“Your identity is secure in Christ.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – December 3, 2024
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
I’ve been thinking about the different seasons in a Christian’s walk—and I’ve been thinking about my own. One when I was a new believer, and the other now, when I’m in my fifties and have been walking with Him for years.
As a new babe in the Lord, I didn’t know who I was in Jesus; I didn’t understand my identity in Him. Yes, I knew I was saved and that He had a plan for my life, but because I’d come to believe lies about myself growing up this caused havoc when I headed off to college and left home. I blamed God when things didn’t work out how I wanted in my life, and I thought He didn’t love me when I was hurt in relationships—all because I didn’t know who I was in Him.
Even though my identity was firmly rooted in great, precious, and irrevocable promises, I couldn’t accept them in my twenties because I didn’t feel as if they were true. My emotions ruled me, and I languished under condemnation, guilt, and shame.
What I didn’t believe or know about my identity had a direct negative effect on how I responded to trials. Now, as a more mature believer, Jesus has helped me understand more of my identity in Him. Although I am still learning about His deep love for me, this has made all the difference. I am not blaming Him for trials, and I understand that His love for me won’t change. It has brought me peace.
In both seasons, even though I responded to the Lord negatively in the season as a new believer, one thing has remained the same: my identity in Christ.
Maybe you can relate. Perhaps you feel like you don’t know if God will stay with you. Perhaps you feel as if the Lord is angry with you or that He has left you.
I invite you to speak these “I am” statements today to remind yourself of who you are in the Lord and that these truths will never change—no matter how you feel. That will make all the difference in how you navigate trials.
I am a child of God. “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).
I am forgiven. “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38-39).
I am never alone. “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
His promises toward you are a firm foundation.
“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind” (Numbers 23:19).
Prayer
Lord, I thank you that you don’t change. I thank you that your thoughts toward me don’t change based on my emotion. Thank you for loving me no matter what. Amen.
Application
Are there any lies you believe that contradict the above scriptures? Talk with the Lord about them.
Related Reading
1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Timothy 1:7; Deuteronomy 31:6
Worship Resource
Maverick City Music feat. Joe L Barnes & Naomi Raine: Promises
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