Discovering the Transformative Power of 'I Am' Statements
Unveiling Your True Identity in Christ
When I was growing up there were a few identity statements that I adopted about myself because of what other people said about me. Sometimes it was a one off comment from a well meaning teacher or friend, and other times it was something I consistently heard from my sisters or parents.
A few of my less than ideal traits started to become things I identified with because of it. I have said things like this about myself…
“I am anxious.”
“I am easily distracted.”
“I am too much.”
“I am too loud.”
“I am impulsive.”
Many of us have been told about a piece of our identity at some point and suddenly it can start to shape the way we view ourselves and how we relate to God, ourselves, and others.
As I matured I realized I didn’t want to identify with being anxious. Instead, I recognized that in the seasons where that was said about me I was usually going through a lot of intense circumstances and experiencing some fear in my life that led to anxiety. It didn’t meant it would last forever and it didn’t mean I had to wear anxiety like a name tag, it just meant that I had an experience that shaped me and I could grow from.
Some identity statements can cause us to step away from the identity God has for us and to find too much identity in something that He has freed us from or desires to free us from.
Ephesians 1:11-12 says, “It’s in Christ we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.”
When we look to the Bible and to God’s Word we can find detailed truths about who we are now and how our identity rests in Jesus. But why are identity statements so important?
When we say “I am” this is stating God’s name. God introduced Himself to us as Yahweh or “I am.” We should be very aware and cautious of what comes next when we start off a statement with God’s name and His identity.
The Bible would say “I am anxious” is not a true statement for me anymore because of my identity in Christ. If I’m feeling anxious, I can say I am experiencing anxiety or I am feeling anxious. But I don’t need to identify with anxiety.
Our identity comes directly from God and an easy way to put that on display is to remember when we say “I am” we are speaking God’s identity. Whatever we follow that phrase with should be an extension of something God has given us, not something the world has tried to convince us of that likely isn’t true.
“I am” states God’s name and the next identity statement we make can be something that flows from our identity in Him, not necessarily what our current situation might appear to be.
The next time you hear yourself start a phrase with “I am” ask yourself if the belief and identity you are expressing is true of the identity God has given you.
