Who Defines Me?

A lot of things have happened in the past several years that have up-rooted some long held beliefs I had about myself.  Some of them I have blogged about.  My first blog, Am I Ready, talked about letting go of the iron control I tried to have over my life.  Then there was Never Too Old to Start and The Mouth Speaks. 

I was (FB) chatting with a friend and he said ‘we are to tear down every perception of ourselves that doesn’t agree with God’ (2 Corinthians 10:5).  I have often quoted that scripture but never in connection with what I thought about myself.  Hence the question, who defines me?

According to God when I became a Christian, old things passed away and I became a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17).  I must admit that I haven’t viewed myself that way.  I have always seen myself as the old me trying to become a better me to please God.  Per 2 Cor. 10:5, that doesn’t line up with God’s view of me so I am supposed to cast it down and accept that I am a new creature.

According to God when I became a Christian, He made Jesus sin and me the righteousness of God.  Yeah, right!  But…per 2 Cor. 10:5, that doesn’t line up with God’s view of me so I am supposed to cast it down and accept that He has made me the righteousness of God.

According to God when I became a Christian, I became a conqueror (Romans 8:37).  You have GOT to be kidding, right?  Yet…per 2 Cor. 10:5, that doesn’t line up with God’s view of me so I am supposed to cast it down and accept that I am a conqueror.

According to God when I became a Christian, I gained the ability to do all things through Christ (the anointing) that strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).  I hate to say it but I have definitely not seen myself this way.  Years of don’t know enough, not good enough, not-not-not-not-NOT…you get the picture.  But…per 2 Cor. 10:5, that doesn’t line up with God’s view of me so I am supposed to cast it down and accept that through Him, I can do all things.

Remember last week I said that being humble before God simply means agreeing with Him?  Does that mean that all this time I have been seeing myself as something different from what the Word says I am I have been walking in pride and arrogance?  (Ouch!) 

When my friend said that, I realized I have been letting all manner of things (past hurts, people’s opinions, disappointments, etc.) define me.  I can’t do that anymore.  That one statement demanded that I pursue a serious study of who the Word says that I am and take an active role in lining up with it.  How? by allowing the Word to work to renew my mind (Romans 12:2).

Time to get started.