Identity Theft

Recently Circle of Friends hosted a one day women's conference with our own Jocelyn Hamsher as the featured speaker on the topic 'A New Name - Finding Your True Identity in Christ'. She is an excellent Bible teacher and if you ever get a chance to hear her speak I highly encourage it!

It was a wonderful conference and it was an amazing opportunity for us to see God working in the lives of women. When we opened the altar for prayer and response, more than seventy women poured out their hearts before God. Truly an incredible sight, but even more impacting was reading through the anonymous cards and responses they placed there.

Jocelyn pointed out that many of us let others name us and define us rather than our Creator, the One who made us, loves us, and longs to have a deep relationship with us. She quoted Robert McGee from his book, The Search for Significance: "We will let man who is as darkened in his mind, perspective, opinion, and heart dictate who we are and how we feel."

We have called ourselves, or let others call us, by names like Shame, Abandonment, Fear, Rejection, and Failure. We have believed these names and found our identity in them when the truth is God calls us His Bride, His Beloved, His Delight!

In this day and age of identity-theft concerns I wonder how careful we are to guard our spiritual identity. We have an enemy who wants to steal that away from us and make us believe we are of no worth or value. We might even cling to our old names and not claim our new name in Christ because it's familiar and stepping out in faith can be frightening.

Isaiah 62:1-5

¹ For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet,
till her righteousness shines out like the dawn,
her salvation like a blazing torch.

² The nations will see your righteousness,
and all kings your glory;
you will be called by a new name
that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.

³ You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD's hand,
a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

⁴ No longer will they call you Deserted,
or name your land Desolate.
But you will be called Hephzibah,
and your land Beulah;
for the LORD will take delight in you,
and your land will be married.

⁵ As a young man marries a maiden,
so will your sons marry you;
as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,
so will your God rejoice over you.

Guard your spiritual identity with the truth of God's Word! Don't let Satan - or anyone else - steal it from you or try to give you a name or identity that isn't yours. Your true identity is in Christ. Walk forward with your new name and say with those of us who have fought this battle, "I will no longer believe the lies of the world or those around me! I will take the new name You have given me - I am your Beloved Daughter, Precious to You, Your Bride!"

All for Him,

Missy