Refine Your Identity
“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 – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”
Ephesians 1:4-6, NKJV.
Throughout our lives, different experiences cause us to take on identity and character traits that were only created to help us cope with life’s various circumstances. We become versions of ourselves that are limited to what we’ve been through or the careers we occupy. Do you know that there is so much more to you?
Not only did God choose you before He created this world, He predestined you. This means that there is a purpose in this Earth that your life is meant to bring to life. You are not without purpose. Notice the language in Ephesians: “he predestined us…in accordance with his pleasure and will…to the praise of his glorious grace.” This means that your identity requires the glory of God to shine through you.
When we deepen our relationship with God, it’s His love for us that molds us into who we’re meant to be. The closer you are to Him, the more accurate you are. The same is true vice versa - the further you are from God, the more likely it is that you’re missing the mark.
Refinement, though, involves fire – necessary pain and discomfort. When you submit yourself to this depth of relationship you will face many trials that are meant to develop your heart and your character. God will begin to expose certain attributes about yourself that you’ll realize were never any good. He’ll point out the things that need to come off while He has something far greater in His hand for you to put on instead. This can look like looking back at your past and suddenly seeing all the ways you have acted less than who you are. This can look like suddenly becoming so aware of all the ways you have accepted less than what God says you are worthy of. It may be painful at first but one of the many beautiful traits of God is that when He deals with you, He does it with love. He has this way of pointing out your flaws in ways that make you feel seen and loved, empowering you to change for the better. As you begin to come undone, unlearning and shedding off old traits, God will show you that you can trust Him. He is with you. He is for you.
That feeling of coming undone can be scary. It’ll feel like you’re losing yourself for a moment – like nothing makes sense. But in the presence of God, you are the safest you can ever be. You are safe enough to let Him see you – your fears, your doubts, your reservations. In the presence of God, you don’t have to be anything except surrendered.
“Lord, help me to not only know my identity, the desires of the Holy Spirit for my life, and your word concerning this season, but help me to understand and to value this revelation of who I am so that I am never willing to lay it down, even momentarily, for anything, not even my own discomfort.”