Bearing God’s Image: Being established in my Identity , Mpho Gcwabe

So much has been taught about knowing one's identity in Christ yet for me, it never gets old. My identity is something I keep discovering over and over. At times, it is a new revelation but a lot of the times, I am being reminded of things that I know already. The reminder always comes just as I need it.

In this season I have understood my identity in Christ in the following ways:

• Being the righteousness of God means feeling in His love. Understanding that I am unconditionally loved and living from that posture. That is; God loves me and His will for me is to succeed in this life. In every situation I'm faced with, I ask myself "How would a loved daughter respond to this?". Because of this revelation, I go through life with boldness and whenever I feel any level of anxiety, I know my focus has shifted from this reality.

• When I know who I am and whose I am, I am also aware of the authority Jesus has given me. Like Him, I can calm the storms raging in my life and experience a different kind of peace. Living with this awareness also helps me see beyond what I see with my physical eyes and feel with my emotions. Emotions are great messengers, but they do badly as navigators. I am learning to see beyond them by holding on to what I know to be true of my heavenly Father.

• Understanding my identity in Christ has helped me cultivate a gentle and quiet spirit. A spirit that knows that I have nothing to lose and nothing to prove. I have learned that in any given situation, I don't need to defend myself or paint myself in a certain manner. This is in no way a sign of weakness or allowing myself to be mistreated. It is knowing that God's intervention and His wisdom supersedes any argument or defense I can put up. It is when my spirit is quiet that I hear God better.

• Knowing who I am in Christ is a lesson I am currently learning...it is understanding that the love and forgiveness I freely receive from Christ, I am also to let it flow freely through me as I interact with others. I am free to love only because I am learning to understand the fullness of who I am in Christ. I am also learning to love myself in all seasons. I can love my neighbor better when I understand how loved I am.

• Lastly, knowing who I am means regularly letting go of limiting beliefs (strongholds) that seek to diminish the image of God in me.

With all that being said, I constantly need reminders of these truths. Life can be distracting and many times I find myself having forgotten the very core of who I am. Finding a few minutes in a day to recenter myself; hear God and be reassured of His love helps me live in my identity.

Thank you Mpho, for reminding us that being established in our Identity means we allow God to fight on our behalf. Created in the likeness of God we don’t strive to prove anything because God has already approved us. The reality is that being in Christ means I am no longer my own. And whatever I experience is no longer mine but Christ’s. What an assurance! So, I can rest in the arms of a loving father, being still, knowing that In His timing, He will perfect all that which concerns me.

Mpho Gcwabe is a born-again daughter of God, she is a mother, wife, and sister. She is purpose-driven and lives her life totally surrendered to the voice of the Holy Spirit. She is the founder of Sanalwam, a kid's and women’s clothing store, and the founder of Propelled by Purpose, a blog where she shares her passions, life, and her journey with God.

Prayer

Father thank you that in you, I have a renewed perspective of who I am. Thank you that you give me the ability and boldness to walk and talk knowing that in you I am at rest. Thank you that when I seem to forget who I am, your presence is available where I enter with boldness knowing that I will receive grace in times of need. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit, because through Him I am assured of who you are and who you have called me to be. I pray that I may consistently walk in step with your Spirit, yielding to his teaching and holding on steadfastly to whom He wants me to be. In Jesus' Name Amen.