Do You Know Who You Are?
Can you remember who you were, before the world told you who you should be? Can you? Do you know who you are? Did you ever know who you were to begin with? For a long time I did not. Our culture tells us what should define us; just think about the article titles on any magazine cover you've seen lately. If we change our body, make more money, find the one person that will complete us then we'll be happy... or will we?
For most of my life I lived comparing myself to every person I met. I thought if I could change who I was then I'd be happy. But I was wrong. Who I am has nothing to do with the things I can change - my looks, job title, how much money I make, or my relationship status. It has everything to do with whose I am.
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It's easy to become lost in the comparison game, collecting more and more things to give yourself value.
Let me be the first to tell you that it won't work. No created thing can ever make us happy or whole. Created things cannot give other created things worth or value, only their creators can do that. To know who you are, you must intimately know the one who made you. Then you can walk in wholeness.
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. - Colossians 1:16-17 NIV
Jesus Christ - He is the living word of God. He made us in His image. Therefore, only in Him will we know who we are. You may be thinking to yourself, " I know all of this" or "this sounds cliche", but hold tight because we can know things without truly grasping them.
As you embark on your week and deal with all that life is throwing your way - I want to remind you who you are.
Don't let the sweet, yet empty promises from this world romance you into old thought patterns. You are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). When trials gets harder, know that you are more than a conqueror and empowered by the Holy spirit to win every spiritual battles (Romans 8:37 NIV). Furthermore, when the temptation to compare yourself to the next person arises, take those thoughts captive. You, my friend, are incomparable. Don't settle to be a counterfeit version of someone else. You are God's unique handiwork. created to fulfill you're own part in His plan (Ephesians 2:10). Most importantly, you are loved unconditionally by God.
It's important to go back to the basics - to the foundations of who we are every now and again. Learn who you are in Christ and be confident in that. The world will try to convince you to change to be accepted, loved, and successful, but that's a lie. All you really need is the One who never changes. In Him, you are complete.