Living a Life of Faith: Embracing Your New Identity in Christ

Living a Life of Faith: Embracing Your New Identity in Christ

     Life Comes with its share of uncertainty and challenges. So, how can we live a life of unwavering faith? How do we step into the fullness of who God has called us to be? These questions lie at the heart of our spiritual journey and they invite us to explore the transforming power of faith and the new identity we have in Christ.

     Did you know that God is in the business of rewriting stories and changing lives? He certainly is and He desires to make us a new creation. This includes freeing us from the constraints of our past and the limitations we have placed on ourselves. The enemy may try to convince us we're something we're not, but God wants to give us a new identity, one rooted in His love and purpose for our lives.

    Consider the story of Abram, who became Abraham. God appeared to him when he was 99 years old, saying, "I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless." (Genesis 17:1) This wasn't a call to perfection, it was an invitation to step into a covenant relationship with God. Abram's name, meaning "exalted father," was changed to Abraham, "father of many." This name change reflected more than who he had been, it declared who God was calling him to be.

     Just like Abraham, we too are called into a covenant relationship with God, one whose foundation is faith. Romans 1:16-17 reminds us, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes... For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'"

     But what does it mean to live by faith? How do we embrace this calling in our daily lives?

1. Set Your Eyes on Eternity.
     In 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, we're reminded, "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

     Living by faith requires a shift in perspective. Instead of fixating on our troubles and challenges, we're called to focus on eternity. This doesn't mean ignoring our present circumstances, but rather viewing them through the lens of God's eternal purposes.

2. Learn to Trust in God.
     Psalm 37:4-6 encourages us, "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun."

     Trusting God often means stepping out into the unknown, which can be scary. It requires surrendering our desires, comforts, wealth, and abilities to Him. When we commit our ways to the Lord, He not only gives us the desires of our hearts but also uses us to bless others and further His kingdom.

3. Let God Lead You.
     Proverbs 14:12 warns, "There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death." It should come as no surprise but our human reasoning and understanding are limited. What makes sense to us may not align with God's perfect will. Instead, we must learn to follow God's leading, even when it doesn't make sense to our natural minds.

     Isaiah 48:17-18 beautifully illustrates God's desire to lead us where we "should" go: "This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: 'I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea.'"

4. Endure Trials and Temptations.
     Living a life of faith doesn't mean we'll be free from challenges. In fact, Jesus warned His followers in Matthew 24:9, "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me."

     However, He also promised, "But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:13) Our call is to endure, to stand firm in our faith even when the world around us seems to be falling apart.

     Embracing our new identity in Christ and living a life of faith is not about perfection or having all the answers. It's about trusting God enough to take one step at a time with Him, even when we can't see the full path ahead. It's about allowing Him to rewrite our stories, to give us new names that reflect His purpose for our lives.

     Remember, faith is not just a concept to be understood, but a life to be lived. It's about opening ourselves up to experience God, allowing Him to reveal Himself to us in new and deeper ways. As we do this, our faith grows, creating a beautiful cycle of revelation and increased trust.

In practical terms, living by faith might mean:
- Stepping out of your comfort zone to follow God's leading.
- Trusting God with your finances, even when it doesn't make sense.
- Forgiving someone who has hurt you deeply.
- Sharing your faith with others, even when it's uncomfortable.
- Choosing to praise God in the midst of difficult circumstances.

     As we embrace our new identity in Christ and live by faith, we become living testimonies of God's transforming power. We demonstrate to the world that there is hope beyond what we can see, that there is a God who loves us and has a purpose for our lives.

     So today, let's choose to live by faith. Let's set our eyes on eternity, trust in God's leading, and endure whatever challenges come our way. Let's allow God to give us new names, to rewrite our stories, and to use us for His glory. For in doing so, we not only find our true identity but also invite others to discover the life-changing power of faith in Christ.