The Lord spoke to me about writing about “sitting at the table” a while ago- after writing “It’s all about Identity”. Sad to say in my disobedience, I am just now doing what He called me to do. Lord forgive me for my delayed obedience which is the same as disobedience. Thank you for Your grace and mercy each day.
The Lord revealed to me that while I’m gaining a head knowledge of my identity in who He says I am and the blessing of how He sees me…as His beloved child whom He’s given special and unique gifts/callings for use in His Kingdom plan, I have not really taken my seat at the table. I find it so much easier to guide others to His table and assure them of His unconditional and unchanging love for them. I’ll even pull out their chair to help them sit at the right hand of the Father and encourage them in their gifting as they walk with the Lord. He showed me that I “know” Him and am trying to walk in relationship with Him through efforts of my own. He showed me, I have a hard time “receiving” what He has freely given for me and I need to receive my seat at the table and allow Him to do His work. Don’t get me wrong, I do the things I do with a heart desiring to please Him and honor Him, but if I am closed off to receiving, then His power cannot flow through me. In essence I am sitting in judgement of myself. It’s as if I’m saying His blood is good enough for everyone but me? How crazy is that!? I’m grateful for a patient and loving God who has lifted the blinders from my eyes and is walking me through this realization. So Lord “how do I receive it?! The response I sensed was “with open arms, an open heart and gratitude. Receive it with eyes to see and ears to hear others as I do”. To realize and receive allows others the opportunity to be a blessing to me. Someone once said to me that when I can’t receive something from another, I rob them of their opportunity to be a blessing and to experience the joy that comes from blessing others. That really resonated with me because I love to bless others.
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To sit at the Lord’s table means to truly recognize the power of the blood of Jesus and all he gave us when He died on the cross. His blood covered all sins that they would no longer be remembered for those that repent. “For I will remember their sins no more” Hebrews 8:12 NASB. No longer would annual sacrifices be needed to cover sin as in the Old Testament. This allows God to see us only through the lens of Jesus’ shed blood- whole and restored. This gives us the ability to boldly approach Him without sham or condemnation. We have been made righteous through the blood of Jesus.
Righteous according to the dictionary app- “characterized by uprightness or morality”. Uprightness is defined as “raised or directed vertically or upward”. Morality is defined as “of moral conduct” and moral is defined as “the distinction between right or wrong”. Our righteousness-given to us by the blood of Jesus and acceptance of Him as our Savior is the reason we have a seat of honor at the right hand of God. All we have to do is “believe” AND “receive”. Lord I pray a blessing over each person reading this post and I pray they receive and take their seat at the table and don’t just lead others there as I have been guilty of doing. Thank you for lifting the blinders from my eyes!! Amen
So last week was about choices and love. The final part of this series is about knowing who you are and walking in that identity with confidence and security, knowing you have a purpose and a plan. While this is still a journey that the Lord is refining in me, walking in beloved identity means I know and trust who I am based on what God says, not what culture or others say. It means not doubting that the Lord made me unique and I’m not supposed to look, act or be like anyone else. Trusting His purpose for me in His kingdom plan. Knowing the way He will walk with me in His plan isn’t going to look like anyone elses, it may not even make sense to anyone else and it may not even make sense to me- and that’s okay!!! I should rejoice that He has something specific for me and for you that no one else can fulfill. That I’m not meant to be like anyone else so no comparison needed in this life. This reality was like lifting a huge weight off my shoulders!!! It means trusting the Lord as the author and provider of all things in my life. Knowing He is a good Father and He always calls for an exchange of things in my life not to keep something from me but to better my life. He wants to take what I hang onto as “good enough” and give me ” the best”. I need to remember what I think is “best” and what He deems as best may not look the same and may look crazy to someone else looking from the outside in.
Beloved identity means knowing in your heart(not just your head) that He sees me/you (through the blood of Jesus) as pure and blameless. That He (through the blood of Jesus) has restored those whom love Him and given them all power and authority so we can come boldly before Him. He has given us His Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us in making choices that will take us on the path and journey through life that He deems best and that fulfills His purpose in our life’s for furthering His kingdom. Beloved identity means we can pray from a posture of knowing our prayers are heard and will be answered in His own timing and purpose(not necessarily based on what we may want or deem as being needed). Beloved identity means living and walking in peace each day even in the midst of lifes storms and challenges because our Abba Father is at the helm and loves us. Beloved identity means we don’t need to strive, but we need to trust and follow His leading. Beloved identity means He loves us no matter what(like most parents love their children, like most pet owners love their pets). It means He extends grace and mercy to us so we can extend it to others that they too may walk in beloved identity instead of an identity based on conditional love or an identity of works, or an identity of past hurts and failures or an identity that changes based on what culture or others say about me or you.
