THE BATTLE YOU MUST WIN

The great theologian, Popeye always said, "I yam what I yam". That's an attractive idea - to have a simple understanding of who you are and never feel obliged to change, grow, or adjust your "self" for the sake of another or a situation. But we all know life is not that simple.

The reality is that most people battle to truly know, accept, and lead themselves with a whole heart. The knowing is the first battle - I mean do you KNOW who you are? People define themselves from one of two sources: either by what people say they are or by what they convince themselves they are. More accurately, we use a combination of those and never get to escape the influence of what others think about us. Psychologists call this having an external or internal locus of control.

The bottom line I want you to consider is that it's essential that you win the identity battle because what you think about you will shape a ton of your life, potential and relationships. And the treadmill of the identity battle is exhausting.

The real truth about you, though, is that you are not who others say you are and you are not who you think you are. You are, in fact, who God says you are. You are a blood-bought son or daughter of the Living God! You are redeemed. Your sin has been dealt with and you are adopted into God's family; a legitimate joint-heir with Jesus whose enemies have been made a footstool for your feet!

Embrace the Truth about your identity and force all opinions, including your own, to submit to and adjust to this amazing and wonderful reality.