21 Declarations for Identity and Belonging
Every step closer tied my stomach in knots. On the kitchen counter laid the evidence that my biological father existed.
Around seven-years-old at the time, my birth certificate brought a painful reminder that my real dad was missing from my young and vulnerable life. Soon, I had a new dad enter the picture, my wonderful step-father Wendell, who loved and cared for me.
Still, my heart ached to know deep down:
Who am I? And more importantly, Whose am I?
Likewise, have you ever struggled with questions about identity and belonging?
Who and Whose: Identity and Belonging
Sometimes we separate who we are with whose we are. But the two were always meant to be one and the same.
My father came back into my life a few years later.
My twin sister and I lived with one dad (step) and visited the other. I wasn’t sure whether or not to call both “Dad.” Because they were different as night and day in personality, discipline, showing affection, communication, and opinions.
It was all confusing.
Identity and Belonging: Never Separated
When I came to know Christ as Lord and Savior at sixteen, I began a new life in Christ with a brand new father, my heavenly Father.
And God, the Father, not only wants us to rest in who we are in Him, but to also find our security in whose we are, we belong to Him.
Because at our very core, who we are and whose we are can never be separated.
So let’s look at 21 powerful declarations to connect who we are and whose we are.
Identity: God Knows My Name
(1.) My heavenly Father never goes missing from my life. “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b (ESV)
(2.) God knows my name. (Isaiah 43:1)
(3.) My heavenly Father is intimately acquainted with everything about me. “You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.” Psalm 139:3 (ESV)
(4.) God, the Father, adopted me into His family. No longer a spiritual orphan, I now belong. (Galatians 4:5-7)
(5.) The Lord loves and cares for me. (Ephesians 3:18-19, Psalm 23)
God knows my name (Isaiah 43:1), is intimately acquainted with everything about me (Psalm 139:3), and adopted me into His family (Galatians 4:5-7). #identity #belonging Share on XBelonging: The Lord Fights For Me
(6.) My heavenly Father calls me beloved, child, saint, blessed, and His. (Romans 1:7, John 1:12)
(7.) God, the Father, delights in me. “He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.” Psalm 18:19 (ESV)
(8.) The Lord fights for me. (Exodus 14:14)
(9.) My heavenly Father watches over me. (Psalm 121:5-8)
(10.) God has desires and plans for me. (Ephesians 2:10, Proverbs 3:5-6)
Identity and Belonging: The Father Counsels Me
(11.) My heavenly Father guides me. (Psalm 37:23)
(12.) God, the Father, counsels me. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” Psalm 32:8 (ESV)
(13.) The Lord shows mercy to me. (Psalm 51:11)
(14.) My heavenly Father disciplines me for my good and His glory. (Hebrews 12:6)
(15.) The Lord has my best interest at heart. (Psalm 84:11)
The Lord fights for me (Exodus 14:14), watches over me (Psalm 121:5-8), and has plans for me (Proverbs 3:5-6). #identity #belonging Share on XDeclarations: The Lord Listens to Me
(16.) My heavenly Father rejoices and sings over me. (Zephaniah 3:17)
(17.) My heavenly Father extends unending grace to me. “And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:16 (ESV)
(18.) The Lord continually pursues a relationship with me. (Ezekiel 34:11, Luke 15:4-7)
(19.) God, the Father, thinks about me. (Psalm 139:17)
(20.) The Lord listens to me. “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 20:12-13 (NIV)
(21.) My heavenly Father heals me emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. (1 Peter 2:24, Psalm 147:3. Psalm 30:2)
My heavenly Father rejoices and sings over me (Zephaniah 3:17), thinks about me (Psalm 139:17), guides and counsels me (Psalm 37:23; 32:8). #identity #belonging Share on X21 Declarations Challenge
Which of the 21 declarations speaks the most to you in connecting identity to belonging?
Take one declaration a day and journal for 21 days meditating and praying over each one.
Last week we discussed, Defeat Rejection for Good with God’s Promises.
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Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Tell His Story/Recharge Wednesday/Let’s Have Coffee/Tune in Thursday/Embracing the Unexpected (Grace & Truth).