Beloved identity allows you to love with a pure heart versus self seeking heart because you know that Your Heavenly Father provides all you need and He only desires your whole heart, tender and fully surrendered. He’s jealous for time with you, loving you beyond comprehension. He’s always there desiring relationship and intimacy with you. He wants to take you and I on a wild, crazy, fun loving and fulfilling adventure in this life on earth. He will challenge us and stretch us to grow individually along the way. He will definitely ask us to get out of our comfort zone (I love to be comfortable, but I realize growth only happens when being stretched beyond one’s comfort zone). The question is, “Will you surrender and look forward to what He has in store or will you be paralyzed by fear(like I was) or paralyzed by whatever is causing you to keep your heart guarded-missing His BEST life for you? Remember that I too am on this journey and somedays are easier than others, but I can tell you that the times I fully surrender are the most blessed and least stressful!!!
This is a prayer I pray: “Lord I choose to trust and follow you with a surrendered heart, passionately in love with You, looking forward to whatever You have for me in this life. Lord guide me and teach me. Thank you in advance for I know You love me and I can trust You!!!” Amen
I pray as you go forth you will be blessed, challenged and purposeful in knowing your identity in Christ and trusting what He says about you and trusting His leading every moment of every day!!! I’m including a song title on youtube that has blessed me and encouraged me. I hope it does the same for you!!!! Blessings!!
Welcome Back!!! Last week I spoke of knowing my identity and how that brought a sense of peace and freedom in loving unconditionally. Freedom for myself, and freedom for those in my life. Having no judgements or expectations on others helps create deeper and more trusting relationships. Deeper and more trusting relationships are fueled by love and create freedom for me to be who God called me to be, to encourage and build others up, to walk into my God given identity and purpose on this earth. It gives me freedom to make mistakes, to learn and move forward to the next thing in life. I get to take valuable lessons learned from failures and successes of things ventured in life and grow along my journey.
Life is a journey not a destination-I’m sure you’ve heard that before. It’s full of crossroads and choices along the way. Choices we make affect us and others not only in the present, but can also have a profound affect on our future. So, when we make any choice, how do we go about deciding what to do. My first inclination has been to try and analyze the effects or scenarios of each option/choice (lots of web brain browsers open!! lol). I Try to get perspective on current and future effects. The Lord has been showing and teaching me over the past several years that my first line in decision making is to bring whatever it is I’m deciding on- to Him in prayer. I believe since He is a relational God, He wants me to pray and seek His guidance before making a decision. Even in the little things He desires to be involved. Asking for His help in daily appointments with the people He puts across my path is something I’ve more recently been more intentional about lifting up in prayer. Surrendering my plan to His agenda versus strictly following my own (anyone else struggle with wanting to be in control?). I may start with a game plan for the general days events or my “to do list”, but I’m learning to be more intentional in seeing and recognizing those He may be placing in my path that need His light, love, touch, or encouragement. It is typically at a time I would deem “inconvenient”. There have been many times in the past and even some now currently, that I get so focused on what I “needed” to get done that I wouldn’t recognize or I’d choose to ignore His promptings to recognize that He wants to work through me to touch those He either brought to me or put in my path. Forgive me Lord and help me to have your eyes, ears and words to recognize and be obedient to whatever it is you’re calling me too.
I recognize that I can be selfish with “my time”. It’s easy for me to give of my financial resources or help when it’s convenient or easily fits into my schedule. Does anyone else struggle with this? So I have to ask myself why? What truly is my heart posture? Lord has my heart hardened a bit over time in relation to past hurts, regrets, shame, failed expectations I’ve placed upon myself and others? because of the lack of setting boundaries and then holding within me hurt because of not being true to myself or placing blame on others for my decisions?
