Where does my identity come from?

Earlier today i had a chance to catch up with a friend. Satan attacks my friends. I don't enjoy Satan, but i Love Jesus, mainly cause he always wins, unlike carolina, anyways...back to seriousness, (im a little ADD today)

My friend who i will call "stacy" is a very Christ centered woman. She loves God with all of her heart. She has a few friends that are seeking out the peace and the love that they see in her. Seeking out the Christ that stacy lives. She talks to them, she is a friend to them. They come to her with needs, with questions, when they just need someone to be there. i have alot of respect for stacy for what she does for the kingdom.

Unfortunately, sometimes Satan can use these lost sheep to pull stacy down, not that they are bad, but satan has a way of twisting words and confusing the truth, God's truth.

Today, one of these friends told stacy something to the effect of, -You are just a perfect little christian girl so your life is all perfect, my life will never be perfect enough, i might as well stop trying to do right.-

I don't know what this friend was looking for, maybe just fishing for someone to say, "you can do it, you are perfect," im not really sure, all i know is that Satan twisted that around and had stacy questioning the authenticity of her witness to not only this friend, but everyone.

She thought she was portraying something that was causing her friend to think she was perfect. Now maybe you have never found yourself in this situation, maybe not even close, but i can tell you that these words will mean something to you. Just as they did to her, and to me.

Your identity and authenticity does not come from your interaction with people, how you minister to their needs, what you do for them, what they think of you, or anything even close to that. The only one that validates your faith is God. Your identity is between you and God first and foremost. He is the one that you have to be authentic with. If your life is on a hill of multiple blessings and your life is "good" and seems like everything smells like roses, then, first of all thank God, second, watch out for the valley you are coming up on(its sure to be there), but theres no crime in telling people about good things that the Lord is doing in your life. Obviously without gloating.

God has given us all times of rejoicing and times of suffering and crying out. We also know that our actions or our works don't make our breaks. Its not about how good or bad of a time we are having in our lives that we need to be sure and show the world, rather its the Christ that lives in us, the love of Jesus, the most high that should shine through, in good times and bad. The message isn't if you live good you will have an easier life, its about showing God's love, grace, and mercy prevailing through the thick and the thin, the good and the bad.

Im not sure if what im saying makes sense to anyone else, but please know that in God you will find yourself, dont look to your friends or actions or anything else to authenticate your faith and your witness.


Pray for stacy


-t

lovechangelive...