I have had to ask myself this question at some points in my life: “Who am I, really?” Because if we’re not careful, we start measuring ourselves by the things we’ve achieved — the goals we’ve hit, the image people have of us, the progress we can point to. And when those things are missing or shaky, we feel like we’re missing too. But then God keeps pulling us back to this truth: our life is hidden in Christ. That’s where our identity is, not in the boxes we’ve checked or haven’t checked yet.
Paul understood this. In Philippians 3:7-8 he said, “Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” That’s a heavy statement, especially when you remember who Paul was. He wasn’t small. He had status, he had influence. But he looked at all of it and said, “Without Christ, it’s empty.” He wasn’t saying achievements are bad; he was saying they’re not strong enough to define who you are.
And isn’t that the trap for many of us? We’re so quick to wrap our worth around what we do, how much we earn, or how well people clap for us. But the truth is, those things are fragile. Jobs can disappear. Titles can fade. Applause always dies down. Even relationships can shift. But identity in Christ? That’s untouchable. It doesn’t reduce with age. It doesn’t get weaker when you fail. It’s eternal.
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3 (NIV).
That realization has set me free. We can chase goals, pursue dreams, and give our very best, but whether we rise or fall, whether people notice us or overlook us, one thing stays the same: we are still God’s children. That truth doesn’t shift with achievements. Our value isn’t hanging on the next milestone; it’s already secure in Jesus.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works. Ephesians 2:10.
Did you see that? It doesn’t say your worth comes from the works. It says you are His handiwork. The identity comes first. The works simply flow out of it.
In conclusion, achievements are good. They can open doors, create opportunities, and even bless others. But they were never meant to define us. Christ is. When we make Him our real identity, we stand on a foundation that doesn’t shake. Nothing we gain or lose in this life can change the fact that we are fully known, fully loved, and fully secure in Him.
The state of the heart is very important because that’s what God will see. When God looks down from heaven, he looks straight into your heart.
Unlike man, God doesn’t see the pulchritude or outward appearance, he looks inward.
Only God can see how desperately wicked a man’s heart is.
Only God knows the lady winking at you this moment but is plotting your downfall.
Only God sees beyond the nose.
Only God that sees the heart that loves you now and will love you some twenty-three years from now.
1 Sam 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
When God looks into your heart, what does he see? Will he see pride, arrogance, bitterness, rebellion, and all sorts?
Will he see perversion, scheming, devilish plots and what have you?
If God gives you the go-ahead to do what you have in mind, what will it be?
2 Sam 7:1-3 KJV And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; 2 That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. 3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.
See another person;
John 13:27, 30 (TPT) And when Judas ate the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus looked at Judas and said, “What you are planning to do, go do it now. 30 So Judas left quickly and went out into the dark night to betray Jesus.
If God gives you the go-ahead to start that relationship, will it be a disaster? Think about it.
God did not have respect for Cain’s offering because he saw his heart. God knew he had the capacity to give more, but he decided to withhold it….and God said it would have been better for you not to have given at all.
So God is saying if all you want to be doing is taking selfies at cinema halls, I think you should still remain single… hehe…
If all you want to be doing has no kingdom relevance, God will just be shaking his head from heaven.
Ps 24:3-4 KJV Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
Can you see how God lays premium on the heart?
Watch what enters your heart this season. Be deliberate and intentional. Guard your heart with all diligence. Don’t train your heart to accommodate heartache…it can make the heart sick. Your heart is sacred. Don’t make it a dumping ground.
God’s love is the foundation of our faith. It is not just an abstract concept but a reality that He constantly reveals in our lives.
His love is evident in everything He does because love is an action word.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
The love of God comes with actions each time He expresses it to us. He’s so intentional about you and I that He gave us dominion and access through His son (Jesus Christ) whom He made our advocate.
How does God demonstrate His love for His children?
