Finding Your Identity: In Christ, as a Broken Vessel
Many women can be skeptical about an identity completely found in Christ. Our own failures, fears, doubts, weaknesses, insecurities, and sins tell us that we are undeserving of His love; that we are undeserving to be used by Him and for Him. The scriptural truths about our identity in Christ are not there to make us dwell on our inefficiencies, but to let us know how wonderful God is and to impel us to obedience in Him. Can I love my husband, child, parent, coworker...? Can I trust God with my job, finances, family situation, health...? Can I serve God through...? Many women look at their own strengths and question, "Can God use me?" Only through Christ's blood and righteousness can we live to serve and honor Him. It is a daily battle we face. That is why we must DAILY bring ourselves back to the scriptural truths of our identity or we will become enslaved to fear, distrust, and confusion. What are these scriptural truths? I would like to share four passages with you, but there are of course so many more.
-Psalm 139:13-6, 23-24
We are uniquely crafted and completely known by God for His glory. God made you exactly like He wants you to be. He made you with your specific gifts and weaknesses. There is no part of you that comes as a surprise to Him. When you begin to see yourself as a specifically unique creation, you can then seek to learn the best ways to serve God through your design. This revelation should not only be an encouragement to us but a lesson of humility as well. I am uniquely made to bring God glory, but so is every other woman (and man) around me. This should shatter our judgement toward others, our pride, and our self-condemnation.
-Ephesians 1:3-6
We have been chosen in eternity past by God as His own. God looked down out of eternity and said "Even in your sin and rebellion toward me, I choose to place My Spirit inside of you and adopt you as my child." How awe inspiring! As believers we should never seek who we 'could be' or 'might be' in Christ. This passage is a declaration of who we already are in Him. A quote by Elyse Fitzpatrick says, "Everything about you that should disqualify you from being in this family (of believers) has endeared you to Him as a way to demonstrate His mercy." Don't let your weaknesses, failures, and sin pull you farther from God, but let them pull you to God in ultimate praise for His mercy and love for you despite it all.
-Romans 8:35-39
You are unceasingly, passionately, and unquenchably loved by God. Nothing in life can separate us from God's love for us and our relationship with Him. Some people believe that if you dwell too much on God's love that you become either a mushy Christian or one who sees nothing but their own depravity. Dwelling on God's love doesn't bring about an apathetic Christian or self-discrimination, but an absolute freedom of anything "self". The love of God should bring about a consuming passion and drive to live for Him.
-1 Peter 1:3
We have been born again to a Living Hope. Christ died a shameful death but rose in victory from sin and every false accusation of man. His resurrection brings forth victory in the believer's life from shame and sin. We have new life, new hope, eternal spiritual victory, and freedom over sin and death. With a Living Hope inside of us, nothing can ever be hopeless. Your new life (ability to be a woman of God) is not contingent on anything from your past or present, but on the resurrection of Christ.
If you are struggling to find your identity in Christ because you see yourself as a broken or weak vessel, I pray that you would flood your soul with these scriptural truths, and let God renew your heart and mind. We are all designed specifically by Him and for His glory. Praise Him for His endless love and mercy, and seek to find the Living Hope by which all things are possible.
-Psalm 139:13-6, 23-24
We are uniquely crafted and completely known by God for His glory. God made you exactly like He wants you to be. He made you with your specific gifts and weaknesses. There is no part of you that comes as a surprise to Him. When you begin to see yourself as a specifically unique creation, you can then seek to learn the best ways to serve God through your design. This revelation should not only be an encouragement to us but a lesson of humility as well. I am uniquely made to bring God glory, but so is every other woman (and man) around me. This should shatter our judgement toward others, our pride, and our self-condemnation.
-Ephesians 1:3-6
We have been chosen in eternity past by God as His own. God looked down out of eternity and said "Even in your sin and rebellion toward me, I choose to place My Spirit inside of you and adopt you as my child." How awe inspiring! As believers we should never seek who we 'could be' or 'might be' in Christ. This passage is a declaration of who we already are in Him. A quote by Elyse Fitzpatrick says, "Everything about you that should disqualify you from being in this family (of believers) has endeared you to Him as a way to demonstrate His mercy." Don't let your weaknesses, failures, and sin pull you farther from God, but let them pull you to God in ultimate praise for His mercy and love for you despite it all.
-Romans 8:35-39
You are unceasingly, passionately, and unquenchably loved by God. Nothing in life can separate us from God's love for us and our relationship with Him. Some people believe that if you dwell too much on God's love that you become either a mushy Christian or one who sees nothing but their own depravity. Dwelling on God's love doesn't bring about an apathetic Christian or self-discrimination, but an absolute freedom of anything "self". The love of God should bring about a consuming passion and drive to live for Him.
-1 Peter 1:3
We have been born again to a Living Hope. Christ died a shameful death but rose in victory from sin and every false accusation of man. His resurrection brings forth victory in the believer's life from shame and sin. We have new life, new hope, eternal spiritual victory, and freedom over sin and death. With a Living Hope inside of us, nothing can ever be hopeless. Your new life (ability to be a woman of God) is not contingent on anything from your past or present, but on the resurrection of Christ.
If you are struggling to find your identity in Christ because you see yourself as a broken or weak vessel, I pray that you would flood your soul with these scriptural truths, and let God renew your heart and mind. We are all designed specifically by Him and for His glory. Praise Him for His endless love and mercy, and seek to find the Living Hope by which all things are possible.
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