Your Identity Begins with God
Identity begins with God, providing a strong foundation for joy and peace.
Every one of us longs for peace and joy. But more often than not, we chase them through performance—checking the boxes, fixing ourselves, or meeting expectations. And yet, real peace and lasting joy aren’t something we achieve; they are the fruit of something deeper. They are rooted in our identity in Christ.
Before anything else, we must return to the beginning: God made us to be in relationship with Him. The truth of our identity isn’t something we create; it is something we receive. God created us in His image (Genesis 1:26–27), and though sin distorted that image, our identity is restored through Christ.
The most important truth about you is not what you’ve done or failed to do. It is what God has done for you. He calls you His own.
A Spirit-Given Identity
Our true identity is Spirit-conceived. As Jesus told Nicodemus, “You must be born again” (John 3:3). This isn’t a metaphorical idea—it’s a spiritual reality. When we place our faith in Christ, we are born of the Spirit. As a result, God’s life is planted in us, giving us a brand-new identity.
1 Peter 2:2–3 describes us as newborn babes craving the pure milk of the Word so that we might grow. Our new identity is not static—it is meant to be nurtured, cultivated, and matured.
You are not who the world says you are. You are not the sum of your past mistakes or current anxieties. But you are who God says you are: chosen, beloved, born again by His Spirit. Your identity begins with God.
The Fruit of a Rooted Identity
Galatians 5:22–23 describes the fruit of the Spirit—not the fruit of striving. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control grow naturally in those who are rooted in Christ. These qualities are not a performance goal but a product of life in the Spirit.
Each of these traits flows from the love of God. They are woven into our identity, like priestly garments we are called to wear (Exodus 28:4). Love is the foundation of who we are in Christ because God is love (1 John 4:8).
And this love is not distant or abstract. It is intimate. Personal. Present.
Grace to You and Peace
Have you ever noticed how Paul begins almost every letter with “Grace to you and peace”? It’s not a throwaway greeting. It’s a theological declaration.
Read through the openings of Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, and Philemon. Paul ties grace and peace directly to your identity in Christ—rooted in God’s calling, God’s love, and God’s presence.
Peace is not something you find when you finally get life right. Joy is not something you earn by checking every box. They are both gifts—graces that flow from being united with Christ. The foundation of joy and peace begins with embracing your identity in Christ—not as a concept, but as a deep relational reality.
Insight Journal
- What voices shape how you view yourself? Are they rooted in truth or performance?
- In what ways are you still trying to earn joy and peace?
- How would your life look different if you truly believed God loves you and calls you His child?
Excerpts from iProcess by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis © 2023. Download your copy today!
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Read more about iProcess: identity in Christ, intimacy with Christ, industry for Christ.
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