Goodbye Hiding, Hello Freedom by Morgan KruegerSample

PART 2: FREEDOM IN YOUR IDENTITY

After Ryan and I had a conversation about our past, I started to realize for the first time that I had never really shared with anyone about the hard things I had walked through and the broken parts that I couldn't forgive myself for.

A few days after, I called my friend, Dottie, and asked if I could meet up with her one Saturday morning and basically confess every single thing I had ever done. Casual, right? As much as I was dreading this, I realized that if I truly wanted to live in freedom from my past, I needed to let a safe, Jesus-loving friend in. Because not everyone needs to know everything, but someone safe definitely does. And for me that was Dottie. Dottie is a kind soul with the sweetest eyes that just exude the Grace and Love of Jesus.

So on a Saturday morning in the Fall, we met up at a coffee shop, and for a few hours I just shared. I shared the hard, the messy, the broken, the hidden, and I just asked her to listen. And listen she did. And at the end, she gently reminded me of something so powerful. She reminded me that I was a daughter of God. That I was forgiven. That I was free.

Friend, this is who we are in Jesus.

We're not our pasts.

We're not our shame.

We're not our mistakes.

We're not our worst moments.

So, if this is not who we are, let me just take a moment as your friend to remind you (and me!) just who we are:

We are chosen. (1 Peter 1:2-4)

We have purpose. (Philippians 1:6)

We are forgiven. (1 John 1:9)

We are daughters. (1 John 3:1)

We are loved. (John 3:16)

Next time you are tempted to believe the first list, replace the lies with the truth found not just in our heads, but in Truth itself, the Word of God. Let freedom have the final say. Let Jesus have the final say.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

·What is the biggest lie you struggle to believe about yourself?

·What truth is the hardest for you to believe about yourself?

·Where is one place you can put these reminders of your identity this week? (Ex. Your car, your mirror, your screensaver on your phone, etc.)

WEEKLY CHALLENGE

Write out the Scriptures from the list of your identity found in this section and put them around your house and places you'll see them throughout the day. Saturate your mind with Truth and see how it starts to impact your view of your identity this week!