I truly believe that the pathway to personal success and fulfillment is hindered if we do not know our ‘true identity’.  All roads lead somewhere, but are we on the right path?

One day Jesus asked “Who do you say I am?”  Luke 9:20

St. Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.” Luke 9:20

Peter was privileged to know the true identity of Jesus.  Peter knew that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah, Our Lord and Saviour and that He came into the world to save it.  Jesus knew He was God’s Son and that He would have to suffer and die for our redemption.

It is easy in life to get very busy and to lose sight of our ‘true identity’ and if we do we are at risk of not fulfilling the plans God has for us.

Many people equate their true identity with what’s written on their business card.  People may say “I am a business man or a lawyer or a doctor, or a construction foreman etc.”, but does what we do sum up who we really are?

If we had to sum up our true identity in one word what we would we say?

For some people knowing their ‘true identity’ is very natural.  For example there are some women and men born to be mothers and fathers and raising their children, protecting them, loving them and helping them to grow up to be people of upstanding characters is very natural and all encompassing.  But sometimes the pressures of making money and building careers can get in the way of living out our ‘true identity’ and suddenly ‘motherhood or fatherhood’ takes a back seat to ‘getting the next promotion’.  We may think these are sacrifices needed to build a better life, but is that how God would see things?

Focus and perseverance are essential to success.  If either are missing, goals become jeopardized.

It took me a long time to realize I failed to understand that my ‘true identity’ was that I ‘belonged to Jesus’ and that I existed to serve and please Him.  Once I realized that life became simpler.  I knew I was His disciple and that I needed to focus on loving and serving Him and all those in my life.  At the end of the day the thing that mattered the most was LOVE, LOVING GOD AND LOVING ALL THOSE HE GAVE ME.

We are all precious to God.  We are all God’s children, His very own special possession, and God has a plan for each of us, but if we don’t take time to pray to God for guidance we may never discover that our true identity is that we exist to serve and please Him.  God is the master planner and He knows what we need to be focused on.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

So if I had to answer the question “Who am I?”

This is how I would answer:

I am God’s!

I am a disciple of Jesus and everything I do, I do for HIM!

I don’t think any of us can discover our true identity until we realize that our true identity is only discovered through a sacred relationship with God. We are pilgrims travelling to our final resting place, Heaven. This life is a testing ground, it is the place where we are slowly and careful perfected into God’s special possession. We are His creatures and we were created to give God glory, yet we cannot fulfill this divine mission until we understand our true identity as part of God’s creation and discover God’s unique plan for us.  What matters most is not ‘what we do’ but ‘how we do whatever we commit to’.

What kind of relationship do you have with God?

Understanding that we belong to God is the starting point of a relationship with God defined by His Will and sustained by His Grace.

God wants to teach us and guide us and help us to understand sacred truths that people focused on a superficial material existence will never discover:

“This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it–the LORD is his name: Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’” Jeremiah 33:1-2

At the beginning of my spiritual journey I felt like I had to “unlearn” many things before God could teach me the things that were important to Him. God challenges what we commonly refer to as “conventional wisdom” i.e., the body of ideas that the general public deems to be true. For example, society tends to see powerful people as people with money and influence, yet God sees differently.

If we are truly God’s people we will understand that God is the true source of power.  God is all powerful (omnipotent) and believing in Him and trusting in Him and serving Him is the source of our power. We do not derive power from money or status but from God’s grace enabling us to do whatever He wills for us to do.

“But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:24

Society puts honourable titles on people, e.g., politicians, priests, judges. We call them Honourable Members of Parliament, Your Grace, Your Honour, Your Excellency…but they may or may not be truly honourable. We are only truly honourable if we are serving God and satisfying Him.

This is how Jesus defines honour:

“Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” John 12:26

Serving Jesus effectively requires that we see Jesus in our world.  He is right under our eyes.  As we love and serve our husband and children, our friends and our colleagues and all those in need we serve Our Lord Jesus.

“This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”  1 John 5: 2-4

Let us pray,

Merciful Lord Jesus help us to understand that our true identity is that we are Yours and that we exist to serve You and fulfil Your commandment to love!  Help us to see You in all those around us. Call us to whatever mission you desire us to fulfil.  Teach us, nurture us, heal us and protect us so we can be whatever you want us to be.  Inspire us to be gentle and kind, merciful, loving and just to our families, our friends and to all.

Let us stand together with Christians all over the world every day at 3pm (the time Jesus died for us) honouring our Holy Lord who suffered and died for us so that we can one day be with Him in Paradise.  Let us pray for the mercy of Our Saviour Jesus Christ upon all souls.  Learn more about The Mercy Movement and let the love of Jesus penetrate your heart and change your life, enabling you to fulfil your true identity as a child of God and follower of Christ.