The Power of Christ: Declaring His Authority Over Your LifeSample

Who are You?

If someone asked you who you are, what would be your response? Do you identify as a parent, professional, or homemaker? Would you respond with, “I am kind, boisterous, or fun”? From time to time I hear people with disabilities use the words, “I am disabled.” They identify with their disabilities and allow them to define who they are. 

People often identify themselves by past circumstances, current situations, failures, or accomplishments. Situations may have confronted you and circumstances may have manifested, but they are not your identity. Your profession, family role, and duties are not your identity either. You are not a doctor, pastor, author, janitor, or housekeeper. Ultimately you are a child of God and a citizen of heaven. This should be the first response that you release out of your mouth.

Romans 8:15 says, “For you have not received the spirit of slavery again to fear. But you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” I am adopted! My heavenly Father has created me and adopted me into His bloodline. Therefore I am a kingdom citizen.

There was a time when I wouldn’t have answered this way. I struggled with fear for years. It was a generational curse, and I attempted to get free for years. When I felt as if it was a part of who I was, I would quote Romans 8:15. When fear wanted to creep in through a conversation or negative thought, I would have to talk myself out of it.

I did this by telling myself I was not the same person anymore. I wasn’t a product of a generational curse that followed my bloodline. I was adopted by my heavenly Father and had the bloodline of Jesus Christ. This helped me to receive my identity. I had to transfer my identity from how I identified with my earthly parents to my heavenly parent. I had to change my mentality. When I didn’t capture the thought, I didn’t walk in my spiritual identity. Instead, I walked in an identity of victimhood and defeat, feeling that I would never break free from the generational curse of fear.

The identity I knew was one of lack, fear, and other pessimistic thoughts. I took on fleshly thoughts instead of walking in the Spirit. I needed a mental transformation. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12:2). The Bible instructs us not to be conformed to this world. We cannot mold our identities into the world but instead need to have our kingdom citizenship mold us.

When we are in Him and His Word, we will discover and live in our identities in Christ.

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.—Colossians 3:3, ESV

Scriptures:

Romans 8:15

Romans 12:2

Colossians 3:3