True Identity

When the odds are stacked against you, and you’re at the weakest point, it’s important to remember who you are in Christ. Remember, God isn’t so concerned about how many times you’ve failed. The Lord is focused on the learning that takes place as a result of trials. God is cheering from the sidelines, and He’s sent the Holy Spirit to help you face the challenges that lay ahead. One of the best tools God gives us for challenging times is awareness of His love and His plan for our lives.Hebrews 12:1-2 sums it up. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” When I struggle, I’m often reminded of King David, the writer of Psalms, who faced many temptations and trials. David is one of the most revered Biblical characters, and one of the most repentant. I love the life of David because it’s a testament to the forgiving power of God. In II Samuel, we read about a time when David fell into sin and slept with a married woman. What a terrible thing to do! But David’s sin didn’t stop there. He had the woman’s husband killed in order to hide his sin. How does a man recover from such a dire circumstance? He recovered from this sin with God’s help, of course. He didn’t turn his back on the Lord. In fact, God sent the prophet Nathan to remind David of his need to repent, and David turned from his sin. David repented, and lived with the consequences of his actions, knowing that he was deeply loved by God. This was a sorrowful time in his life, but David soon transitioned out of self pity, and regret, and remembered what God had called him to be. Even Jesus, God's son, was tempted when fasting in the desert. The enemy challenged Jesus at his most vulnerable moment. Jesus responded to the enemy with scripture and rebuked Satan. How do we become more like these men and remember what our true identity is? Using God’s Word to better understand our identity is crucial in our walk with Christ. A verse I often recall during challenging times is II Corinthians 5:17. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” When we commit ourselves to Christ, we become spiritually alive and begin to discover our spiritual identity. God called David “a man after His own heart” for this very reason. David understood the power of forgiveness and this empowered him to do great things. Take some time to listen to God and read the Bible. Hear what the Lord is saying to you about your spiritual identity. What is God calling you to? Have you discovered your true identity?