So… Who Are You?
Are you a neighbor?
Are you a wife or mother?
Are you a sister or daughter?
Are you a friend or an enemy?
Are you a Christian?
Are you a sinner?
Are you everything you want to be?
Are you everything you believe you can be?
The best and only version of yourself?
Or… do you believe there is more? That you are more, and most importantly, that you serve a God who is infinitely more?
Searching for Meaning
Many, if not all of us, spend our entire earthly lives searching for the meaning of life, or more specifically, the meaning of our own lives. Yet most die before ever discovering the answer, but fret not because there is an answer!
God. (to put it simply)
A loving father. A redeemer and restorer. A deliverer. And the only being in existence who knows who He is:
“I AM WHO I AM.” — Exodus 3:14 (I love this verse! It always gives me chills)
God knows who He is and is sure of it, and He gives us the power to discover who we are and to be sure of it. As a matter of fact, He gives us the answer right from the beginning.
“So, God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female.” Genesis 1:27 (CSB)
Your Identity is Secure
In His image is all the identity we ever need. I know, I struggled with my self-worth and identity throughout my childhood, but the minute I was saved, I felt the most secure in my identity than ever before. YOU are secure in HIS image. Your identity is Him. We are all reflections of God (don’t get a swell head, Missy, you’re not God but a creation of God that reflects Him).
When we root our identity in Him, we can’t help but know who we are and remain confident in it. This goes far beyond what we could ever achieve on our own. No amount of self-help books or ego-boosting songs or inspirational quotes will replace or outperform God’s declaration over us as creations made in His image.
Living in this identity will change the way you see yourself, how others see you, and how you see other people. When you recognize your identity in Christ, you will, in turn, begin to see everyone else as their true selves. We are ALL made in His image.
The World vs. God
The world assumes that identity is to be earned or self-formed, but the truth is that who we are is predetermined by our Creator. The world wants to boast in self-identity, but God removes that ability by giving us an identity before we were ever conceived, before the Earth was ever formed.
Think about that for a second.
God thought of you and intentionally formed you from the inside out before He even formed the Heavens and the Earth. That is a solid identity!
God gave you a gift when He created you. He gave you security in who you are, but unfortunately, the world’s sin perverts that gift (like with many other gifts from God). Now, as new creations in Christ Jesus, we are clean and can finally receive that gift freely (along with any other gifts from Him).
Finding Identity in Christ
If, however, you are saved and still not secure in your identity in Christ, then there is only one question to ask yourself:
Where are you looking for identity outside of Christ?
Figure that out and throw away the idea that you need whatever it is you think you need in order to be who you are or feel valued. God values you more than anyone else ever could or would want to.
“Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.” Luke 12:6-7 (CSB)
Let that be enough, because it is. God’s opinion of you is the only truthful one out there, and your own opinion of you is the biggest lie! (when not filtered by God’s)
It’s Not About You
Living a life for God, not yourself
God didn’t go through the work of creating you for you to have to identify yourself, prove yourself, or create yourself! He did it to show His power, His creativity, and to reveal to us who He is.
The great thing about having a limitless identity in Christ is that IT’S NOT ABOUT US!
The world thinks that sentiment is crazy, like “what do you mean my life and identity aren’t about me?!” but I find it to be the biggest relief I’ve ever been given! Seriously, talk about a weight or a burden being lifted off my shoulders, whoo! 😮💨
Living a life for God instead of others is way less bothersome and tiring than living it for myself, yet constantly trying to please others, or worse, living entirely for myself and going through life empty and alone, like never experiencing the garden in full bloom. Life significantly improved after stepping into my God-given identity, especially after realizing the full, limitless potential I now had (or technically always had, but just now realized😉).
This is my hope for all of you! That you’ll finally realize the full potential through God that is freely available to you.
True Strength in Christ
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:13 (KJV)
It is a wonderful, often misused verse. I put it here to remind you of its true meaning. Which is conveyed in this scripture:
“I am the vine and you are the branches, whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, but apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (mix of a few translations)
You are strengthened by God and God alone, and apart from Him, not only can you do nothing (meaning nothing as good as what God could do), but it will mean nothing (anything we do for ourselves has no purpose but everything for God has a divine purpose).
It’s also important to note that many believe scriptures like “Philippians 4:13” mean that they can do whatever they want and God will strengthen or provide for them or make them successful in whatever they choose to do, but that’s not the case.
