Day One: Identified

Jenn Schultz

What makes you feel like you’ve arrived? 

Maybe it’s a job title. Someone else’s affirmation. An award. Reaching a certain pay grade. Some kind of milestone or event. Or all of the above.

I relate. Even though I’ve always loved to write, putting pen to paper was never enough for me to claim the title of “writer.” So I kept going–writing a blog. Adding social media and a podcast. Signing a book contract. Writing a book.

You’d think each milestone would be enough to rest my identity as a writer on, but I kept putting up new hurdles and attempting to jump over them. I only felt as worthy as my next achievement, or someone’s invitation or approval.

Matthew 16, Luke 9, and John 14 all give accounts of a time when Jesus asks an odd question, as though he’s going through his own identity crisis. (Don’t worry, he’s not.) “Who do the crowds say I am?” His disciples tell him that the crowds think he is John the Baptist or Elijah or one of the prophets. His response is, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” 

Our whole relationship with God comes down to this question:
Who do you say I am?

God asks us: Who am I to you? How do you see me? How does that affect the way you live?

We ask God: Am I loved? Valuable? Do I belong? What is my purpose?

Read through chapter 1 of Ephesians with the goal in mind to understand God’s character and his heart towards you. Paul’s prayer towards the end of the chapter is that believers would “know him better,” and “be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe” (vs 17-19). There is a powerful transformation of our hearts and minds when we become secure in our God-given identity. 

God truly answers all of the questions about us with affirmation and acceptance from the One whose opinion matters most–the One who created us and knows us best. You are worthy and valuable and loved because that’s who God says you are (not because of anything you’ve earned or proven). Because of grace and Jesus’s sacrifice, not even our sin can keep us from being confident and free in Him. 

Holding to these truths brings us closer to all the purposes and the good He has in store for us. Only we can decide whether or not we will take Him at His word when it comes to how we view Him and ourselves, and the way our lives look as a result. 

Walk Worthy Challenge: As you go through Ephesians keep two running lists–one of the words used to describe God, the other of the words used to describe you. 

Prayer: God, you reveal your character to us constantly. You love us unconditionally and invite us into your presence. You grant us abundant blessings through grace. You’re the One who knows us best and you’re the most qualified to define us. Yet the Enemy is always at work to make us believe his lies. Please help us replace lies with truth and see you clearly, and ourselves the way you see us.

https://jennschultzauthor.com/