Who Am I?

Socrates once said, "Know Thyself". It is in knowing our inner self which gives us an assurance of who we really are. We are secured when we know the inner core of ourselves.

For years, I've been searching for meaning in my life. I longed to know the essence of my existence. I took several personality tests. I even tried using random computer applications regarding knowing your personality and style. That's how I wanted to know who I really am because I've been living a life that measures up to the expectations of  the people around me. I may seem to be outspoken, but there's this voice that was screaming out loud within me. There's this unleashed part of me that wanted to come out but it couldn't, because in the first place, I wasn't exactly sure of what and who I really am. Not until I attended a Singles' event that made a significant impact in my life. 

I came across a page from my B1G8 retreat manual last year, it's about "My Identity in Christ". I was really curious because I really wanted to have an identity of my own and not basing it on how people perceive or expect me to be. And so, God, as gracious and faithful as He is, He revealed to me three main points as to who I really am in His Son, Jesus Christ. 

First, I am ACCEPTED. What the world or the enemy kept on telling me during my growing up days were, "You will never be good to anyone" "No one likes you" "No one will accept you, unless you do this and that". I've been blinded by those deceits and lies. All along, I kept on striving to be at my best at all times because that gave me an assurance that people would like me and would want to be with me. It brought out arrogance and perfectionism (in a negative sense) in me. I was so driven to please others and to do my best in everything. I always wanted to win, I was so competitive that time. Failures and disappointments, were my worst nightmares. I was really afraid to fail, thinking that if I'd do, people would reject me. But then, certain verses affirmed me, that there's nothing I could ever do that would make God love me any less. In heaven's eyes, I am accepted and here are the verses that prove it: 

• I am forever free from countenance (Romans 8:12)
• I am assured that things work together for good. (Romans 8:28) 
• I am free from charges against me (Romans 8:38-39) 
• I have been established, anointed and sealed by God. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22) 
• I am hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)
• I am confident that the good work God has began in me will be perfected (Philippians 1:6) 
• I am a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20) 
• I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and sound mind. (1 Timothy 1:7) 
• I find grace and mercy in times of need. (Hebrews 4:16) 
• I am born of God. The evil one cannot touch me. (1 John 5:15) 

Second  point which God revealed to me was, I am SECURED. On a facade, people may see me as a confident woman, because I naturally am an extrovert type. But little did they know that behind my outspoken personality is a girl with suppressed thoughts and emotions. I was so afraid of people criticizing me. I was insecure. I am a middle child and an only girl in the family. I used to be compared with my elder brother and I resented that. I wanted to be at par with him or even outshine and outwit him. That's how insecure I was. I wanted the limelight, I wanted to be loved. I wanted to be wanted and adored. But little by little, as I grow in the love of Christ, I came to realize that I don't need to be the best in order for me to be wanted and loved. Because He loves the imperfect me, perfectly. It gave me an assurance. I felt secured that if God is for us, who and what can be against us? I realized that nothing could separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus. Having such an encouragement enabled me to believe that I am indeed secured in God. Here are the verses that prove that we are all secured: 

• I am Christ's child. (John 1:2) 
• I am Christ's friend (John 15:15) 
• I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
•  I am united in the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:17) 
• I have been bought with a price. I belong to God. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
• I am a member of Christ's body. (1 Corinthians 12:27) 
• I am a saint. (Ephesians 1:1)
• I have direct access to God. (Ephesians 2:18) 
• I have been redeemed and forgiven (Colossians 1:14) 
• I am complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10) 

Last point is I am SIGNIFICANT. Satan has the habit of inculcating in our finite minds that we are actually individuals without significance. He has his schemes in telling us that we are NOT worthy, that we are NOT essential. But the truth of the matter is that, in heaven's eyes, there are no losers. Everyone, even the tiniest portion of His creation is significant in His eyes. Remember after He finished creating the earth? He said that it was good. Do not believe the lies of an evil. I came across a Facebook status from a friend that says, "WOW- Woman-of-Worth". I was astounded, by the fact that while I was busy wallowing in the pit of mediocrity God's been telling me that I am worthy. He proved it right when He died on the cross for me about 2,000 years ago. Here are the verses that tell that we are all significant:

• I am salt of the earth, and light of the world. (Matthew 5:13-14) 
• I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of Hid life. (John 5:15)
• I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit. (John 15:17)
• I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:18)
• I am God's temple (1Corinthians 3:16)
• I am a minister of reconciliation for God. (1 Corinthians 5:17-21) 
• I am God's co-worker. (2 Corinthians 6:1) 
• I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm. (Ephesians 2:6)
• I am God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10) 
• I can do all  things in Christ who strengthens me.  (Philippians 4:13)

Knowing these things made me feel secured of who I am and when someone asks me what my identity is, I'd say, "My identity is found in Christ".