Embracing your spiritual identity
How often do you really stop and ponder that you are a child of God? All too often we identify ourselves based on what we have done or not done, the accomplishments or the failures we’ve had. And it’s really easy to fall into identifying yourself with the sins and mistakes you’ve made over the years. But the way you see yourself, the way you identify yourself and determines to a large degree how you act and interact with others, God has created you in his image and likeness. That is your true spiritual identity.
The more clearly you see yourself in this light, the more freedom you’ll find from past mistakes and labels of limitation.
It’s freedom Friday
Now, in most of the Freedom Friday episodes over the last few months, I’ve talked a lot about repentance, letting go of the negative way we identify with the sins and hurts from the past, and how to find freedom from the sin and guilt in our lives.
So in today’s episode, we’re going to forge deeper into some fresh territory about how to identify yourself as the image and likeness of God. Now, I’ve touched on this idea in some of the previous Freedom Friday episodes and on many of the regular episodes of the Bible Speaks to you podcast.
In fact, I’ve created a playlist of some of these a while back. It’s called the Journey of Self Discovery. There’s some really helpful episodes in there.
One of the most encouraging and insightful passages in the Bible on this subject of our true spiritual identity is in Ephesians. This is what Paul says:
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV
Your original spiritual identity
Now, I’ve touched on this verse before.
The reason that you can put off the old self, the old man, the old way of seeing yourself, the selfish, sinful, materialistic sense of your identity. The reason you can put all that off is because it’s not part of the original way God created you. Once you realize that old way of thinking and living is not part of the way God made you, you are made new in your own mind. You see yourself in a new light, and then you can put on your new self created to be like God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Now, that seems kind of far fetched, to say: “I’m righteous and holy. I’m still doing things that aren’t very righteous and holy.” Okay, but the more you start seeing yourself as that’s who you really are, your true spiritual identity, it will become more and more natural. The reason you can accept this more spiritual way of seeing yourself is because that’s how God made you originally.
Your spiritual identity is intact
Your spiritual identity as the image and likeness of God is intact. And it is who you have always been. Underneath all the sins and mistakes, the fears and the shame of the past. This is how God sees you right now, as His image and likeness.
Think about that. We need to really, really let that sink in.
You are the image and likeness of the most holy and divine God, the creator of all things. You reflect His wholeness and holiness, His goodness and purity, His wisdom and love and everything else that God is.
You did not create yourself to be this way, and you don’t define yourself this way. And your past does not define you. God alone creates, defines, and maintains your spiritual identity as his image and likeness. You’re the apple of His eye, His dearly loved child.
So the question is: Which direction are you looking? Which direction are you going? Are you still thinking of yourself as a miserable sinner who just can’t stop sinning? Or are you starting to see your spiritual identity as the image and likeness of God?
And walking in that direction, you get more of what you focus on. You go further in the direction you’re walking.
Morning prayer of affirmation
I encourage you each morning, even before you get out of bed and several times during the day to pray this prayer of affirmation:
God made me in his image and likeness. I am filled with all the fullness of God.
Now, you may not live that perfectly in your daily life. None of us do. There will be ups and downs, but you will be going in the right direction with the right attitude about who you are.
The more clearly you see yourself as the image and likeness of God, the more you’ll find freedom from sin, guilt and shame of the past. This is your true spiritual identity. You are the image and likeness of God right this very moment.
This is a spiritual fact that you can accept and hold onto and embrace with all your heart.
_____________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and church mentor. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by learning to think, pray, and love like Jesus. Contact him here.
Make a donation to support the show
Listen and leave a review on
_____________
Bible References
Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
