REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE: Overcoming the Devil's Lies About Your Identity

I twirled my new dress in front of my grandfather, awaiting a compliment from a man I barely knew.

"My, my, you are…"

Raised in church and loved at home, I knew how that sentence was supposed to end.

You are… a beautiful, beloved girl created in God's own image.

But my intoxicated grandfather chose to make a joke instead.

"You're UGLY!"

He threw back his whiskey and roared.

I ran from the room with Momma and the truth chasing close behind to fix things.

"You're my beautiful baby girl. Oh, honey, I'm so sorry. Grandpa didn't mean it." But I knew he did.

- Nikki S. White, “Me, Mom, & Jesus”

It seemed the damage was done.

Sadly, I’m not alone. It’s the way of a broken world.

Hurt people hurt people. But behind all this nastiness, it's really the devil at work.

Christians shouldn’t be surprised.

Jesus told us that the devil's a liar who tries to steal, kill, and destroy.

When ugly words challenge who God says we are, it's the thief trying to steal our identity, kill our confidence, and destroy our worth.

After Jesus saves us, the devil can't have us. So, he devises schemes to make us second-guess ourselves.

The devil uses any means necessary—a teacher who implies you'll never succeed, a parent who demands perfection, or a friend who questions your faith.

The devil thief arrives ready to strip you of your dignity, but the Son of God came to clothe you in righteousness and crown you with love.

Who you are is indisputable, because of Who Jesus is.

If anyone questions your true identity, point to the finished work of Jesus Christ.

We don’t have to accept labels, roles, and burdens that God never intended for us to carry.

Because Jesus bore our sins, we now bear His Name. And in the Name of Jesus, we can confidently declare the Gospel without shame.

We have been rescued out of the kingdom of darkness and brought into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

So, regardless of what the world says, hear the Word of the Lord:

"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 2:9).

When the old lies roar their ugly, drunken heads, or you hear a little voice ask, “Who do you think you are?”

Tell those lies the truth.

Then, tell yourself.

You are…a beautiful, beloved person created in the image of God.

Remember who you are.