Know your identity!
I love John’s description of the night when Jesus washed all the disciples’ feet. John 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… and began to wash his disciples’ feet” (13:3-4).
Jesus knew who He was. He knew His identity. His actions came out of his God-given confidence.
Do you know who you are? Are you confident of your God-identity? Life and actions should follow our God-identity.
I encourage everyone I know to write for themselves their God-identity, based on scriptural facts, then memorize the statement and repeatedly speak it to yourself. This rids us of demoralizing negative self-talk, and then we grow in a walk with joy and confidence. Here are some possible starters for you:
*All of my sins are forgiven in Jesus (Romans 3).
*I have become righteous in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).
*I have a secure future.
*He works everything for my good – everything! (Romans 8:28)
*I refuse to walk only by what I see or feel (2 Corinthians 5:7).
*I hear when God speaks (John 8:47; John 10:27).
*I am becoming more like Jesus (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18)
*I refuse to dwell on the past (Isaiah 43:18).
You get the point. God has a different view of us than we have of ourselves. As an example of this, check out God’s view of Moses (Exodus 3:11, 13; 4:1, 10, 13), Gideon (Judges 6:11,12), or Jeremiah (1:4-8) as opposed to their view of themselves.
Know your identity in Jesus. Speak that identity to yourself repeatedly, and you will begin to believe God more than you believe yourself, and you will walk in greater joy, confidence, faith and hope into the future.
Have a blessed life.