For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Eph. 2:10)
Recently, I stumbled across this quote in a book I read:
True freedom will only bloom in your life when you put on the truth of who God says you are. Knowing who God wants you to be is not the same as practicing who He wants you to be…Remember who you are in Christ, practice being who God says you are, and in time, you’ll be walking in the hall of freedom. -Dennis Jernigan
This quote breathed life into me. As someone who has battled at times with insecurity, self-doubt, and fear, this served as a reminder that my true identity is not always something I feel, it’s something I put on. That means when I feel fearful, I can put on courage. When I feel weak, I can put on strength. When I feel insecure, I can put on confidence. Easier said than done right? What I love about this quote is that it highlights that this is a practice.
One thing I have learned in my Marriage and Family Therapy studies is the practice of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Science now teaches us through neuroplasticity that our brains can change! Long standing dysfunctional thought patterns can change, but it takes time and intentional effort to replace these habits with patterns of positive and healthy thinking. However, it is possible.
What this means is even when you don’t feel like the best version of yourself, you can practice being the best version of you. And likely, even when you don’t feel the change, change is happening beneath the surface.
What aspects of your identity do you want to nurture? Is it joyfulness? Is it patience? Is it boldness? Instead of falling into the same thoughts that keep you stuck in how you feel, ask yourself, what is one thing I can practice today that brings me joy? How can I practice patience? What is one bold step I can take today? And keep doing it. Keep practicing it. Keep walking out what it looks like to live in that reality moments, minutes, hours, and then days at a time. Eventually, what took so much effort, comes much more naturally. You’ll be on your way to not only learning about who God says you are, but living like you believe it.
This is where true freedom, victory, and healing is found.
Let me be clear, the Anointed One has set us free – not partially, but completely and wonderfully free! We must always cherish this truth and stubbornly refuse to go back to the bondage of our past. (Gal 5:1)
