There is a strong connection between what we hear and what we think. What others say about us has a significant influence on our thoughts.
How? The human brain is like a tape recorder, capturing everything it perceives. You have the ability to control what you hear and what sinks into your brain. Once something is recorded, it plays back in your mind, especially when you’re alone, and you start to dwell on it.
However, when searching for your true identity, many people mistakenly believe that what others say about them defines who they are. This is a dangerous misconception.
The truth is, it’s easy for us to believe the voice of man over the voice of God. Yet, no human being, not even you, can fully define yourself. So, whatever people say or whatever you think about yourself is not the real you.
People might label you with negative or positive terms—bastard, fool, pauper, failure, ugly, arrogant, or even wise, perfect, beautiful, and talented. These labels might reflect what they see, but they do not capture your true essence. The real you cannot be seen with physical eyes, and what cannot be seen cannot be accurately described or defined by others.
You might think of yourself in certain ways—stupid, vulnerable, foolish, stubborn, arrogant, wise, good, intelligent, or talented. While these thoughts might describe your actions or traits, they still don’t define the real you. Only God can truly define who you are.
Consider the story of Jabez in the Bible. His name in Hebrew means "he makes sorrowful." His mother named him Jabez because she bore him in pain, labeling him a "sorrowful child." This label influenced how others saw him and, eventually, how he saw himself. Jabez allowed this negative identity to shape his life, leading him to a sorrowful existence.
But one day, Jabez woke up from this mental and emotional slumber. He prayed to God, asking for his true identity to be revealed. God answered his prayer, showing him that his real identity was not one of sorrow but of wealth and prosperity. Jabez was, in fact, "richer than his brethren."
This story illustrates that Jabez’s true identity never changed from birth, but he became unconscious of it because of what others called him and what he thought of himself. Thankfully, through divine revelation, he reclaimed his true identity and experienced victory (1 Chronicles 4:9-10).
Like Jabez, many people today suffer because they’ve accepted the false identities imposed on them by others or by their own negative thoughts. They believe these lies about themselves, leading to an identity crisis. But the truth is, YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE. Whether you realize it or not, your true identity remains unchanged. The sooner you discover and embrace your true identity, the sooner you’ll be free from the crises that come from living a lie.
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