Has this lead me to believing lies about who God is? Feeling that I only need to rely on me? In a sense shutting out the world in order to “protect” myself-all the while inadvertently locking myself away and closing my heart to God and others? Allowing myself and my decisions to be based more on Fear than love? I read or heard somewhere that we make decisions in life based either out of fear or love. What will you base your decisions on- Love or fear? I choose love…I have done the fear thing and it just isn’t peaceful or productive!!
Fear decisions seem to be based on protecting oneself and one’s best interest. As I look back, they seem to be mostly focused on self and lack of trust. Lack of trust in God, self and others. Fear decisions seem based more on what the repercussion of a decision and how it may negatively affect one if that particular choice is not made. It can be something silly like- if I don’t do this now, I’ll miss out on whatever deal is going on(speaking of shopping) or , if I don’t do this (whatever it may be) , then I won’t fit in or I won’t get ahead, or I’ll miss out.
The Bible speaks of fear as not trusting in the Lord. It says perfect love casts out fear. So the antithesis of fear is love. Fear is a tool of the enemy. It’s also a way for us to know areas in our lives that we are relying on or trusting in self or others versus the Lord.
The sin of self reliance is an area the Lord has been showing me that I am believing a lie about Him-an area He is healing. Thank you Lord! This again circles back to an identity issue!! It’s also based on fear. Fear that if I don’t handle things they won’t get done. Fear based choices for my own self preservation-not having, needing or wanting to rely on anyone-including the Lord at times. Sure I’d trust Him with some of the “little” things and some of the “big ” things, but I wasn’t trusting Him in all things. I’m grateful for how He has grown me in this area and I’m relying more and more on Him for every decision, every day. I have to be intentional to make that choice to trust and rely on Him. He is faithful and touching/healing areas in my life each day and He can do the same for you if you choose to let Him!
So back to choices based on love. What is love? The dictionary app defines love as “a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person; a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child or friend.” the Bible says God is love!! Corinthians 13 is known as the love chapter. If you substitute the name of God for love while reading it, it is powerful in revealing more of God’s character. If you put your own name in for love it may reveal areas you need the Lord to touch to make you more like Christ. We are called to be like Christ and to be the light of Christ for others. This can only be done through the power of God(love) as He transforms our hearts and helps reveal lies we believed. Lies that have moved our choices and affected our lives and the lives of those around us. Choices that typically either build one’s life and the life of others up or tears down our life and the lives of others. What will you choose?
Choices made out of love come from a pure heart that doesn’t have self as focus. By taking each choice and calling on the Lord to reveal , guide and direct us, we are surrendering to His will. Often choices He leads us to may not make sense from a “logical” evaluation. They often involve trusting His leading wherever that may be. Taking that first step without knowing the plan. Trusting choices He’s guiding us to make are meant for good in every sense of furthering His kingdom on Earth and for growing us to be like Christ. Sometimes those choices may involve promoting another above ourselves, or changing our days “agenda” to fit what He’s put before us. I know this is an area I am still growing in, but each time I’m obedient to do as He says, I am blessed abundantly. So why do I struggle to stay in that surrendered state all the time?! Selfishness! Thinking I know better!! The list could go on, but you get the idea!
So the challenge is to know and walk in my identity, fully trusting His way and being intentional in making love based choices instead of fear base ones!! Remember you are an amazing child of God and He loves you unconditionally and desires to have a relationship with you!!!! The choice is yours!! Many blessings to you all!!!
As part of my journey out of fear, the following question was key for me.
What is identity? We all strive for identity. The questions are many. Who am I? What’s my purpose? How do I get to fulfilling that purpose?
Figuring out my identity has been a life long journey. It seems that the past 5 years the Lord has been showing me what identity truly is and what it looks like to walk in it.
The question “who are you?” is one everyone answers differently. My first response is typically- I’m a physical therapist, or I’m a mom, or I’m a wife, but none of these speak to my true “identity”. The above responses are about what I “do” not who I “am”. This challenge to answer the question “who are you” came through a study by Neil Anderson called “The Victory Over the Darkness” (highly recommend it).
The definition of identity from dictionary app is 1) “the state or fact of remaining the same one or ones, as under varying aspects or conditions” 2) “the condition or character as to who a person or what a thing is; the qualities, beliefs, act., that distinguish or identify a person or thing”.
What is it about knowing one’s identity that’s such an important matter and shaping force in our lives? I think it is because knowing ones’ identity gives on a sense of belonging or inclusion. I believe we all desire to be known and loved. I believe that is from the Lord Himself. He desires us to know Him and He us. It gives one a sense of completeness, value and peace…..at least that is what I am realizing through this journey called life.
