grow up into sonship.
Distinctive, Individual & Special
The Bible says we are so special to God that, if we love Him:
- He works things out for our good
- He has a purpose for us
- He has always known us
- He has chosen us to become like Jesus
- He draws us to Him
- He gives us right standing before Him
- He gives us His presence (glory)
This is who you are. This is your identity, your future, and your destiny.
His Amazing, Overwhelming Love
I once asked God to show and explain His love to me, to help me experience it. A little while later, while having a meal with a couple that had a newborn baby, I shared a miraculous testimony of a Vietnamese man who tried to share the gospel with a small village in Vietnam. The village folk became so upset that they attempted to drown him by tying rocks to him and throwing him into a deep river. But once underwater, he saw a bright yellow light and he realised he could breathe!
As I was telling this radical story, the couple’s baby started crying and they both turned to pick up their newborn to comfort him—I had completely lost their attention. Right at that moment, the Holy Spirit spoke into my heart and said that we have His undivided devotion and attention, a million times more than this baby had the attention of his parents.
If God’s love is our all in all, our all-permeating truth, our all-pervading reality, our encompassing protection and foundation, then absolutely nothing will overwhelm us, shock us, hurt us, or cause us fear of any kind. We will be completely content, safe and secure, even during severe opposition.
Make discovering, tasting and experiencing His love for you your life’s purpose, pursuit and goal. Here are some Scriptures to meditate upon:
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us … ” (Ephesians 3:20)
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places … ” (Ephesians 1:3)
“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'” (Matthew 3:16-17)
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
” … for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:26-27)
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God … ” (John 1:12)
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:13)
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” (Romans 8:28-30)
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-39)
[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/Abba-Father.html
Please note that this article was originally published in October 2017 and has since been revised.
Also in this Article Series: Caring for Your Soul – Part 2 | Caring for Your Soul – Part 3