When we truly yield to God and receive the gift of His limitless power, it means our hearts will align with His heart and our will with His will. And because His heart is limitless and His will is limitless, ours will become limitless through God’s.
Living Purposefully
Moreover, when you live securely rooted in your God-given, limitless identity, you step into a more purposeful life. Your life becomes intentional and meaningful because you have a clear direction, whereas before you were stumbling around in the dark or drifting farther from the dock because you lacked an anchor. Understanding and claiming that identity is the first real step in Faith.
A Piece of My Own Testimony
Now that you’ve discovered such an identity, you will be called for a much higher purpose (that will look different for each individual), and you will be asked (by God) to test those self-imposed limits until you’ve fully broken free of them.
For example, when I first started realizing that my true identity was in Christ, I was struggling with crippling anxiety and depression. Having even gotten on medication and stayed on it for almost a year. Then one day, I felt the Holy Spirit take my anxiety away, and because of that, I decided to come off my medication. (I don’t recommend making medical decisions lightly, and I want to be clear that God works differently in every person’s journey— this was something I felt the Lord doing in me personally.)
And sure enough, by the time I had completely weaned myself off, I was still anxiety-free!
Of course, I still suffer from anxiety from time to time (I’m human, that’ll always happen), but it no longer cripples and controls me. I’m so rooted in God’s identity for me that anxiety doesn’t have room to take root in its place. If it did, I wouldn’t have even been able to start this blog!
My point in sharing this is that God helped me break free from the previously self-imposed limitation of anxiety, and because at that time I had realized my limitless potential through Christ and lived securely in that identity, I was finally able to step out in faith. I have been continuing to do so ever since (with some bumps along the way, of course lol 😜), and I know you can too! It’s time you live from your identity and not for your identity.
Your Plan to Live Limitlessly
- You no longer need to “prove” or “create” your worth; your worth rests solely in who God is and what Christ has declared about you! So don’t lean into any nasty old habits like trying to work for your value or convince God or others of your worth. I like to remind myself that “God’s opinion is the only one that matters” (which works in every area of faith, not just where your identity is concerned)
- You must remain in God’s word and internalize its truths in you, write the words on your heart, especially when your flesh tries to lie to you. Replacing sinful lies with righteous truths is the only way to remain limitless because lies are where limitations start, and believing in them is where they take root. (This is how my anxiety became so bad to begin with, because I believed the lies) So become so filled with Truth that lies can’t penetrate.
- Give up control of your life! It’s ok that your life isn’t about you– actually, it’s more than ok, it’s freeing! Make God the sole authority over each area of your life (especially your identity), and He will take you beyond your earthly limits. Trust him, limitlessness starts with yielding to a limitless God.
Prayer for us all
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray right now that whoever is reading this steps into their true identity in You.
That You open their spiritual eyes to the truths of Your Word that ring true to this day and forever and ever. That their value be solely in the God who made them invaluable, and that they remember at what price You bought them for.
Create in them a limitless well of truth to root themselves in when the lies of the devil try to take hold. Remind them that Your Son’s finishing work on the cross has freed them from the slavery of sin and that they are free citizens of the kingdom of God, should they choose to receive it.
Heavenly Gracious Father, we thank You, and we praise You in Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Last thoughts…
I encourage you to pray continuously for God to reveal to you the areas you limit yourself, more importantly, where you limit God. Ask that he guides you to stand boldly in your identity and accept the gift of His limitless power in you! Pray boldly to live boldly, my friends!
“It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Galatians 2:20 (NASB)
If you want to explore more outside the series, check out some of my other posts and categories:
Living Limitless in Christ- rest of the series
- What Does It Mean to Live Limitlessly
- When Should You Start Living Limitlessly
- Where Are You Falling Short in Your Faith
- Why Aren’t You Already Living Limitlessly
- How to Live Limitlessly: 7 Steps to a Limitless Life
- When You Forget Who(se) You Are
Real Life; Real Faith-
- the Practical Application of Your Faith
- Faith over Feelings
- Everyday Idols Pulling You From God
- Created for Communion: God’s Design For Faith-based Relationships
- Building Faith-Filled Relationships
- Faith In the Little Things
- Living Faith Out Loud: integrating faith into everyday life
- A Walking Testimony: Being a Christian ALL the Time
If you’re new to faith or just coming back:
Bible Study:
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