Identity seems to be more shaped by culture and one’s acceptance or inclusion based on whatever each individual deems valuable or important. Things such as job title, being a mom or dad, being a sister or brother, being a grandmother or grandfather, or based on sexual orientation or gender, based on religious denomination, based on rank or accomplishments/awards. But what happens when any of the above changes-one looses a job or changes a job, one loses a child, sibling or parent, one changes sexual orientation beliefs, or is no longer the “champion” because a new champion has taken his or her place?
So is identity meant to be fluid and dynamic or static and unchanging? What’s the difference in identity and character? Character as defined by the dictionary app is 1) “the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing; 2) qualities of honesty, courage or the like: integrity” (more on integrity in a future blog!)
I believe identity is meant to be found in who God says you are and how He sees you. It’s taken me a while to grasp this and He is still showing me how to operate in this versus finding my identity and worth through what culture, people or the changing times says. It is not based on anything I do or say, it is simply based on how God sees me. Since He sees me through the blood sacrifice of Jesus , I am pure and unblemished and deeply loved by Him. I have struggled in the past and still struggle some-(remember I am a work in progress)- with allowing my worth and how I see myself to be affected by how others see me and or by what/how culture says I’m supposed to be or act in order to “fit in”. Once again, there’s the desire for acceptance-acceptance from the world/others verses knowing and staying grounded in and operating in who the Lord says I am and trusting His unconditional and unending love.
If love and acceptance is based on culture and those around us, it can be seen as conditional and based on circumstances, situations, feelings, emotions, being included in a specific group or subset of people who view things as you do (at least for that moment in time). Love will change and may be conditional, temporary, and/or opportunistic. This type of love will leave one still searching, empty, void, fickle and striving. Striving to find something or be something you already have and already are in the eyes of God Almighty.
God is love. His love is unchanging, intimate, unconditional, (no striving needed-only receiving), fulfilling, life giving, hope fulfilled, adventurous, and always good and fruitful. His love heals the brokenhearted, restores all things, uplifts those hurting, protects and wars for us. His love knows no depth-it is so big it is indescribable and often our human minds are unable to comprehend. The world/culture and our human nature tend to make it hard to grasp or even sometimes believe that this type of love exists or can be real.
So when we walk in the identity of His design and His love as His sons/daughters and receive His love foregoing all shame and condemnation, there is a freedom and peace that comes with that!! A sense of being vs striving. A sense of rest vs effort. That’s not to say we don’t have an active part to play in allowing His love to change and apprehend us- we do. We have to open our hearts to fully surrender to Him, His love and His ways. So often we- myself included- can view His ways as keeping something from us, but that’s so far from the truth. His ways are meant to produce the BEST life for you and me. Often in life we settle ( I know I have done this) because if you are like me, we can be creatures of habit and change can be hard. The Lord is showing me that change isn’t meant to deprive me of something, but rather to exchange it for something better!!! This requires trust- trusting God is good and loves me and would not do anything to hurt me. He may challenge me and grow me, but not hurt me. Often my trust which has been misguided to be a trust in myself, culture, things, people, etc., to provide for me things, desires, etc that only the Lord can. I don’t think I’m the only one that struggles in this area and the Lord has brought me a long way in this journey for which I am very grateful. He’s shown me it’s not His design for me to expect or place expectations on others, things, or culture to fulfill what only He can fulfill. Placing my expectations in those things or on others, often leads to hurt, increased pressure on others and poor relationships. I’ve found it also results in an ongoing unfulfilled longing and emptiness. It has kept me from being able to show the love of Christ as He intended(unconditionally). I’ve found when I am expecting of others there is not a freedom, peace and joy to love unconditionally.
He’s shown me that placing my identity in Him and trusting that I am who He says I am and that He has a purpose for my life that only I can fulfill, has brought me freedom and peace. I pray that if you don’t know Him you will be intentional in exploring who He is…not based on what any human may do or say(as we are all a flawed picture of Him) but read His word and talk to Him. He will reveal Himself. If you do know Him I pray each day you will be intentional to spend time with Him so your relationship with Him will deepen!!! May you grow to know your identity and stand steadfast in it!!!
Intentionally Purposeful 