“Congratulations on turning sixty-five!”
I stared in disbelief at the letter I had just received from a life insurance company. Sixty-five? That’s decades away. I laughed, tossing it in the trash. A few weeks later, an invitation to an informational dinner hosted by an assisted living community arrived. Then a letter regarding my alleged upcoming sixty-fifth birthday. Each was from a different source. I began to wonder, Has someone stolen my identity?
I looked closely at the intended recipient. It was addressed to me, but with my maiden name. Memories flooded back. Fifteen years ago, when I was single, my identity was stolen. Months passed before I unraveled the mess and cleared my name. Could this senior citizen mistake be somehow related?
Protecting one’s identity is of great importance, and mine was in question. A similar crisis exists in the spiritual realm for every believer. Our enemy, called “the accuser,” is constantly telling us lies about our identity. He wants us to believe we aren’t really that different from our old selves apart from Christ. He loves to remind us of past sins and present sin struggles. His web of deception can easily entangle us if we believe his lies.
Just as I am neither sixty-five nor single, I am also not the same person I was without Jesus. When the Holy Spirit takes up residence in a believer, He breathes life into a formerly dead spirit. He breaks the chains of addictive sin, adopts us into His family, and calls us beloved. He forgives every sin and begins a transforming work that He is faithful to complete.
God alone defines our identity. Just as identity theft damages its victims, so believing Satan’s lies about our identity causes us to miss the riches of God’s work in us. Victorious Christian living and intimacy with Christ hinge upon knowing and believing the truth. When we know this truth, astounding freedom is our reality.
What lies are you believing about your identity? Read God’s Word and take note of how He defines you.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
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Meredith Mills currently resides in the South with her husband Nathan and three precious little people, though she calls Northern California home. Her days are full of activity—homeschooling, participating in church activities, writing, and blogging at www.DazzledByTheSon.wordpress.com. She loves music, reading, and traveling. Her passion is to share the relentless love of God and encourage others to walk deeply with Jesus.