6 Beautiful Verses to Strengthen Your Identity in Christ
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Society defines us by our accomplishments and what we do, but God defines us by who we are. Our identity in Christ and character is what will last. In order to strengthen our identity in Christ, we must first learn and believe who God says we are in Scripture. Strengthening our identity in Christ is a daily process that requires us to spend time in God’s word and continually develop our relationship with Christ, which will help us to overcome adversity.
When adversity and obstacles come, there is security and assurance from knowing that God is for us and we can find an anchor in Christ. In the midst of life’s challenges, we must begin to speak God’s word to encourage our spirits for the long haul.
Many times, we define ourselves by our occupation, marital status, or past mistakes. When someone asks you, “tell me about yourself,” our responses automatically default to include these tangible categories. While these are important roles, they don’t fully define you. God values you beyond any title and sees you as a beloved child of God. Your roles in life may shift, but your identity in Christ remains steadfast. God wants you to strengthen your character and remind you that you are strong, courageous, and fully capable of overcoming life’s obstacles.
This article will outline 6 ways to strengthen your identity in Christ and the importance of using your identity in Christ as a source of encouragement and hope for your life.
Photo Credit: Unsplash/LaurenzKleinheider1. Learn and Study Who God Says You Are in Scripture
“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17).
You can’t speak what you don’t know. Study the Word of God for yourself, so that you can use it as a weapon of power each day. It is so easy to go to church every Sunday, hear a sermon, and never revisit it. If you are going to strengthen your identity in Christ, you must first devote time to reading, meditating, and understanding who God says you are. Yes, it requires time and focused attention. Once you commit to learning for yourself, you will be able to lean on God’s word to strengthen you.
2. Speak God’s Word Out Loud as Encouragement
“From the fruit of their mouth, a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips, they are satisfied” (Proverbs 18:20).
When anyone in the Bible faced a major battle, they spoke or cried out to the Lord for help, wisdom, or guidance. You can strengthen your identity in Christ by speaking God’s Word out loud to your spirit and situation. Your circumstance may not immediately change, but your perspective will be encouraged. The Word of God has power, but we must first activate God’s power by speaking the Word with conviction and boldness.
Photo credit: Pexels/Joseph Redfield
3. Celebrate Your God-Given Purpose
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
When you were created in the image of God, God created you for a distinct purpose that no one else can fulfill. Celebrate and use your God-given purpose. An important way that you can strengthen your identity in Christ is to live out the purposes that God has for you. If you are not clear about what your purpose is, pray to God for direction and take some time to write down and think about what are your natural abilities, and what you enjoy. Typically, your God-given purpose aligns with your gifts.
4. Accept That You Are a New Creation (Don’t Live in the Past)
Romans 6:6 states that, “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.”
When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, your sins are forgiven and you have a new identity. You are chosen and set apart to fulfill God’s purpose and start life with a clean slate. In order to truly strengthen your identity in Christ, you must not live in the past and condemn yourself for who you were yesterday. Often times, we can’t fully walk in our new identity as believers because we dwell too long on our past mistakes, decisions, or life prior to Christ. Romans 8:1 states, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” The good news is that Jesus has forgiven you, and you should do the same. You are a new creation; you must fully walk in the newness of God’s grace that is available to you.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Peter Conlan
5. Praise God for Being an Overcomer
“No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)
You are an overcomer and God has equipped you with all that you need to persevere through both the joys and challenges of everyday life. In order to strengthen your identity in Christ, you must begin to believe that you are fully capable, confident and worthy of walking boldly in your new identity! Praise God for calling you an overcomer!
6. Combat Negative Self-Talk with the Affirming Word of God
Psalm 119:105 states, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
God’s word represents hope, restoration, and light to guide us everyday. We must use the Word of God to combat the negative self-talk that we say about ourselves. God’s word will brighten our day when we feel down, restore what was lost, and provide hope for our weary souls. For every negative thought or word that you may say about yourself, I invite you to speak life with an affirming Scripture to uplift your countenance.
The enemy would have you believe that it is your accomplishments that define you. While God does use our accomplishments as a resource to further give God glory, we should ultimately celebrate who we are in Christ. In Christ, you are strong, purpose-filled, confident, diverse, and an overcomer. The number of Instagram followers, friends, or work accomplishments you have are temporary, and will not be your consistent source of strength during the peaks and valleys of life. Developing a firm identity in Christ will strengthen you when you want to give up, remind you that you are an overcomer, and provide an increased confidence and security in you being a child of God.
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