© 2022 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
What comfort to know we are loved by the Heavenly Father. His love is forever.
Yes, it is! The Lord loves and cares for me. (Ephesians 3:18-19, Psalm 23)
Another great post Ms. Karen. Knowing we have been adopted into a forever family brings such peace. Knowing that the earthly family we have been adopted into will be there also brings great joy.
That is a peaceful thought for our heart, J.D. God, the Father, adopted me into His family. No longer a spiritual orphan, I now belong. (Galatians 4:5-7)
Thanks for this, Karen! Today, I’m choosing to meditate on declaration #11 – My heavenly Father guides me (Psalm 37:23-4).
Hey Carlie, the great truth that the Lord chooses to guide us in this life and our circumstances at any given time, amazes me!
“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him.” Psalm 37:23 NIV
Love these..great reminder of His promises. The one that speaks to me most today is: Jeremiah
THE Lord listens, Then you will call on me and pray to me.I will listen to you.You will seek me
and FIND me when you seek me with ALL YOUR ❤️…LOVE THIS.
Hey Carla, I love to think about God listenting to me. He never turns a deaf ear to our prayers when we are humble and vulnerable before him. God bless!
Ever encouraging, Karen. We are never alone. Thanks and God bless!
Thank you, Nancy. My heavenly Father is intimately acquainted with everything about me. “You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.” Psalm 139:3 (ESV)
Having lost my earthly father earlier in the year, I love God’s promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
God’s promise to stay near to us always is the most comforting truth.
Such a great article. I struggled for a very long time with my own identity. Finally, one day I realized my earthly identity didn’t matter… only my eternal one, my forever self… and I belong to the Lord.
Thank you, Jessica. I like how you called your eternal identity “my forever self.”
If I ever feel discouraged, I always know I can find a wonderful m, uplifting message from you. Thanks Karen
Awe, thank you, Yvonne. That was so kind of you to say. I remind my heart to always connect who I am to whose I am.
Thank you, Karen, for these great reminders of who we are in Christ. I truly love mediating on the fact that He knows my name!
So do I, Donna. I’ve always loved Isaiah 43:1. It’s hard to fathom that the Almighty God of the universe loves me and knows my name.
Thank you for making all these affirmations about who God is and what He has done. All too often our culture recommends affirmations that start with “I.”
Yes, that is true, so thankful God….
Such a comfort to me that God not only knows my name but calls me by name. It always moves me to tears to think about this.
That passage, Isaiah 43:1 has always been one of my favorites! It’s astonishing to think about the Lord knowing my name–that personal and intimate love for each of us!
Karen,
Thank you for sharing your own journey in coming to know Whose you are vs. who you are — it makes a huge difference. I loved all the declarations and what peace came over me reading them aloud. In working with a counselor for emotional and mental healing, this declaration and promise jumped out at me:My heavenly Father heals me emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. (1 Peter 2:24, Psalm 147:3. Psalm 30:2). Thank you for a beautiful post!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Hey Bev, appreciate you sharing your journey. I’m thankful the Lord’s promises never fail and for His healing power over us body, soul and spirit! God bless!
Karen, what a powerful post! Until we truly know AND believe how God views us and loves us, it’s hard to walk in our identity in Christ. This is the point that stood out most to me: My heavenly Father calls me beloved, child, saint, blessed, and His
There’s something about knowing I’m God’s girl that gives me confidence in walking with Him and living in the callings He’s given me.
Thanks, Jeanne. I like how you said, “There’s something about knowing I’m God’s girl that gives me confidence in walking with Him and living in the callings He’s given me.” Yes!
What a handy list of identity enhancers! Thank you!
Glad this encouraged you, Anita. Now, may we remember and believe each one!
I love this declaration: My heavenly Father rejoices and sings over me. (Zephaniah 3:17). But it is hard to think that God really does do this over me! That is an awesome thought. Thanks for sharing such great verses! (Love the pug picture, too! We used to have a pug.)
Thank you, Lisa. Pugs have the best personality. I love to reflect on Zephaniah 3:17, always amazes me.