"Then God said, “Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth.”
--Genesis 1:26(AMP)
"Then God said, “Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth.”
--Genesis 1:26(AMP)
Since the Garden, the enemy has worked relentlessly in attempts to sabotage our God-given identity and bring separation between us and our Creator:
"But the serpent said to the woman, “You certainly will not die! For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened [that is, you will have greater awareness], and you will be like God, knowing [the difference between] good and evil.”--Genesis 3:4-5(AMP)
And, the pursuit continues today:
This list could go on and on, but all roads lead to IDENTITY. Identity; it's the essence of who we are. It is what makes us unique and different from one another. It is the expression of self, who we are at the core of our being.
Parents cultivate the development of a child's identity through observation and interaction. Godly parents will do this lovingly, prayerfully, and biblically--realizing that every child is born with a purpose.
In speaking with a dear senior citizen, she shared that she was abandoned by her mother at a young age. As a young child without a mother and a negligent father, she began to observe people--their qualities, attributes, behavior, conversation, etc. From there she began to emulate the aspects of those individuals she deemed desirable, admirable, or interesting. What was she doing in actuality? She was searching for an identity.
In reality, many of us do the same thing this woman did because we long for worth, acceptance, significance, meaning, and importance. All too often we leave the construction of our identity in the hands of others--rather than in the hands of our loving Father and Creator.
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you [and approved of you as My chosen instrument],And before you were born I consecrated you [to Myself as My own];..."--Jeremiah 1:5(AMP)
As in the case of Jeremiah, as well as Adam and Even, so it is with us. According to scripture, we have been a given an identity that preceded birth. It is not derived from social media, culture, modernity, etc. Our true identity is found in the truth of scriptures. If you are struggling to "find yourself", "re-invent yourself" or "fit it in" you will find yourself in a place of perpetual frustration and confusion--changing like a chameleon in a place of wanton longing.
May I encourage you today? Allow God to reveal his original intent when he created you. You are an original design. There has never been, and never will be, anyone on the earth like you. You are it!
"But the serpent said to the woman, “You certainly will not die! For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened [that is, you will have greater awareness], and you will be like God, knowing [the difference between] good and evil.”--Genesis 3:4-5(AMP)
And, the pursuit continues today:
- Labels
- Name-calling
- Stereotypes
- Judgements
- Advertising
- Marketing
- What's "Trending"
- Categorizing
- Conforming
- Self-images created from a place of brokenness
This list could go on and on, but all roads lead to IDENTITY. Identity; it's the essence of who we are. It is what makes us unique and different from one another. It is the expression of self, who we are at the core of our being.
Parents cultivate the development of a child's identity through observation and interaction. Godly parents will do this lovingly, prayerfully, and biblically--realizing that every child is born with a purpose.
In speaking with a dear senior citizen, she shared that she was abandoned by her mother at a young age. As a young child without a mother and a negligent father, she began to observe people--their qualities, attributes, behavior, conversation, etc. From there she began to emulate the aspects of those individuals she deemed desirable, admirable, or interesting. What was she doing in actuality? She was searching for an identity.
In reality, many of us do the same thing this woman did because we long for worth, acceptance, significance, meaning, and importance. All too often we leave the construction of our identity in the hands of others--rather than in the hands of our loving Father and Creator.
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you [and approved of you as My chosen instrument],And before you were born I consecrated you [to Myself as My own];..."--Jeremiah 1:5(AMP)
As in the case of Jeremiah, as well as Adam and Even, so it is with us. According to scripture, we have been a given an identity that preceded birth. It is not derived from social media, culture, modernity, etc. Our true identity is found in the truth of scriptures. If you are struggling to "find yourself", "re-invent yourself" or "fit it in" you will find yourself in a place of perpetual frustration and confusion--changing like a chameleon in a place of wanton longing.
May I encourage you today? Allow God to reveal his original intent when he created you. You are an original design. There has never been, and never will be, anyone on the earth like you. You are it!
