Identity Theft Is Not New

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")