Ephesians 5:15-16 “So be very careful how you live. Do not live like people who aren’t wise. Live like people who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity. The days are evil. So don’t be foolish. Instead, understand what the Lord wants.”
We live in a world of confusion. We do frequent phone checks at our house. This morning, I did a phone check and on one message thread between my 8 year old son and his friend, his friend sent the message, “I hate myself.” I immediately seized the opportunity to talk to my kids because comments like that are not okay, but they are trending like wildfire.
I told them that I chose not to listen to our podcast that morning because I wanted to talk with them about something God initiated in my heart: identity. We talked about what other people say about them, what they say about themselves, and what God says about them. It was a tough conversation because both of my kids have experienced bullying and the daunting task of letting those comments roll instead of embedding and growing to become a part of who they think they are. We talked about encouraging their friends to embrace their identity by filling their minds with descriptive truths about who they are.
The best way to discover your identity in God is to act as God does: intentionally. Intentionally means that you do things for a purpose, on purpose. The desire for the end goal surpasses the negative processes to get there. I’m intentional about finishing the 5K race because I want the medal that proves I finished! Despite the cramps, the sweating, and the never ending chafing, I’m gonna finish that race because my desire to reach the goal surpasses the negative processes.
When we know we are, we know what to do.
A Christian’s goal is everlasting life with our Heavenly Father. We love when it’s not easy, we give til it hurts, and we endure rejection when we reject temptations. Our desired goal is to produce fruit for the Kingdom. The desire to reach our goal is greater than the negative processes conjured up by the evil one, himself. It’s possible that your desire is weakened. Maybe it doesn’t outweigh the negative processes and it feels easier to give up. This could be a result of an identity loss.
I felt this way not too long ago. I gave in to being comfortable, because I was tired of fighting. In all reality, what was happening was that I was leaning upon idols, such as people or accolades that were destined to disappoint me at some point, because I thought that was who I was or who I was supposed to be. But, when I fought with the strength of the Lord, I cannot be defeated. My outcome might look different than the desire I set for myself, but it will most definitely be a greater outcome.
My favorite verse in the Bible is 1 Corinthians 10:13, “God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted any more than you can take. But when you are tempted, God will give you a way out. Then, you will be able to deal with it.”
God’s way out for me came when He spoke through a great guy at the church I grew up at. He was brave enough to “check in” publicly in front of the church. And that inspired me to “check in” with God.
How am I feeling? Physically, Emotionally, Spiritually
How am I feeling as a spouse?
How am I feeling as a mom?
How am I feeling as a daughter?
How am I feeling as a friend?
How am I feeling as a teacher?
How am I feeling as a church member?
How am I feeling as a neighbor?
How am I feeling as an American?
How am I feeling as a child of God?
Letting God in on how I was feeling, out loud, allowed me to stop pretending that my selfish desires/idols weren’t there. I was able to see things for how they were. I was able to see my flaws and my fears. I was able to confess my mistakes and be comforted by His forgiveness. After that prayer of check in, I felt freedom; peace. At that moment, I decided to live my life intentionally.
It takes a while for a habit to set in, but when I live intentionally, my burdens seem so minute. My eyes are opened to more of what God is doing in my life, and less focused on what I’m trying to do to please the people around me. It’s an incredible feeling. I encourage you to take your time talking with God today. Check in with Him. He’s asking, “How are you doing?” and it’s your turn to be honest…and be blessed.
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