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The Shocking Truth About Your Identity

6/25/2015

7 Comments

 
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One day, I woke up and did not know who I was any more.  For as long as I could remember, I’d worked hard to be an excellent teacher, a committed youth worker, and a beloved friend.  I poured my whole life into these roles, and my whole identity was wrapped up in my skewed perspective of what made me important.

But then, God allowed me to experience a crisis of identity. My world came crashing down with disappointment and failure. A close friendship ended badly. I realized I was burned out from juggling too many from ministry commitments. I struggled to maintain composure in front of my students. My spirit was weary, and I felt adrift in a sea of doubt.  

Negative thinking consumed me.  I felt

Rejected,

Betrayed,

Defeated. 

How would I move forward when everything I loved about me was gone?  

In the days that followed, I made one crucial decision that saved me. Rather than sit at home and cry all weekend, I decided to join a friend at a Bible study. This began my journey to discovering the shocking truth about my identity. I realized that I needed God to re-shape my thinking. I prayed that night and asked Him to help me move forward. 

I spent many quiet moments with my God that year.  I learned to sit quietly at His feet. I prayed and worshipped and rested. I stopped doing, and I began to discover “being.”  

You see, God doesn’t define me by all the things I do for Him. 

No matter what happens tomorrow, I am forever His own.  In Christ, I am

  • Chosen

    “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him…”(Ephesians 1:4).

  • Justified

    “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 3:23-24).

  • Free from condemnation

    “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

  • More than a conqueror

    “ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

  • Redeemed

    “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace…” (Ephesians 1:7).

  • Complete

    “and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:10).

  • Accepted

    “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” (Romans 15:7).

  • Reconciled

    “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;  that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation” (II Corinthians 5:18-19).

Who I am in Christ will never change no matter what my future holds.  My unchanging God will never leave me nor forsake me.  I am His forever.

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About Lyli

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Lyli Dunbar loves teaching.  For 17 years, she mentored teenagers in the Christian school setting, and now she has serves as Associate Director of Curriculum at Trinity International University Florida. Lyli married her Prince Charming in her 40’s and has a heart for encouraging young couples and singles in God’s waiting room.  She enjoys road trips with her husband, connecting with women through Bible study, and reading way too many books. Lyli writes about life lessons and faith on herpersonal blog. You may also connect with her on Facebook,Twitter, and Pinterest.

If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.

Sharing this over at these awesome blogs
7 Comments
Linda Stoll link
6/26/2015 12:12:22 am

Wow, Lyli. Your words had my name, my story all over them. I'm resonating right about now. And oh so grateful.

May your weekend give you His continued blessed assurance.

Reply
Lyli @3dlessons4life. link
6/26/2015 04:42:29 am

He is good to us, Linda! I am so thankful for HIs unconditional love.

Reply
Nicki Schroeder link
6/26/2015 10:05:54 pm

Preach it Lyli! I love speaking to women on our identity in Christ. It is critical to everything we are and do in this world, and yet we so often forget, don't we? Blessings to you!

Reply
Jacque K.
6/29/2015 01:24:25 pm

Lyli,

So great!! I love that God is using you to just make so much sense in my life! :)

Reply
Kamea Hope link
6/30/2015 04:01:09 am

These are powerful truths, Lyli. I love how you have taken the time to outline WHO we are in Christ, and to give such beautiful verses. I am learning how much of a difference knowing who you are in Him makes. I am sharing my journey of healing from childhood abuse at incrementalhealing.wordpress.com I'd love to have you visit and share your thoughts!
Blessings,
Kamea

Reply
Mary Geisen link
6/30/2015 06:38:55 am

So fun to find you here Lyli! Our identity in Christ is the one that is authentic and speaks the truth. Two of my favorite words that describe how much God loves us are chosen and redeemed. When I am losing my identity, I reflect on those two words to remind me that I am loved and cherished beyond what I can imagine by God. Blessed you shared this at The Weekend Brew.

Reply
Laura link
7/2/2015 02:50:15 am

Ah, Lyli, you have such a beautiful heart. God always uses your words to speak to me. Thank you, friend.

Reply



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  • Home
    • Ministry Resources for Women >
      • Beholding Him Freebie
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    • Statement of Faith
  • Blog
    • Ministry >
      • Evangelism {Win}
      • Discipleship {Build}
      • Living Missionally {Send}
    • God's Word >
      • Bible Study
      • Prayer
      • Devotionals
      • Bible Studies
      • Apologetics
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      • Marriage
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      • Dating
      • Family
      • Friendship
    • World >
      • Social Justice Issues
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      • International
      • Science Revealing God
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      • Image & Idenity
      • Health
      • Fashion
      • Food
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  • Bible Study Resources
  • Prints
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  • Quiet Time Journals
  • Courses
    • Discover God's Calling
    • Women's Ministry Training Promo
    • How to Study the Bible
    • Women's Ministry Training Course
    • Growing in Your Faith Mini Course
  • Retreat
  • Video Bible Studies
    • Matthew
    • John
    • Galatians
    • Philippians
    • Know your Purpose
    • Creation Reveals
    • Ministry
    • Heart Growth
  • You Are Unshaken Book
    • Unshaken Groups
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    • Unshaken Freebies
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