Self Esteem Identity Theft (Intro)

Has your identity been stolen or compromised? According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft happens when someone steals your personal information and uses it without your permission. It’s a serious crime that can wreak havoc with your finances, credit history, and reputation – and can take time, money, and patience to resolve. But there is another kind of identity theft that occurs more often than you may realize, and that can wreak more mayhem on your body, mind, and spirit. “Do you really know who you are?”  If someone compromised your identity, what would they have? Implied in this question is a deeper meaning of identity theft that targets the core of who you truly are.

How do you really know who you are?

Some look at this and think it’s their job, their home, their car, their appearance, their accomplishments, their associations, or their credentials.  In other words, their possessions are what give meaning to who they are.  Is this really what identifies who you are?  Let’s think about this. The Bible teaches us that we are spirit, mind, and body.  Our spirit is the part that connects us to God.  God says our true identity is in Christ Jesus and Him alone.  If your identity is based on anything other than Him, it has been compromised. God doesn’t love us because we are moral, honest, religious, generous, beautiful, or prestigious.  Nor does He withhold His love until we are good enough to measure up; He loves us as we are.  His love caused Him to freely give to us the gift of His perfect love.  It is not our responsibility to perform or earn it – simply accept it as a gift.

Made in God’s Image

God declares each of us unique expressions of His love.  He says that we’re fearfully and wonderfully made in His image and likeness.  Each of us is created with basic needs foundational to a healthy self-image:

• You need to feel that you are loved and lovable.
• You need to feel significant; that your life counts for something important.
• You need to feel competent, knowing you can cope with life successfully.

Your need to feel loved, significant, and competent are fulfilled in your God-given identity through a personal relationship with Christ.  So what is it that makes it so hard to accept your true identity? You have memorized scriptures after scriptures. You have tried to psych yourself out by using positive affirmations. You have shouted declarations from the roof tops. Yet, you still struggle to accept this true identity in Christ.  

The next series of articles deal with working through barriers to a healthy self-image.