Don't Rush Relationship-Building

This post is part of the Write 28 Days Blogging Challenge hosted by Anita Ojeda. Participants choose a category, in which to concentrate throughout the challenge and the host provides a daily writing prompt. You can find me in the Christian Living category of this year’s writing challenge link-up. Be sure to visit other posts while you’re there.

This is the final post in this series. I’m sure I got the steps to developing a personal identity statement in the wrong order. It may not have been very intuitive for some. I’ve only shared the way my identity statement unfolded for me, as I felt led by the Spirit to share this concept with you. If you chose to give this a try, your identity statement may unfold differently. We are all precious in our differences.

Going through this process, then writing it out every day, and memorizing it helped me get through a difficult time in my life. It helped me center on Christ every morning, learn to trust Him with my innermost thoughts. He helped me. He gave me the words first and later the scripture passages to support each one, but not all at once.

Here is how my statement became my truth. After my first draft, I picked up a weekly planner and started each week by writing out my identity statement at the top of the page. Daily, in my quiet time in the morning, I began a healing journey with Christ.

I wrote what was on my heart. Things like a short prayer, something at work that concerned me, something that bothered me from the day before, or thanks for answered prayer. Developing a daily discipline (2 Timothy 1:7) of talking to God and landing on an identity statement was completely Spirit-led. I believe, wholeheartedly that God drew me to Himself in a time of need and a relationship developed. It can happen to you too.

Take your time, this is not meant to be rushed.

Almost a year after developing my morning routine, I began to explore scripture hoping to construct a firm foundation for my identity. I wanted to confirm that it wasn’t from myself. Here’s what I learned about my own identity statement:

I am a dearly Loved: John 3:13, 16:27, Ephes 5:1, Col 3:12

Chosen: Ephes 1:4, Col. 3:12, John 15:16

Child of God: 2 Cor 6:18, John 1:12, Ephes 5:1

Equipped: 2 Tim 3:17, Ps 25:12, Heb 13:20-21

For His Purpose: Jer 23:11, Ephes 2:10

Strong & Courageous: Joshua 1:19, Deut 31:6

In Christ: 1 Cor 6:17, Col 2:9-10

Sustained by Faith: Rom 5:1, 2 Cor 5:7, Gal 3:26

Focused on God: Ps 16:8, Prov 16:3, Jer 29:13

And Trusting: Prov 3:5-6, Ps 142:8, Ps 62:8, 1 John 5:14-15

Him for my past, present, and future: (Redeemed) Is 43:1b-3a, 1 Peter 1:18-19

Now, I want to work on memorizing these scriptures. Through all of this, my relationship with Christ continues to grow. Yours can too.

As I said, this helped me through a difficult season, but I learned that God doesn’t waste anything. These steps worked for me. Something else might work better for you. The point of this series is to encourage you, friends, to learn who you are in Christ. The Holy Spirit will develop the fruit in you as you develop a relationship with Jesus. He is with you always.

Let me know if this series helped you. I hope it did.

Here’s a recap of the steps covered in this series so far and those introduced in this post: