By Pastor Naomi Mitchell
For Carter County Times
When you are born, the world tells you who you are. When you are born again in Jesus, God tells you who you are. The world may try to define you by your family, success, failures, appearance, possessions, and education, by your status or your past mistakes. Who you really are is found in God who created you in his likeness and image. John 3:7 says, “you must be born again.”
The world may say – you are your past. God says – you are made new. The world may say – you are not enough. God says – you are my child. The world may remember your mistakes. God offers you forgiveness and a new beginning.
So, what does God say about you? 1) You are His child. In John 1:12 it says, “to all who did receive Him, He gave the right to become children of God.” 2) You are a new creation. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 it says, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” 3) Your past does not have the final word. Romans 8:1 says, “therefore, there is now no condemnation, for those who are in Christ Jesus.” 4) You are created for God’s purposes. Ephesians 2:10 says, “you are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” 5) You belong to God. 1 Peter 2:9 says, “you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.”
Don’t build your identity on the opinions of people. Build it on what God has spoken through His word. Your first birth gave you life in this world. Your new birth gives you new life in Christ. Don’t let the world tell you who you are when God has already spoken. Be born again. Be rooted in Christ. And live from the identity God has given you.
God’s voice speaks life. It affirms who you are in Christ, that you are loved, chosen and called. The enemy’s voice speaks lies and tells you that you aren’t enough, you are a failure and you are alone. Your voice speaks from self and will focus on self and image. What will people think of me? I need their approval.
God’s voice vs. the enemy’s voice vs. your own voice. God’s voice speaks life. It leads with truth and wisdom. The enemy’s voice speaks lies with confusion and deception. His lies will twist the truth and bring doubt and fear. Your voice which speaks from self will be based on feelings and opinions and will change with your mood and circumstances.
God’s voice speaks life. It will produce the fruit of the Spirit with love, joy, peace, patience and kindness. The enemy’s voice speaks lies that produce fruit of the flesh with anger, fear, doubt, jealousy and confusion. Your voice speaking from self will produce comparison and inconsistency of pride one moment and comparison the next.
Learn to discern. God’s voice brings life, the enemy’s voice deceives and lies, and your flesh (voice) is often driven by fear and pride. Jesus said, “my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Listen to the voice that gives you life!
Amen! So be it!
JOYFUL House of Prayer, 2519 Quicksand Road, (P.O. Box 856), Jackson, Kentucky 41339. Send Comments/Prayer Requests: Pastornaomi4god@gmail.com. FB: JoyfulHoprayer. Services: 10am Sunday and Joyful Kids Class at 10:30am, 6:30pm Thursdays. Radio Broadcast: WJSN 97.3 FM & WEKG 81.0 AM Sundays 1-2pm.
