A Dangerous Woman
One of my absolute fave bumper stickers reads something like this: I want to be this kind of woman: When she gets up in the morning, Satan says, “Oh, crap. She’s awake!” Does this thought stir something in you? And just what does it stir: excitement, anger, fear, encouragement? It’s always given me mixed emotions…
Has Jesus Won Your Heart?
I love songs that talk about the love of Jesus. I didn’t used to. Never really understood it. And I certainly couldn’t relate to those emotional women who waxed poetic about Jesus. What was up with that? You see, when I was very young, a cult tried to make me hate and fear Jesus. I…
What’s In a Name?
Remember the original CSI/Crime Scene Investigation program’s theme? The rock group sang, “Whoo-ooo-oo are you? Whoo-ooo-oo are you?” Of course, for the program it meant they would identify the victim and the perpetrator of a crime. For most of us, it comes closer to home. You see, we don’t really know who we are.…
Speak the Truth to Your Identity
Have you ever known someone – child or adult – that seemed to become whatever they said they were? This can happen with positive or negative results. Psychology calls this phenomenon “self-fulfilling prophecy”. Scripture calls it “speaking to yourself in Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” Christian teaching says this is the way to speak to…
Lies Cause the Strongest False Identities
How many times have you felt like you didn’t know who you were? Did you come up with any answers why you might have felt like that? Of course, we expect adolescents to “find themselves” as they learn who they are and how to respond appropriately. Part of the duties of young people is to…
Calling, Role, or Identity? Ways to Know the Difference
Have you discerned the difference between your roles and your identities? They do overlap, but if you mix them up, it can be very painful when the role is ended, damaged, or destroyed. Fortunately, these mixed-up identities are usually fairly easy to sort out, especially if you take charge early on.
Is a Career Becoming Your Identity?
We could go on all day about false sources of identity. Everybody seems to have a new tack on the subject. We are incredibly good at accepting the lies about us that lead us to accept false identities.
Is Your True Identity Submerged by Your Important Life Roles?
False identity can come from a surprising source—happy ones. “Party opportunities” that go awry, so to speak. For example, have you ever known a woman who had a baby then identified so much with being a mother that it consumed her and became her identity? I cringe when I hear someone say she…
Is Your Identity Tied to Family History?
The family line is a common source of false identity. Our forebears have usually established traditions, attitudes, and approved patterns of behavior, passing them down through the generations. This is generally a good thing. God meant for it to be a source of stability and strength. That’s one reason why there are so many “begats”…
Did Your Cultural or Religious Upbringing Dictate Your Identity?
Can a relatively neutral source cause a false identity to form? It’s not the source that’s the problem; it all depends on what we do with that influence. We all absorb the culture and traditions of our surroundings, whether we want to or not. The constant exposure to these things make them part of our…