“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.” Matthew 22:37–38
Do you want to gain an unchanging perspective about who you really are instead of constantly being redefined by influencers, circumstances and false expectations?
For the first 20 years of my born-again life, I thought I knew who I was—I called myself a Christian, I was a mother, an attorney, and a wife. Yet deep inside, I was empty. I was drifting—desperate, unsatisfied, lonely, sad, and scared. It wasn’t until I went through a painful divorce that I realized I really had no idea who I was. And worse—I didn’t even like the person I thought I was.
This was the pivotal moment when I was captivated by the goodness of God and began to allow Him to be Lord of my life—I knew He must be better at “me” than I was!
Like the prodigal son, I was drawn back by His goodness and mercy. Though I had been born again in my early twenties, over time I had drifted. It was like being in a neglected marriage. I had said “I do” to God when I accepted Christ as my Savior, but slowly, without fully realizing it, I began replacing Him with other “gods” like work, family, sports, comfort, and worldly success. My friend, we were created to worship (that is, to passionately pursue) and worship we do! But nothing we worship, except God, can meet our expectations. Anything less than God will crush us. In fact, even any person we dedicate ourselves to more than we do God—we will crush that person with our unfulfilled expectations. We must get all we need from God.
This is the struggle of every born again person.
Even ministry can become a false god! God knows this about our tendency towards misplaced worship. Thus, Jesus told us that the first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart. But this was not a new theme that arose with Jesus; it was a consistent message throughout the Old Testament:
“You shall have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:4–5
From beginning to end, Scripture is clear: Loving God with everything we are is the foundation for knowing who we are.
But HOW does loving God help you truly know yourself?
It’s simple: You were created in God’s image. When you draw close to Him, He reveals who you really are—not as the world defines you, but as He does. The world, your flesh, and satan, all try to define you through shame, comparison, performance, and lies:
- “You’re inadequate because you’re not _____.”
- “You’re a failure because _____.”
- “You’re not beautiful unless you look like _____.”
- “You’ll never be loved unless you _____.”
But the more you draw near to God, the truth about who you are becomes louder than the lies:
- “You can do all things through My Son who strengthens you.” Philippians 4:13
- “You are not a failure—I am with you always.” Matthew 28:20
- “You are My treasured possession—I died for you.” 1 Peter 2:9
- “You are unconditionally loved.” Romans 5:8
And another benefit—the more you desire God, the less attractive your old idols become. He is the light, and His light illuminates every part of our life. When we walk in it, we begin to see the things in us that need to go—and we want to let them go. We also begin to see the beauty He planted in us and want to grow it.
As God reveals who you really are, you’ll start to understand why no worldly label could ever define you.
“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” Galatians 4:6–7
When we discover God, we discover the most honest self-knowledge. In His presence, we are fully known—and yet fully loved. God’s love transforms everything. It frees us from shame, from comparison, and from striving. And in that freedom, we begin to live out our true identity: sons and daughters of God, heirs to His promises, beloved by the King.
If you’re feeling lost, unworthy, or unsure of who you are, don’t go looking inward. Go upward. The more you pursue God, the more He will show you who He created you to be.
Knowing God reveals your purest, strongest, wisest, and most beautiful self.
Reflection Question:
Am I letting God define who I am, or have I allowed other “gods” like success, relationships, or performance to shape my identity?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me enough to show me who I really am. Forgive me for the times I’ve chased after lesser things to define my worth. I want to know You more, Lord. Help me to love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength—and to see myself through Your eyes. Remove every false identity and root me deeply in the truth that I am Your child. Teach me to walk in the light of Your love every day. In Jesus’ precious name I pray, Amen
