Your identity is how you define yourself in this world. It’s who you see yourself as and what you believe about you. God has an identity for you, and the enemy wants to replace it with an imitation. God knows if you ever really saw yourself as who he created you to be, then you would be a mighty force of his power. Satan knows if he can trick you into settling for his imitation identity for you, then you will forfeit God’s power and no longer be a threat.

That’s the battle – identity. Who are you and why are you here?

The story of Paul in our Bible shows us a man who had one identity, then that identity was radically changed by God. Like many in that time, he had two names. Saul was his Hebrew name, Paul was his Greek name. When talking to the Jews, he used the name Saul. When talking to the Gentiles, he used the name Paul. Don’t be confused by the two names – Saul and Paul are the same man. It’s very similar to a difference in pronunciation. (In America, I’m Pamela – But when I’m in Italy, I’m Pau-mel-uh. I prefer me in Italy.)

The book of Romans is Paul’s letter to the church in Rome. He wrote this letter about 25 years after the crucifixion of Jesus. Paul identifies himself in the opening line of the letter. Romans 1:1, “This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News.” In one sentence, he declares his complete identity. He says, this is who I am and this is my place in this world.

There’s simply no wiggle room there. There’s no cracked door for the enemy to creep in and peddle his imitation. There’s no questioning. It’s clear. Paul says I know who I am and I know what I’m here to do.

That leaves me to question – Do I securely know who I am and what I’m here to do? Am I absolutely certain of my identity? Or have I left myself vulnerable to Satan’s insistent offerings of something less? I’m personally discovering if you don’t continually stay grounded in God’s truths, you’ll get twisted up in a half-truth and find yourself believing you’re God’s girl, but also believing you’re not quite good enough for his purposes.

Personally, I’ve been in a bit of a battle. You likely don’t know that because you only hear my voice and my voice still sounds remarkably skinny, now doesn’t it? But my body isn’t. My body is going through some tough seasons and changes and it’s generally confused and disgruntled – thus my body has decided no matter what I do it’s going to self-insulate like a bear going into hibernation, and ya’ll it’s looking like the first snow is coming soon around here. The only thing that still fits me are my earrings. I’ve had several good cries about it and a few mini-breakdowns while on live video.

I’m sharing this with you today, not to make excuses or to try and rally the troops and complain about menopause. Nope – that does none of us any good. I’m sharing this to say, I understand an identity issue. When I got quiet and brought this struggle with my body to God, what he showed me was my identity had been left vulnerable to attack. The enemy had gotten in my head and whispered, “Pamela, no one wants chunky you. You’re not fit to be used as a vessel for God.”

Anyone else hear a similar voice? A voice that takes something so personal and uses it against you? A voice that disses you – dismisses you, discounts you, disables you, disappoints you, and disgusts you. Oh honey, you’ve been dissed, haven’t you?

I think Paul must have heard very similar voices. Paul had a history, and it was a history of being courageously and adamantly WRONG. Using his other name, Saul, he was a crusader AGAINST Christ. He actively persecuted and sought to wipe out anyone who followed this Jesus who had turned the world upside down. But God met him along the Road to Damascus one day and changed his heart. With a changed heart, his identity changed.

But imagine how the devil must have been loud in his head trying to dismiss him. “Paul, you can’t be a vessel of God sharing the Good News of Jesus now – you’re Saul, the one who fought against the message of Jesus. Who will believe you now? What good are you? Paul, just be quiet. You’re not good enough for God.”

And this is why Paul opens his letter with his chosen identity. He had to fight for that. He had to speak louder than the voice that continually brought up his past. He had to speak over the regret of being wrong. He had to choose his thoughts about himself.

And so do I.

So do you.

What are your thoughts about yourself? Who are you and how do you define yourself in this world? What do you believe about you? My sister, if you don’t believe anything, then you will fall for absolutely anything. Your confidence will go up and down with that scale. Your value will be thrown to the wolves and they will relentlessly rip you apart.

I think it’s about time we ask God who we are and what we’re here on Earth to do. Yes, Lord, give us our IDENTITY and our MISSION STATEMENT!

Paul says, “I am a slave to Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News.” That’s powerful! WOW! The enemy can’t slip through those cracks because it’s solid!

What does it mean to be a slave to Christ Jesus? The Greek word Paul used here is doulos. Some translations water down the meaning a bit and use the word ‘servant’. But doulos doesn’t mean servant, it means slave. It means completely bound to a master. If you’re a servant, then you get paid for a job then you are free to do as you wish when that job is complete. But if you’re completely surrendered to a master, you are in permanent relationship. You wholly and fully belong to that master.

Paul is saying, “I’m sold-out to Jesus. This is permanent. My will has been surrendered to his will. I am nothing without him.” Paul writes in another letter, 1 Corinthians 7:19, “God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world.” If you’re a slave to Jesus, then nothing else can ever own you, rule you, or control you.

The world constantly tries to take ownership of us. There’s a battle for your identity. Who do you belong to? Where does your worth come from? What controls you? And if whatever you’ve placed your confidence in changes – then what?

Jeremiah 17:7, “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.” God says in Malachi 3:6, “I am the Lord, and I DO NOT CHANGE.” If your confidence is found in the one who does not change, then regardless of the season of life you’re in – regardless of your body’s form or shape – regardless of your highs, lows, successes or failures – regardless of what anyone else says, thinks or does – then you’re strong, steady and unshakable.

When you’re sold-out to Jesus, as Paul was, you’re grounded in a firm foundation that never changes. That’s rock solid.

Paul says “I’m chosen by God and I’m sent out.” Whew, come on now. That’s powerful!

Galatians 1:15, Paul writes, “Even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace.” There’s your game changer. If you ever let that truth get down deep in you, then your identity can flow.

Do you realize before you were ever even born, God chose you and called you. Not because you would be perfect. Not because you would always do it right. Not because you would maintain a slim and trim body. Not because everyone would love you and accept you. No, none of that – but because of his marvelous grace.

Girl, you are absolutely saturated and dripping in God’s grace. It’s his grace that deems you worthy. It’s his grace that places you before his throne as forgiven, redeemed and worthy to be his vessel. And when you stop fighting his grace, believe who he says you are, then you can go out and do what you were created to do in this world. Yes, you’re being sent!

Identity. It’s been a massive target of the enemy of your soul since the day you were born.

Identity. It’s been 100% secure in Jesus since before your first breath.

Identity. It’s about time you discover it, believe it, and start living in it.

In the month of September, I will be teaching a series called ‘Identity’ in BIG Life Mentoring. Together, we’re going to dig deep and receive what God says about us, memorize it and speak it so we can show up every day and live in it. Whether you’re insulating for an apparent hibernation you don’t want, whether you’re struggling with a relationship that’s completely fallen apart and left you unsure of who you are without them, whether you’re bored to tears waking up in a life that feels meaningless, or maybe you’re just struggling to discern the voices and find your place, GOD HAS AN IDENTITY FOR YOU TO CLAIM, A PURPOSE FOR YOU TO FULFILL, AND A PLACE FOR YOU TO SHOW UP!

Lord, begin to prepare our hearts now to receive what you have for us.

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