October 2008

Identity

Some things to contemplate until our Bible Study at October's Steering Meetings on this topic of Identity:

  * We were one of a kind before having children and still are
  * Our goal during motherhood is to find ourselves in this adventure
  * Every person has an outlook on the world and on life - a way of looking at things, valuing things, judging things. Our perspective is some thing which we have learned.
  * Our Identity determines the way we feel about ourselves, our hope for the future and how we develop our talents and skills
  * Motherhood - Remain clear about the fact that this season is only one part of a whole life
  * We have many years to continue to contribute to our children - are we developing ourselves?
  * To gain right perspective in our Identity as believers in God we need to go to the Word of God for insight.

Some questions to consider:

  * How has motherhood changed you?
  * As a child - what events and circumstances helped form you?
  * Which were the most significant influences?
  * What is the balance between who God made you to be as an individual and the responsibilities God has given you as a mother?
  * Read Ephesians 1:1-14 and circle "in Christ", "in Him", "in Himself", "in the Beloved" (who is Jesus), and "in whom"(when it refers to Jesus wherever they appear.

"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory."

Think about what it means to be "in Christ." How would your being "in Christ" change the definition of who you are?

List 5 words to describe yourself besides being a believer in God.

If you have time and want to, write a short statement that explains how you see yourself as a woman not just a mom.

The Bible teaches that raising children is "kingdom" work - eternal work for God

Prayer:

"What will it require of me Lord, to nurture the emotional, physical and spiritual well being of my children? I ask You, how do You want to transform ME in this process?"

Read the following statements from the Bible and think about which ones mean the most to you.

I am significant, acceptable, and secure because I am not "just" a mother. I am a gift from God to His son Jesus.

  * Jesus thanks his Father God for the gift of me

John 17: 6, 24

"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word."

"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world."

  * I am God's handiwork

Ephesians 2:10

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

  * I am loved by God

Jeremiah 31:3

 The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying:
       "I have loved you with an everlasting love;
       I have drawn you with loving-kindness."

  * I am God's child

John 1:12

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God"

1 John 3:1-3

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure."

  * I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins

Colossians 1:14

" . . .in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

  * I am complete in Christ

Colossians 2:10

" . . .and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority."

  * I am confident that the good work that God has begun in me will be completed.

Philippians 1:6

" . . . being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

  * I am the salt of the earth

Matthew 5:13

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."

  * I am the light of the world

Matthew 5:14

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden."

  * I am a branch of the true vine (Jesus) and a channel of his life

John 15:1, 5

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener."

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

  * I am a personal witness for Christ

Acts 1:8

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

  * I am God's temple (His dwelling place)

1 Corinthians 3:16

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?"

  * I am a member of Christ's body (the church)

1 Corinthians 3:9

"For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."

1 Corinthians 12:27

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."

  * I am God's co-worker

1 Corinthians 3:9

"For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."

2 Corinthians 6:1

"As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain."

  * I am a saint

Ephesians 1:1

"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
      To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: . . ."

  * I am a citizen of heaven

Ephesians 2:6

"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus . . ."

Philippians 3:20

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ . . ."

  * I am Christ's friend

John 15:15

"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."

  * I am born of God

1 John 5:18

"We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him."

  * I am never alone

Hebrews 13:5

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
   "Never will I leave you;
      never will I forsake you."

  * I cannot be separated from the love of God

Romans 8:35

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?"

  * I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (spiritual fruit from the good works we do in His name for others)

John 15:16

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name."

  * I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind

2 Timothy 1:7

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

  * I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 2:18

"For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit."

Motherhood can become a delight that we are able to share with our children, rather, than a demand we shoulder as best we can. When Jesus is Lord and Savior in our life we are able to accept our "Gift Identity". We are able to  reject the identities that come along with relationships, responsibilities, roles and objects - we can begin to live the Identity that we have been given by God as a free gift and as a result of our trust and faith in what He has done for us.

Ephesians 2:8-9

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."

In the book of Isaiah 49:15-16

"See, I will not forget you . . . I have carved you on the palm of My hand. I have called you by your name. You are mine. You are precious to Me. I love you."

You are loved by God - that can be part of your identity!