One of the things I think as Christian women, or really just women, is we often see or think about ourselves differently every day. Sometimes we look in the mirror and like who we see and sometimes we don’t like that woman. Our self-esteem can also fluctuate with our monthly cycle. Also, I would say Satan also wants us to put ourselves down as well.
I would like to encourage us to begin to see our identity in Christ and not in the usual way we define ourselves. Even the name of this site, Christian Working Mom is a way of identifying ourselves. We are a special group (personally I think extraordinary) of women set apart by the fact that we are Christians and working Moms. We need to truly focus on what it means to be a Christian and who we are in Christ. I think if we were to meditate everyday on our identity in Christ we would be different women. We would love that face we see in the mirror; no matter what size we are this week.
Let’s look at what the Bible says about our Identity in Christ:
I want to break this into three parts:
I am accepted in Christ.
Read the following verses and write down how they show you are accepted in Christ.
John 1:12
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Ephesians 1:3-8
Colossians 2:9-10
I am secure in Christ.
Read the following verses and what do they mean to you.
Romans 8:1-2
Romans 8:28
Philippians 1:6
1 John 5:18
I am significant in Christ.
Read the following verses as they were written to you specifically. Replace the you in the verse with your name. How does that sound different?
John 15:16
1 Corinthians 3:16
Ephesians 2:6
Ephesians 3:12
Philippians 4:13
When I allow myself to dwell on my identity in Christ I am overwhelmed and moved to tears. First, of all I am chosen. God before the world began chose me, little Kimberly Chastain, to be his child. How honored and special that makes me feel and humble as well. God the Father knew me and loved me before the world began. Colossians 2:9-10 says I’m complete in Christ. Complete meaning I don’t need anyone or anything else. Christ is sufficient. I really need to soak that in. What does that have to say about many self-help programs? In Christ, I am complete and I’m becoming more and more like him each day till I go home to be with him.
Security in Christ means more and more each day due to this scary world we live in. I love Romans 8:1-2, there is no condemnation in those who are in Christ Jesus. The world can condemn me or hurt me, but in Christ I am loved no matter what. I am safe in Him no matter what the world throws at me. Also, that God will work out his plan in my life even in the most difficult circumstances. I have to trust that he is in control and knows what is best for me.
The last point about my identity in Christ is I am significant. The world tries to tell me I’m just a number, but God says otherwise. God has chosen me to be a witness to the world and shine his image through me. Does God need me to work out his plan? No! Does he choose to use many anyway? Yes!! Wow, that God would use you and me to fulfill and carry out his plan for others. Sinners such as us. What does that say about who you are in Christ? Christ loves me and wants to use me to reach others for him and show his light. He will give me strength to do all things. God just doesn’t use me, he give me all the strength I need to do his Will.
I praise God for him choosing me and loving me no matter what. The God of the universe is pursuing me and wants me to spend time with him. He wants to love and protect me. When God loves me that much I have to realize I am wonderfully and fearfully made. Not because of who I am, but because of whose I am. I am special and you are too in the deepest of meanings and terms.
Here are some questions to consider for discussion and post your answers or other comments on the discussion board.
What does the world say about my identity?
What does God say about who I am?
What verse or verses spoke to you the most or you read them again with
a fresh eye?
What is hardest point for you to believe or accept about your identity in
Christ?
What could you do to remind yourself and others about your and their
identity in Christ?
Any other comments you would like to share.
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14 comments:
I wonder if you wrote this Bible Study yourself. Or did you plagiarize it from somewhere else?
(Notice the same three sections and scriptures)
http://www.ficm.org/whoiam.htm
If you borrow from another, it seems like the Christian thing to do is acknowledge it.
Hi Hswriters,
I wrote a comment and wanted to add more and then realized I could not, so here is another go at it. Yes, I did write the Bible Study myself. If you have read any of my other writings on this blog or my articles you will some of my thoughts are consistent over time.
We all will use the same scripture to make various points. The website you mentioned is an excellent resource and was an inspiration for some of the things that I wrote. You will notice that I added considerable more information as I expounded on the study. I should have referenced the main three points and did not. Forgive me if I have offended you in anyway. I do alot of research for different Bible studies in commentaries and online. I got sloppy and did not site the source. Thanks for pointing it out and forgive me.
First to Kimberly I want to say thank you. Thank you for allowing God to use you to put this study together.
To HSwriter. Please find another avenue to communicate your displeasure. Your comment was rude and quite disruptive. The study was about finding worth in Christ and all you can say is "did YOU write this?"
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I am not a new Christian but I have been struggling for quite sometime. I was guided to this site tonight. God used this study to present His truths to me and wake me up. Thank you for allowing the Lord to speak through your work.
jars304 your are welcome and thanks for encouraging me today. I think whether we are young or old in our walk with Christ we need to be reminded of our identity. The devil certainly works hard to make that not happen.
Like jars304, I am not a new Christian either but I too have been struggling with balancing my life as a working mom with a family with my walk with God. I too was guided to this site and it is exactley what I need. Thank you!
Hi Denise~
Thanks for your kind comments. May God be with you always and help you balance everything as a CWM. I know it is not easy. Glad to have you here.
Hi - just found your site tonight but will be coming back to work my way through the studies. I have found it very thoughtful and helpful.
The Eagle. Thanks for your putting this study together and I hope you don't mind but I would like to add this to my workshop that I am giving for the ladies at my church subject: "Who Am I". You have given me a direction to go in with my outline. We are all focusing toward one purpose and that is to build each other up (together) in Christ.
Hi Edra~
Feel free to use this for your workshop. I pray it blesses the people who attend.
I am trying to find a study about my identity in Christ & would like to do yours however this only mentions lesson #1 is there more lessoons? If so how can I get them.
Thanks for such wonderfull insites.
MOMTTT
Hi Donnie~
I do different Bible studies with different subjects. This is the only study I have posted online for Your Identity in Christ. I try not to recommend books I have not read. I would encourage you to do a search at www.cbd.com on this topic and see what you find. Ephesians is a good book to read on your identity in Christ. Hope I was able to help.
I loved this what a great reminder of who I am in Christ. I feel like I have lost myself and not feeling like myself.
This definitely brings me back down to earth and touches me how much God loves me. Thank you, thank you.
In answer to the questions: The world tells me I am replacable and unimportant. God values me and is invested in who I am. I read all the verses as if God was speaking to me only. It was refreshing and eye-opening to not read them as if the "you" was meant for everyone else. The hardest thing to accept is that I am important to God. I took notes and plan to read my bible more often replacing the "you" with my name.
I may use this study with my staff. It is very, very good and simple to follow. Thank you!
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