God demonstrates His love for His children in many ways, and the Bible is full of examples of His deep and unchanging love through:
1. Jesus Christ’s Sacrifice
God’s greatest demonstration of love is sending Jesus to die for our sins. Jesus Christ is His only begotten son and the second in trinity yet He gave Him out for the atonement of our sins. (Romans 5:8)
2. Adoption after Redemption
After the redemption Jesus Christ brought to us, we were now called sons and daughters of God which is an incredible access to God. God doesn’t just love us, He adopts us into His family.
1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are.
The day we give our life to Christ is the signage of our adoption.
3. Provision for our Needs
God cares about every detail of our lives, including our daily needs. The word of God says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) He is ever ready to show up for us in time of need. All that we need is to ask so we can receive from Him.
In conclusion, no matter where you are in life, single or married, employed or unemployed, trust in His love, it is always present, always faithful, and always enough.
The victory of the Cross is not a one-time event but a daily reality for every believer. The scripture reminds us that God’s divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life.
2 Peter 1:3 (NIV) – His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.
To consistently enjoy this victory, we must embrace two fundamental principles:
1. Knowing Who You Are in Christ
Before we can truly celebrate the victory of the Cross, we need to understand our identity in Christ. This revelational knowledge is the key that unlocks our freedom. When you grasp that you are loved, redeemed, and empowered by God, every life’s battle becomes an opportunity to live out that truth.
In our marriages and relationships, this truth comes into play. Instead of seeking approval or validation solely from one another, we learn to ground our worth in who we are in Christ. This mutual understanding transforms conflict into growth and challenges into stepping stones toward a deeper, more resilient love. Just as the Word nourishes our spirit, a clear knowledge of who we are in Christ becomes the sustenance for every aspect of our lives.
2. Faith
Faith is essential to experiencing God’s victory. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. Our belief in His promises like Romans 8:32, which reminds us that He gave His only Son for us builds an unshakeable foundation. Faith is the anchor that holds us steady when life’s storms arise.
Consider the simple yet crucial question: “What are you feeding your mind?” The thoughts we nurture shape our identity and our destiny. In every relationship and marriage, feeding our minds with the truth of God’s Word and meditating on the scriptures, enables us to overcome difficulties with confidence. Even when challenges seem impossible, faith assures us that Christ has overcome the world.
Victory in Christ isn’t about never facing struggles. It’s about knowing that no matter what comes your way, you’ve already won through Christ. Life will test you in every way possible but don’t lose sight of what the cross secured for you. See yourself with the lens of the cross!
Stop picking up what God has already taken away. It could be fear, doubt, or past mistakes. Keep feeding your mind with His truth, trust His timing, and hold onto faith even when things don’t look like they’re changing.
God’s victory should be your everyday reality. Live in it, walk in it, and never let life convince you otherwise.
A snare is a device or trap employed to capture or confine an animal against its will. Historically, fowlers (bird hunters) utilized snares to capture birds.
In Psalm 124:7-8, the term “snare” is employed metaphorically to convey a situation characterized by peril, oppression, or confinement.
Psa 124:7-8 (AMPC) We are like a bird escaped from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! [8] Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
The psalmist is comparing God’s rescue to a bird escaping from a hunter’s snare.
In a broader sense, the snare can represent any kind of trap, temptation, or bondage. The passage expresses gratitude for God’s deliverance and protection.
Guess what? This is exactly your story!
You’ve escaped!
Not only did you escape, but the trap was invalidated, rendered useless, null, and void!
You’re free!
Jesus has done something incredible for you and me. We’ve been freed from all sorts of traps, temptations, and bondages! Praise be to God!
You’re meant to live a triumphant life, not a defeated one like you’re still trapped!
And guess what? The next verse says your help comes from the Lord!
Live in the reality of the help that God has given you.
In your relationship and marriage, celebrate what God has done for you!
Soar like an eagle and don’t get caught up in the messes of this world.
We have a similar promise in Psalm 91, which says the same thing we have in God!
Psa 91:3 (KJV) Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
Effective immediately, embrace the reality of that freedom and accept all the divine assistance that God bestows upon you in the name of Jesus.
