Wellness Wednesdays- Identity and Self Talk

A few days ago on Made of Still, my little sister shared a post about Affirmations. It was a good post to read and it caused me to think about Identity and Self Talk.

Currently I have various IDs. I have an ID badge for the public schools I teach in. I have an ID badge to the community college I have taught for. I have my driver’s license.

For any follower of Jesus, it begins with our identity in Jesus. We are not out struggles. We are not our temptations We are what Jesus says we are. Our identity begins with Child of God. John wrote about it in John 1:

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

So first and foremost my identity is Child of God. All other aspects about me flow from that.

It helps me to also remember what I am called to do in life. Paul understood this and shared it in the opening of his letters such as Romans.

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God

Paul knew what his calling was and strived to live accordingly. That is something I try to be mindful of as I interact with people. God has called me to first be his child. Based on that, he has also called me to represent him on earth through my callings in life, home missionary, teacher, blogger, writer, friend etc.

On days that chronic illness could impede me, I try to remind myself that God has plans for me that day. I realize that is not possible for everyone with chronic illness. If at home, I can still have a purpose. There are people to pray for, blog posts I can write and bloggers to interact with, worship videos I can watch etc.

Whether at home or out and about in a coffee shop, at school. at church, visiting refugees and immigrants, I try to remember aspects that flow from being a Child of God.

Ambassador- We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God 2 Corinthians 5.

Royal Priest- But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light 1 Peter 2.

Instead of self talk that brings me down, I try to remind myself that I am a Child of God, I am called to represent Jesus, I am an Ambassador for Jesus, I am a Royal Priest. All of these are true because of Jesus.

How we talk to ourselves makes a difference on how we feel, think. and act. That is why I remind myself I am a Child of God. That is much better than telling myself I am a child of an alcoholic parent.

The basis for reminding myself of my identity and my self talk is not just an attempt to pump myself up based on myself. It is remembering whose I am- Jesus’s, and what he has called me to be and do.

Thank you for reading. God Bless.