Identify Yourself.

Beau Hughes from The Village Church in Denton, TX brought this matter to our attention.

It is the end of the year. People began to see the fruits of what has taken all year to ripen. Many people choose to share these fruit with each other and great joy comes from this. There is also an abundance of anxiety during this time of the year. December is anxious in 2 major reasons:

1) Many are nervous about the things that they did during the year.
2) Many are nervous about the things they didn't do during the year.

Both of these come from an identity crisis.

Their Identity are in things that they do: tasks, jobs, college, school in general, sports, health, marriage, friendships, sex life, hobbies, politics, finances, and much more.

People strive to do well in these areas listed above. There is a happiness that comes when they not only beat goals but they surpass them. There is nothing wrong with this but when you begin to set this activity before God, then you begin to falter. One way to know if you have set this in action is by your satisfaction. If you give your best effort being a child of God, then you are trusting God with the outcome of your work. If you aren't trusting God you will value negative criticism more than the positive edification.

As a college student I've notice that we always prep for the next semester with this one statement: "Next semester will be better. Next semester I'll get my act together". There is no problem with this, but we don't realize that we can give our all right now. We work and we work and we give our best effort. Some will do any and everything to get an A. This too is not a bad thing at all. When we strive for an A and receive anything less then that is the tipping point. I have seen many of my fellow classmates and believers lose themselves trying to attain a simple label. Even after they receive that desired label, they are not satisfied. Their identity is lost in what they earn and work towards.

They need to find this in God. Psalms 119:35-37 warns us of seeking selfish gain instead of pursuit after God.

At the end of the day, these things that we do only label us. They can't define who we are, yet God can. They can't help us with problems in other areas of our lives that aren't receiving attention, because God can. For me as a college student, the pursuit of grades were never my identity-Gods plan for his work to be done is who I am. He is who I'm working for, not people or the things that I can receive.

May God bless you with identity today! :-)