Wednesday, June 10

Who Is Shaping Your Identity?

Each day the world around you commands your identity by attempting to tell you who you are - or who you should be - by telling you what is important, how to spend your time and resources, by shaping your dreams, and telling you what values you should have. What the world is telling you about who you are may be a lie!

I am reminded of a story I read about a rancher who had been hunting in the mountains of West Texas. Up high on a cliff he came across an eagle's nest. He took one of the eagle's eggs back to his ranch and placed it under one of his hens sitting on her eggs. Eventually the eagle's eggs hatched. The mother hen took care of the eaglet along with her baby chicks who hatched at the same time.

The eagle made its home in the barnyard along with the chickens. It ate, slept, and lived just like the chickens. One day an eagle from the nearby mountain swooped down over the barnyard in search of prey. Trying to get her chicks and the eaglet to safety, the mother hen squawked loudly.

As the giant eagle swooped low across the barnyard he also let out a harsh scream - a scream made only by eagles. The young chicks heeded their mother's warning, but the eaglet responded to the call of the eagle. He took flight and ascended, following the eagle to the mountain heights.

The little eagle didn't know who he was. He was trying to be like all those chicks that surrounded him everyday. He didn't have an identity until he heard the loud, harsh scream from another eagle. He was living as a copy and not an original.

Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." Galatians 4:6 NIV

We are his children now, not just sometime in the distant future. (1 John 3:1) Knowing that we are his children should encourage us to live as Jesus. Reminding ourselves daily that God designed a unique plan for our lives. His design is not for us to be copies of anyone else. His design for our lives is an original plan.

Don't settle for the world to tell you who you are! Don't allow yourself to become a copy of someone else.  Listen for His call. Seek His face daily. Meditate on His Word and through Christ determine who you are and what your purpose is for the Kingdom of God.

I am so thankful today for God's love.  He created me to be an original.  His desire is not for any of us to become copies of anyone.  His plan for each of our lives is definitely not a cookie cutter plan.  His unique design for our lives has been purposed to fulfill His will for our lives.  Pursuing His plan is exciting and challenging.  With God every day is a new day overflowing with opportunities and achievements for the Kingdom!

Blessings as you seek Him more!!!