I'm sure many of you are familiar with the psychological term 'Identity Crisis'. It is a term that refers to an internal conflict or search for identity. Most seem to experience this during their adolescent years as they are seeking a clearer sense of self and an understanding of their role in society.
And, just as we search for a sense of self in society, there are so many, that genuinely love God, fear Him, and want to please Him. But yet, they are constantly struggling as they seek to have a clear sense of who they are in Christ.
They are experiencing, what I would call, a Spiritual Identity Crisis. They're distressed and frustrated because they simply want to know who they are.
Questions like, "Who am I?" "What am I called to do?" "What is my purpose?, bombard their thoughts constantly.
When I was looking at the term 'identity crisis' in my studies, I saw that, as I stated earlier , it typically happens during adolescence before one matures and becomes an adult.
And for those who may be experiencing a spiritual identity crisis, you must know that it is because God is seeking to bring you to a place of maturity. A place that you are consistently walking in what He has purposed for your life.
Purpose demands that you know who you are.
God says to us in Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Not knowing who you are and your purpose can cause you to be ineffective.
In order to overcome spiritual identity crisis, you have to understand positioning. You must understand where you are spiritually positioned.
"Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP)
"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-6 NKJ)
You have been literally placed and established in Christ. Seated in heavenly places with Him. Once you have accepted Him as your savior, you then become one with Him. You become a new creation. All of the old has passed away. You've passed from death to life. You must grasp that truth. You are a new creation. And, the only one that can tell you every little detail about the wonderful new creation that you are, is the Creator Himself.
"For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome." (Jeremiah 29:11 AMP)
And Col 3:3 tells us, "For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3 AMP)
Your new, real life is hidden with Christ. After you said yes to Him, the old you died. In order to find out who you are in Christ, you have to seek Him. Your new life is hidden in Him.
This is how you find your new identity. This is how you find out who you are. By seeking Him.
One mistake that has taken place in the Body of Christ as a whole is that when a new believer comes in, we try to put them in our little religious boxes.
We tell them, "You gotta' dress this way." "You gotta' pray this way."
What does this do for that person? It stifles their individuality. And the wonderful expression of God through that person is hindered. Then they begin to try live up to and conform to everyone else's expectations. The goal then becomes fitting in.
Please know that the only place you need to fit in, is in Christ.
"As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord,[so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him." (Colossians 2:6 AMP)
What God has placed in you is needed and valuable. But if all of that creativity and uniqueness is hidden behind the expectations of people and the fear of man, the world will never experience the beautiful unique expression of God's heart as He desires to release through you.
Be free to be yourself. God wants to express Himself through you.
Don't be frustrated anymore. Just seek God. Ask Him to help you overcome the fear and expectations of man. You will not struggle with your identity anymore. Things from your past will no longer define you.
Some of you have allowed things from your past to define you. Be encouraged by these words- You are not your past!
Those things are broken and destroyed. Walk in confidence and boldness as He speaks and shows you who you are.
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