Post updated March 5, 2022
Imagine coming out from the shopping mall only to find that your car is missing?
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Perhaps just a few minutes before, you were excited to get home and show off your new outfit, but now your mind is filled with worry and doubt… you say to yourself for the 100th time, I’m sure I parked my car here.
Fear creeps in as you wander around the parking lot looking for your car.
This scenario is very similar to how Satan steals our greatest treasure- our spiritual identity in Christ.
He latches onto our soul wounds from unhealed trauma, especially childhood trauma, and tells us lies such as:
you are worthless, no one will believe you, you deserve to be treated poorly, or you are not worthy of love.
Satan’s lies can leave us wandering in the parking lot of life filled with self-doubt, worry, anxiety, and fear. As a result of his constant barrage, we may struggle with our spiritual identity.
He’ll make you think poorly of yourself question who God is and his motives in your life. Even if you are a long-time Christian, it is possible to intellectually know your spiritual identity in Christ but not in your heart.
Eve had everything available to her in the garden of Eden. Yet, the Enemy convinced her to doubt God’s love and his motives.
How to Spot a Breach in Your Spiritual Identity?
Unresolved past trauma like sexual, emotional, physical, and verbal abuse and Satan’s lies often lead to dysfunction and control issues. This can affect your relationship with yourself and others.
These out of balance attitudes and behaviors often manifest as:
anger, unforgiveness, manipulation, resentment, self-doubt, workaholism, perfectionism, addictions, low self-esteem, secrecy, controlling, and judgmental spirit.
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 NLT
How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft.
When you understand who you are in Christ, you can let go of Satan’s lies and embrace all that God has for you. I am not saying this is an easy process. You may require assistance from a Christian counselor to help you erase the old messages and embrace new attitudes that reflect your identity in Christ.
Just as you and I protect our valuables by locking them up, we can secure ourselves in the Father’s love.
How do you do that? Remind yourself daily who you are in Christ, who God is, and proclaim that your identity is not up for grabs. Believing in God, declaring who you are in Christ, and praising him prevents identity theft. God designed you uniquely for his purpose.
Believe in God’s Promises and Choose to Live by Faith.
As you study God’s word, look for his attributes and write them in your journal. Meditate on these characteristics daily and reflect on why they help you trust God. This practice will reshape your thinking about God.
For example, God is:
- Holy (Psalm 86:5)
- Faithful (Deuteronomy 7:9)
- Gracious and slow to anger (Psalm 103:8)
- Merciful (Ephesians 2:4)
- Loving (Psalm 136:2)
Affirm Your Identity as a Child of God Daily
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139:14 NLT)
Satan is out to steal, kill, and destroy, but he cannot steal your identity without your cooperation. As you study the word, write down verses about what God says about you. Chose to renew your mind daily and affirm who you are in Christ with the scripture verses. Below are some examples to get you started.
In Christ, you are:
- Precious and honored (Isaiah 43:4)
- Apple of the Father’s eye (Zechariah 2:8)
- Holy and dearly loved (Colossians 3:12)
- Clothed in His righteousness (Isaiah 61:10)
- God’s treasured daughter (1 Peter 2:9)
- Forgiven (Ephesians 1:7)
- Empowered by the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17)
Worship and Praise God
Thank God for the finished work of Jesus and how he has clothed you with his righteousness. Worship draws us closer to God. I especially love to praise and worship using old hymns and Psalms (such as Psalm 147).
Refuse to cooperate with the Enemy. When you fully embrace your identity in Christ, your life will change, and you’ll no longer wander around the parking lot of life. You’ll have hope and enjoy a new life.
Friend, I’m boldly asking you to step out in faith, delete the old messages of trauma and lies and embrace new attitudes in Christ.
Friend, you have worth and dignity in Christ.
Write down a few of your strengths and talents. Praise God for these talents and the many ways you are beautiful.
This is an update from the original post- Identity Theft on Beloved Women.
You might also be interested in Identity: who am I?
