HOW WE PERCEIVE OURSELVES

Romans 8:16, 17
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are
children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and
fellow heirs with Christ

Lydia is a middle-aged woman who was dealt a bad hand in life
right from the beginning. Memories of ritual and sexual abuse that
she suffered as a young child have haunted her continually
throughout her Christian life. When she came to see me, her damaged
self-image seemed beyond repair. As she told me her story, Lydia
displayed little emotion, but her words reflected total despair.

When she concluded, I asked, "Who are you, Lydia? How do you
perceive yourself?"

"I'm evil," she answered stoically. "I'm just no good for
anybody. People tell me I'm evil and all I do is bring trouble."

"You're not evil," I argued. "How can a child of God be evil?
Is that how you perceive yourself?" Lydia nodded.

It is never pleasant to see the evil one express his ugly
personality through a victim like Lydia. But realizing that she is
primarily the product of the work of Christ on the cross instead of
the victim of her past, she was able to throw off the chains of
spiritual bondage and begin living according to her true identity
as a child of God.

Nothing is more foundational to your freedom from Satan's
bondage than understanding and affirming what God has done for you
in Christ and who you are as a result. We all live in accordance
with our perceived identity. In fact, we cannot consistently behave
in a way that is inconsistent with how we perceive ourselves. Your
attitudes, actions, responses and reactions to life's circumstances
are often determined by your conscious and subconscious
self-perception. If you see yourself as the helpless victim of
Satan and his schemes, you will live like his victim and be in
bondage to his lies. But if you see yourself as the dearly loved
and accepted child of God that you really are, you will more likely
live like a child of God.

Prayer:

Thank You, Jesus, that You have made me more than a conqueror.
Because of Your love and power, I can live as a victor instead of a
victim today.