Psalm 139:1, New Living Translation

“O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.”

Where are we looking to find our identity, to seek validity? Is it in an individual or circumstance? Who are we letting define us? The world? Let me share that this is not the way or one we should be seeking who we are and how we are defined. Psalm 139:1 (NLT) says, “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.” When I stop to think about this scripture, what does it mean? He knows every choice I have ever made in my life, the good ones and the bad ones. He knows my sorrows and my joys. He knows my desires. He knows my shame and guilt. He knows my fears. He even knows my favorite drink! Knowing that God knows all of these things about me and yet does not condemn me, but chose me to be His, leads me to believe that He is the One we should be seeking for our identity, for our validity. Further down in Psalm 139 it says, “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. (Psalm 139:13-16, NLT) Knowing this, we should recognize that our enemy is the one who tries to keep us from who we are in Christ.

Sometimes things happen in life, or a word is spoken over us that we carry with us. Perhaps someone has told us that we were a mistake or not good enough or someone has sinned against us. This is another way the enemy works to discourage us from stepping into our identity and becoming who we were meant to be. Being able to see the other person through the eyes of Jesus allows us to see that this individual may have been hurt by someone else and this is their way of acting out. This is not an excuse for their words or behaviors. God is a just God, and justice will be His. It is, however, a way for us to forgive, and put this person on God’s hook. It free’s us from the lie that was spoken over us so that we can walk in freedom, confidence, and in our true identity.

Regardless of what hurtful things someone may have said or done, know this: Ephesians 1:3-8 (NLT) says, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So, we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.” We are chosen. We are His. We are loved. Let this scripture really sink into your heart. Our identity should stem from the fact that we are children of God. That we are loved beyond measure. People in this world will let us down, but God never will! He is with us wherever we go and promises not to leave us.

The more we understand who God is, His character, His nature, the more we understand the love He has for us and who we are in Him. It is pertinent to be in His word to learn who He is to us and for us. By spending this time with Him, it opens up opportunity for Him to speak to you through His word. You will find love, validity, truth, strength, help in time of need, wisdom for each moment and so much more. You will come to know who you are and the plans He has for you. I pray that moment by moment and day by day the truth will be revealed to you. You will step into your identity and know the depths of His love for you. I pray that the chains the enemy has placed on you would be broken, in the name of Jesus, in you will be able to walk in victory and confidence in who God called you to be. I pray that you would truly believe what God says about you over any other person or thing. I pray all of this in the powerful and precious name of Jesus. Amen.