“The goal of the spiritual journey is the transformation of self.”
David Benner
Our greatest freedom is found in being who God created us to be. But it is not without a fight. The enemy doesn’t want our identity, our true self to be released because that is where God receives the greatest glory.
I experienced a tug-of-war within my heart when I wrote Restoring Your Heart to Deepen Intimacy. The attack was against what I believed God wanted the format to look like, different from other books. The warfare I encountered was really over my identity and my freedom to be myself, even if that meant being different from others. Because I desire acceptance, I try to fit in and be like everyone else. God showed me to stand firm, to accept, and even like who He created me to be. He wanted me to experience the freedom that comes with being true to myself. “So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).
A few of my friends kept encouraging me to obey what the Lord had shown me to do and to remain true to myself. Their prayers and words of encouragement gave me the backbone I needed for courageous obedience. God also encouraged me with these words: The greatest gift you can give to Me, and to yourself, is to be the wonderful woman I crafted and designed you to be. This is the place of your greatest freedom. If you stay in this place of acceptance and embrace all who you are, your strengths and weaknesses alike, you will continually be walking in your freedom. This freedom is what My Son paid a great price for. Wear who you are without one ounce of shame, and without any hiding or ‘playing down’ who you are. The truest source of joy comes when you’re free to be yourself, walking in all the authority I have given to you.
What is it that you do, that you feel God’s pleasure on it? That’s your passion, your sweet spot, where God wants you to hang out because that is what you were created for! When the enemy comes against your identity and there’s warfare over being who God created you to be, remember these two things. God receives greater glory when you are your true self, and you will experience greater joy walking in that freedom.
“There is only one problem on which all my existence, my peace, and my happiness depend: to discover myself in discovering God. If I find Him, I will find myself and if I find my true self, I will find Him.”
Thomas Merton
Relevant Reflections:
Describe a time when the enemy attacked your identity. How did you fight back?
What does your true self look like? If you’re unsure, ask the Holy Spirit to show you and reflect on what you are passionate about.
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