WHO AM I?
How do I view or introduce myself?
- What I do?
- Where I’m from?
- Marital / health status?
- What I have?
- What others say / I’d like them to, about me?
As a nurse, my uniform gave me identity of being ‘the professional’ or ‘in charge’ when attending to a patient on my turf. I recall a time, however, when I was visiting in someone’s home without the uniform. ‘Now they’re the boss,’ I realised. Abba Father took me through a process of recognising my identity came from Him, not in what I do or what I possess.
Living in a society where identity is often taken from our false self image – E.g. performance, possessions and other people’s expectations, means this is not an easy transition!
WHAT’S in a Name?
The Merriam Webster dictionary definition1:
1. The distinguishing character or personality of an individual
2. Who someone is: the name of a person
3. The relationship established by psychological identification
4. Sameness / oneness
5. The sense of identity arising in a shared experience
What does YOUR NAME name mean? Do you like it? Why / why not?
Our name can reflect our heritage, personality, destiny etc. Parents have a very honoured but responsible job assigning a name to their child!
The name ‘Barbara’ means ‘Foreigner’ or ‘New Found Friend,’ depending on which source you choose! Selecting the former, especially in my 20’s, I felt that I was also a foreigner to God. Through experiencing His love and acceptance, I realised I was His friend … and therefore ‘Friend’ reflected my identity more aptly.
WHOSE AM I?
- How does God identify me? Many references
- What did He say about me before I was born? [Psalm 139; my scroll]
- How do I view God? My spiritual filter can be affected by, but not limited to: previous experience, lies we’ve believed, other’s opinions.
We become what we behold.
Contemplation is ‘gazing’ upon Yahweh, ‘the God who sees’; the Creator of the Universe, the Bridegroom-King. i.e. To know in intimacy; all senses involved.
Who am I contemplating? Am I only looking at my false self-image in MY mirror?
WHO LIVES in ME?
‘Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory!’ Colossians 1: 19 TPT.
I remember the moment when I had a fresh revelation that Christ lives IN me. Several years ago, I was sitting on a beanbag in the lounge reading, the sun streaming through the glass door. Leanne Payne’s expression of this personal revelation in her book had me ponder. I’d read ‘Healing Presence,’ 2 several years earlier, but her unpacking of this verse in Colossians 1, flashed a neon light on truth I’d read for many years, but not assimilated into my very being.
Yeshua knew WHO He was:
Yeshua Messiah’s birth changed the identity of History [BC to AD on the Gregorian calendar].
> In the beginning … The Word was made flesh [John 1]
> ‘This is My Beloved Son in Whom I Am well pleased’ [Baptism]
> ‘I only do what My Father does / says’ [Ministry]
> ‘For this purpose I came … not My will but Yours’ [Gethsemane]
IDENTITY NOW?
My old identity has been co-crucified with Christ and no longer lives … And now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives his life through me—we live in union as one! My new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God who loves me so much that he gave himself for me, dispensing his life into mine! Galatians 2:20 TPT.
I’m a Daughter of the Living God [Now on my business card]
His delight is in me [My middle name is Joy!]
HOW do you SEE yourself now? [Note the image above.]
Do you know the new name He has given you from surrendering your life to Him? We all are assigned one. [Revelation 2:17]
- Meditate on Colossians 1 and 2; Ephesians 3 and Song of Songs.
‘For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God].’ 1 Corinthians 13:12 AMPC.
Identify WITH Him – He IDENTIFIES with you! [Hebrews 2; 5]
For further understanding of our True identity, see my blog entitled ‘Covenant.’
Source:
1https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/identityi [accessed 25/11/25]
2https://bakerpublishinggroup.com/products/9780801053481_the-healing-presence
3‘Being the Beloved,’ Full Sermon part 1, Henri Nouwen at the Crystal Cathedral;Henri Nouwen Society: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trG7Oh_PopM
[18 mins] 2020
>AMPC. Amplified Bible Copyright © 2015, by The Lockman Foundation, All rights reserved www.lockman.org
> TPT. The Passion Translation® is a registered trademark of Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Copyright © 2020 Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc.
