Episode 74: Are You Your Issue?

Have you ever noticed that the first thing people ask at a social event is “So, where are you from?” Followed up with a “What do you do?”.

It’s interesting to me because even on social media pages, our Bio’s declare the same. Where we are from. What we do. A few words to sum up our whole existence. But what if… just what if those very descriptions are the ones we’ve been using to identify who we are? Titles. Jobs. Throw in a location for context. But what if we’ve had it all wrong. If that’s the first thing we are saying about ourselves, that must also mean its the FIRST thing we believe about who we are. It must mean that thats our identity! Right? Wrong.

The thing is, we are doing ourselves a disservice if that’s the thing we are choosing to stand on. Identity isn’t what you do or even who you are to anyone else. Actually. Our true identity is that which relates us to our creator. It’s foundational. It should be the thing we respond with as we know it deep down. If God Himself asked you who you are, what would you tell Him? Would you say something like, “Well, I’m Sharon and I’m project coordinator at so and so offices…” I mean, I’m laughing but I sure hope you’ve got more in you than that!

If we asked our own children…who are you to me? I would hope they’d respond with “I’m your child”. So? Shouldn’t that be our first response, too? God calls us His. And while we may call ourselves ‘God’s children’ Sunday at church, the majority of people aren’t out here living like it. MOST people live by their professional title for the rest of the week. Others of us may not even go by the title we give ourselves but the title given to us by the world. Known by your story. Known by your past. Known by your shame, sickness, sins, or even by your situation. Maybe whatever life you’ve lived has become the thing to defines you.

I believe this is the number one mistake believers make in understanding their identity. Instead of referring to what God’s word says about them, they’ve spent a lifetime listening to OTHERS about who they should or shouldn’t be. And at some point, most of us have come INTO agreement about whatever that is. Think about school? If you didn’t play sports, were you really an outcast? Or did you just start believing that about yourself because thats what the social scene dictated? Maybe God would have liked to remind you that you were actually built different. Built to be set apart. Built with different interests and giftings to reach a purpose God crafted specifically for YOU.

See, I’ve come to realize we can’t walk fully in our God given authority unless we recognize ourselves the way God recognizes us. Not by who WE say we are. Not by who the world says we are. But by who God says we are. We can walk fully in all He desires for us if we understand our identity. If we understand our relationship to the King. If your father is the king, what does that make you? An heir. It makes you an heir. You’re an heir to His kingdom. A daughter who is loved. AND a daughter who is called to a life of more.

Today, I want to read a story to you about a woman who perfectly fits the description of someone who went by her worldly identity. She is a woman in the Bible who is never mentioned by name. She isn’t even mentioned by a title she holds. Rather, she is identified by the issue she has. Mark 5:21-43 TPT

Today, I want to challenge you to ask yourself the question: What have I been standing on? What identity have I been living by? Is it an identity given by the world? Is it status based on things I own? Is it the circles I am a part of? Or is it even a condemning name given by circumstances of a broken world? Whatever it is. Whoever you think you are.. I want to remind you you’re none of those things. God calls you His Child first. Hold fast to that and be encouraged that life WILL look different when you understand your born identity. I love you, friends. And God loves you most of all… I’ll see you back here next week!