You made my whole being; you formed me in my mother’s body. I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way. What you have done is wonderful. I know this very well. (Psalm 139:13-14)

Ponder It.

• What characteristics do you have that you attribute to God?
• What characteristics do you have that aren’t characteristic of God?
• Consider what determines your identity: Job? Family? Social status? Abilities? Intelligence?

Receive It. You are who God says you are. Your identity is in him, not in the world. It’s easy to get caught up in all the roles you assume on a regular basis. You might be a teacher, wife, mom, grandma, mentor, housekeeper, cook, caregiver, and so on. What you do doesn’t determine who you are, but it certainly shapes you. As you get caught up in your daily tasks and responsibilities, you can begin to feel as if you’re in a quagmire, becoming discouraged in a routine with no significance. On the other hand, you can inflate yourself because of the opportunities and roles you have. Because others respect you, you can begin to believe the hype of all that others believe you can do in your own strength. Even those in ministry can fall in the trap of self-sufficiency. God demands humility from each of us. Humility is simply placing ourselves in the accurate position of who where are, which is God’s creation. He has no intention in demeaning us. It’s not how he deals with his authority. But he is the Creator, and we are the created. Our identity is in him. If we define ourselves as any more or less, we are distorting our true identities. Only God determines who we are. Only he truly knows our potential and our purpose. He will reveal it to us as we know and trust him. By seeking him, you will know yourself better.

Live It. Claim who God says you are. Make a list of characteristics of God. Write notes to the side of each one to identify how well you feel you embrace the characteristic. You’re created in his image, but are you inviting him to invade your life and shape you as you grow? As you identify areas for potential growth, ask God to challenge you to yield to him with opportunities for growth.