Spiritual Identity

Do you ever get a glimpse of yourself that is exactly who you want to be, but always seems just out of reach? The happier, kinder, less stressed, more courageous you? The ideal version of you isn't imaginary at all. It's actually the authentic you trying to break through. And it’s not a future version of yourself you have to chase. The true you may be new to you, but it’s not new to God. It's the you he knew all along.

Spiritual identity emphasizes that one's understanding of their identity in Christ will make all the difference in how that believer grows and bears fruit. You could say that the fundamental identity of the believer is essential as a building block in discipleship.

Best-selling author Jerry Brides ( The Pursuit of Holiness, The Discipline of Grace, The Bookends of the Christian Life, and many other books) asks perhaps the most fundamental question of existence: "Who am I?" He then turns to scripture to unpack for the Christian eight clear, interlocking, illuminating answers.

Millions are getting lost in the evangelical maze: inerrancy, indifference to the environment, deterministic Calvinism, purity culture, racism, LGBTQ discrimination, male dominance, and Christian nationalism. They are now conscientious objectors, deconstructionists, perhaps even "none and done". As one of America's leading academics speaking to the issues of religion today, David Gushee offers a clear assessment and a new way forward for disillusioned post-evangelicals.

God took David from the fields where he followed the sheep to become the ruler of Israel. He was overlooked by his father, yet chosen by God. He carried the dream to be king from the day Samuel anointed him, but he did not feel worthy to marry the king's daughter after defeating Goliath. David experienced many amazing moments in his life, yet he also endured many traumas. He was the hero of Israel and then became the hunted villain. He went from leading the armies of Israel to being pursued by the same.

Victory Over the Darkness emphasizes the importance of believing and internalizing the cardinal truths of Scripture as a base from which to renew the mind and fend off Satan's relentless attempt to convince us that we are less than Christ empowers us to be.

Much is said in Christian circles about knowing God. But Christians throughout the ages have agreed that there cannot be deep knowledge of God without deep knowledge of the self. Discerning your true self is inextricably related to discerning God's purposes for you. Paradoxically, the more you become like Christ, the more you become authentically yourself. In this profound exploration of Christian identity, psychologist and spiritual director David G. Benner illuminates the spirituality of self-discovery.

Who am I? It's a question we all ask ourselves at some point. Depending on the season we focus our identity on our job performance, marital status, personality type, or social network, among other options. However, there's a larger question to consider. Who does the Bible tell me I am in Christ? From the wisdom and perspective of insightful authors, we'll seek to answer this question by: exposing our false notions of identity; understanding the biblical truth of our identity in Christ; and reflecting on what it looks like to live in our new (and true) identity.

You have been uniquely created by God to fulfill your divine purpose! In a day where so many people are frustrated, looking in different places to discover their life purpose and true meaning, you have the answer. Look no further than who you are! In Identity, TD Jakes reminds you that the key to finding your purpose is rediscovering the person you were made to be!

In the Known by God Audio Lectures, part of the Biblical Theology for Life series, Brian Rosner explores three biblical angles on the question of personal identity: being made in the image of God, being known by God, and being in Christ. Rosner shows that rather than knowing ourselves, being known by God is the key to personal identity. It gives our fleeting lives significance, provokes in us humility, supplies comfort when things go wrong, and offers clear moral direction for living.

Throughout the Bible, followers of Jesus are commanded to submit to Him as their King. They are told to obey and follow, faithfully and without hesitation. Every time Christians utter the word Lord, they make a subtle yet profound declaration - that God is their Master and that they belong to Him. In fact, the Bible describes believers as His slaves. They have been bought with a price and now live for Christ as a people for His own possession. But go into most churches today, even flip through most Bible translations, and you won’t see or hear the word slave anywhere.

The desire to answer this question—whether it manifests in self-enhancement strategies or self-serving biases—is part of being human. Yet, through a Biblical lens, we know something has gone terribly wrong with our human nature. Brokenness happened when sin separated us from our Creator God, and the answers we seek are only obtainable when we reconnect with him. Who You Are shows us that the Gospel is the only thing that sets you free from the verdict of sin and justifies you as God's prized possession.

Did you know your true identity was stolen from you? What if you've been living under a false identity that God never intended for you to have? In this book, uncover the lies and deception that the world uses to keep you from discovering your true identity in Christ. Once you know who you are in him, the freedom, blessing, and authority unlocked are incredible!

Pastor and cofounder of the Bethel School of Ministry Kris Vallotton walks Christians through the profound process of discovering their true identity and experiencing the wonder of their kingdom purposes.

Pastor and best-selling author Mark Driscoll believes false identity is at the heart of many struggles - and that you can overcome them by having your true identity in Christ. In Who Do You Think You Are? Driscoll explores the question: "What does it mean to be 'in Christ'?" In the process he dissects the false-identity epidemic and, more important, provides the only solution - Jesus.

In The Power of Oneness, Larry Silver takes a detailed look at the John 17:20-23 passage and its implications for our relationship with God, in marriage, and within the Body of Christ. Larry Silver, author of Spiritual Identity, takes the concept on Oneness to another level. This is a must for every Christian who desires to make a difference in their world.

As you journey deeper in the Christian pilgrimage, you come to realize that the Christian life is more than merely replicating particular spiritual disciplines or practices. You begin to understand that at the core of Christian faith is the transformation of your very identity. M. Robert Mulholland Jr. exposes the false selves that you may be tempted to hide behind and helps you to instead discover the true self that comes from being hidden with Christ in God.

Most of us have been on the receiving end of rejection, a broken dream, or heartbreak. And while this is not an easy space to go through, when we are grounded in the truth, we can endure the tough times.

A deeply informative and insightful exposition on the essential yet often-neglected ministry of Christian spiritual warfare, Embracing Our Full Victory in Christ: The Journey from Darkness to Light is a Bible-based and detailed account of the challenges and triumphs of confronting and overcoming demonic influences in a world—and, tragically, often within a church—that fails to acknowledge spiritual powers.

A believer's identity in Christ is both deeply comforting and highly motivational. Do you know who you are? Take ninety days to better grasp the full picture through this gospel-rich devotional.