Identity theft is not new. It started in the Garden, caused confusion and turmoil for generations in our families and continues to cost us dearly in our daily lives.
Our enemy has stolen our identity. Have you taken it back?
There are different ways the enemy steals our identity. One way is when we replace our roles in life with our identity. This week, you and I will live out many roles (the role of a husband; the role of a parent; the role of an occupation; roles in our churches). When I allow my significance and value become attached to these roles, I’ve lost my identity.
Another way my identity stolen is through letting others define me. The thought of having another person being disappointed in me or perceive me a certain way can create incredible internal turmoil. I can then rush to re-create or carve an image or identity to soothe my pain and pride.
There’s an old Native American story of a young brave who happened upon a nest of golden eagle eggs. Deciding to be mischievous, he takes one of the eggs and places in with the eggs of a prairie chicken. The youngling eagle emerges and grows up with his fellow prairie chickens waddling through the dirt and pecking for tidbits of food.
One day, the young eagle saw a great shadow cast across the ground and with an upward gaze saw a golden eagle soaring magnificently across the sky. “That’s so beautiful,” the eagle said to a friend. “What is it?” “Why, that’s an eagle,” said the knowing friend, “the chief of the birds; but forget it. You could never be like that.” The eagle followed his friend’s advice, never giving it a second thought.
Eventually it died, having lived its entire life thinking it was a prairie chicken.
Reclaiming my identity, is not exercising the power of positive thinking. Rather, reclaiming my identity is a process of spiritual engagement that demolishes strongholds of mistaken identity and aligning myself with the truth of who I am in Christ.
May He alone be the wind under your wings. Something to Think About….
“…for the weapons of our warfare of not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” II Corinthians 10:4-5
(Eagle fable told by Ted Engstrom in "The Pursuit of Exellence")
Monday, March 22, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Don't Take Yourself Too Seriously
I heard a friend of mine say, “I take God seriously, but I don’t take myself too seriously”. That statement helped me feel the gravity of being serious about my relationship with God, but to lighten up on myself in how I often approach life. (My mother told me that even as a baby, I was serious.)
Psalm 126:2 says, “Then our mouth was filled with laughter…” Laughter is a great way that helps me not to take myself too seriously. Laughing about myself and having fun with friends helps me to keep life in perspective. (However, laughing “about myself”, is not the same thing as laughing “at myself. Laughing “at myself” is a form of self abasement)
The late Paul Newman is known to have stated that he didn’t take himself too seriously. In fact, Newman was having fun with a friend on Christmas Eve in 1970 when they decided to whip up their own salad dressing. The evening frivolity grew into creating a huge vat of their unique blend of salad dressing. The vat was so large it required being stirred by a canoe oar. As a joke, they began filling old wine bottles with the dressing and delivered them to neighbors as Christmas presents. One of the neighbors was the up and coming Martha Stewart, who shared the dressing with a grocer. The demand grew “Newman’s Own” salad dressing was birthed from a night of laughter and fun. Newman’s foundation donated over $200 million to charities last year. Newman wrote in his memoir, There are three rules for running a business; fortunately we don’t know any of them….our management philosophy was, ‘If we ever have a plan, we’re through’.”
Next time life feels heavy, join with me in “taking God serious” about His promises and go create something fun in the kitchen. Something to think about….
Psalm 126:2 says, “Then our mouth was filled with laughter…” Laughter is a great way that helps me not to take myself too seriously. Laughing about myself and having fun with friends helps me to keep life in perspective. (However, laughing “about myself”, is not the same thing as laughing “at myself. Laughing “at myself” is a form of self abasement)
The late Paul Newman is known to have stated that he didn’t take himself too seriously. In fact, Newman was having fun with a friend on Christmas Eve in 1970 when they decided to whip up their own salad dressing. The evening frivolity grew into creating a huge vat of their unique blend of salad dressing. The vat was so large it required being stirred by a canoe oar. As a joke, they began filling old wine bottles with the dressing and delivered them to neighbors as Christmas presents. One of the neighbors was the up and coming Martha Stewart, who shared the dressing with a grocer. The demand grew “Newman’s Own” salad dressing was birthed from a night of laughter and fun. Newman’s foundation donated over $200 million to charities last year. Newman wrote in his memoir, There are three rules for running a business; fortunately we don’t know any of them….our management philosophy was, ‘If we ever have a plan, we’re through’.”
Next time life feels heavy, join with me in “taking God serious” about His promises and go create something fun in the kitchen. Something to think about….
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