I Am: 4 Declarations of True Identity in Christ
Sometimes we forget who we are in Christ. The enemy of our souls hopes we believe all the wrong “I am” declarations. Those negative statements we often say and repeat to ourselves that damage our true identity.
So we need to remind our hearts of 4 powerful “I am” declarations to regain our true identity in Christ.
(1.) I am loved.
If you’re anything like me, you grew up questioning if people really loved you.
And—gulp—wondering if God loves you.
Maybe these questions formed in various stages of our life. Or, the enemy uses our uncertainty of love to haunt us in the present.
But the love of Christ is firm and certain. To believe and know the truth about His love, write out and pray these scriptures:
- Love lays down His life for us (John 15:13).
- Perfect love drives out our fear (1 John 4:18).
- The Lord quiets us with His love, singing over us (Zephaniah 3:17).
- Christ crowns us with love (Psalm 103:4).
- God’s love stands firm forever (Psalm 89:2).
If you belong to Christ, repeat after me: I am loved. This is our true identity.
(2.) I am chosen.
Please choose me pounded in my chest. Our physical education teacher picked two team captains for the softball game. Back and forth, each captain chose students as team members. Yet, no one chose me.
And as an adult, I still carry the silent plea of hoping others choose me. But Jesus is the captain of His team. Christ always chooses me…and you.
To believe and know the truth about how the Lord chose us, write out and pray these scriptures:
- God chose us as His treasured possession (Psalm 50:15).
- The Father chose us and appointed us to bear fruit in His name (John 15:16).
- We belong to a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation…a people for his own possession…to proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
- God chose us before the foundations of the world to make us holy and blameless (Ephesians 1:4-5).
If you belong to Christ, repeat after me: I am chosen. This is our true identity.
God chose us as His treasured possession (Psalm 50:15). If you belong to Christ, repeat after me: 'I am chosen.' This is our true identity. #Identity #IAM Share on X(3.) I am redeemed.
The Blue Letter Bible online gives the Hebrew word for redeemed as qanah. Biblical usage includes: “to get, acquire, to buy, obtain, purchase and recover.”
Furthermore, look at these Google definitions: “compensate for the faults or bad aspects of (something); gain or regain possession of (something) in exchange for payment.”
Redeemable things in the Bible included land and property and sometimes people.
And the Redeemer recovered us from the clutches of the enemy, sin, and eternal death. Because He paid for our sins with His own blood.
To believe and know the truth about redemption, write out and pray these scriptures:
- Christ redeems us by His blood and forgives our sins by God’s grace (Ephesians 1:7).
- Christ became a curse for us to redeem us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13).
- We put our hope in the Lord, with Him is full redemption (Psalm 130:7).
- Our redeemer lives (Job 19:25).
- The Lord redeemed us from the hand of our adversary (Psalm 107:2).
If you belong to Christ, repeat after me: I am redeemed. This is our true identity.
Christ redeems us by His blood and forgives our sins by God’s grace (Ephesians 1:7). If you belong to Christ, repeat after me: 'I am redeemed.' This is our true identity. #IAM Share on X(4.) I am free.
Our two beloved dogs sleep in crates at night with latched doors. So after the last outside potty trip, it’s time to go inside their respective crates. Then, as morning dawns, they are ready for freedom…to romp about freely.
Often, we take our spiritual freedom for granted. Or, we fail to maintain our freedom in Christ. We may live according to the flesh and not the spirit. Perhaps our soul’s chained to an addiction. Maybe we refuse to forgive, and the bitterness imprisons us.
In Christ, we can break free from every form of bondage.
To believe and know the truth about freedom, write out and pray these scriptures:
- Real freedom is when the Son sets us free (John 8:26).
- Christ sets us free from sin for eternal life and holiness (Romans 6:22).
- True freedom means nothing masters us (1 Corinthians 6:12).
- For freedom Christ set us free…guard against going back to slavery (Galatians 5:1).
- God’s precepts help us walk in freedom (Psalm 119:45).
If you belong to Christ, repeat after me: I am free. This is our true identity.
Know Your Identity
Friend, this is who we are in Christ. Let’s know our identity, walk in our identity, and live our identity.
Friend, these 4 'I am' declarations define who we are in Christ. Let's know our identity, walk in our identity, and live our identity. #Identity #IAM Share on XWhich “I am” declaration do you struggle with the most?
*Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Kingdom Bloggers/Literacy Musings/Tell His Story/Purposeful Faith/Abounding Grace/Tea and the Word/Welcome Heart/Recharge Wednesday/Porch Stories/Destination Inspiration/Worth Beyond Rubies/Tune in Thursday/Sitting Among Friends/Heart Encouragement/Embracing the Unexpected/Fresh Market Friday/Faith On Fire/Dance With Jesus and Faith and Friends.
© 2019 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
It’s true that sometimes we forget. These are all powerful truths to keep in mind. Thanks very much for this reminder, Karen. Many blessings to you!
April, our enemy hopes we forget who we really are in Christ. His treasured possession. May we remind our hearts often of these declarations!
I love this. For years I struggled with identity and did some deep, intensive work to get to the point that who I am is all about what God declares. I’ve always struggled with “I am enough.” Thank you for this reminder.
Thank you, Mary. I like how you said, we are who God declares! Truth! May we rebuke the enemy when he tries to convince us of anything different!
I am’s from the great I AM!!!
Yes, Susan, exactly! I like to say that I take my cue about who I am from the great I AM!
Thank you, Karen for these wonderful reminders of who we are in God’s eyes. Nothing better than being His child!
Blessings!
Right, Martha! I am a child of God. And so are you. May that truth and these 4 declarations continue to ring loud and strong in our hearts! God bless!
Truly a beautiful and inspiring message for all of us. So often the world wants to define us as “not enough” but God tells me I am so much more. I am a child of God
Amen, Yvonne. What makes us who we are is that Jesus is enough! Love how that truth transfers over to us when we belong to Christ.
Amen. I am loved and I am His.
Melissa, that’s simple and powerful: “I am His.” And everything else flows from that one statement!
Good afternoon, Karen, freedom isn’t free. Thank you for such clear proclamations of who we are in Him.
Sometimes I still struggle with belonging and friendships. He reminds me often where I truly belong, and used your post to do so today. Thank you. Love, Julie
So glad this encouraged you, sweet Julie. What’s great to realize is how the Lord created us to belong somewhere and to someone…to His family and to Him! That in and of itself sets forth the truth of all these proclamations of who we really are! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! God bless and hugs!
Is it possible that this is the best post I’ve seen from you to date Ms. Karen? What powerful affirmations these four declarative statements make. In Christ, we are enough my friend. Enough for whatever comes our way; for we are God’s children and will be these things and more forever more. God’s blessings ma’am.
Thank you, J.D. How kind of you to say. Grateful that because Jesus is enough, we become enough in who He is. I pray these powerful affirmations drown out the enemy’s whispers.
Amen-Amein Sister in Christ-Messiah Jesus-Yeshua Karen!!
May our ONE TRUE GOD THE HEAVENLY FATHER who art art in HEAVEN Bless all my Sister’s and Brothers in Christ-Messiah Jesus-Yeshua and our Devout Messianic Jewish Sisters and Brothers in Christ-Messiah Jesus-Yeshua and your family members and Friends!!
Our ONE TRUE GOD’S LOVE is ETERNAL through HIS SON Christ-Messiah Jesus-Yeshua for today and everyday Foreveremore Everyone!!
I love 💘 you all everyone through Christ-Messiah Jesus-Yeshua, because HE LOVED EVERYONE FIRST!!
Love Always and Shalom ( Peace ), YSIC \o/
Kristi Ann
Thanks for the blessings, Kristi Ann. God bless you!
Great post, Karen! These points sound simple at first, but can be difficult for people to remember sometimes! Lately, I don’t struggle so much with believing that God loves me, but thinking about how He loves some other people. For example, the group of young men who recently shot my husband and I. I’ve tried to pray for them but it’s not always easy. Do you ever have trouble with the idea of God loving troublesome people? Have you written a post about this?
Robin, thank you and you make a good point. I’ve talked with women before who struggled with the opposite. They could understand how God loved others, but not them because they felt unlovable (which is part of my story). Or, they couldn’t fathom since God knew them intimately and all they have done, how He could love them. But that’s the great part of God’s unconditional love…it reaches beyond our false beliefs and who we think we are to who He created us to be…loved by Him. Yet, I see what you are saying in how can God love those who commit evil. One thing the Lord has shown me is that love is different and greater than “like.” God never commanded us to like anyone, but He commanded us to love everyone. He gives us the power to love even when we don’t like someone or like what they did or do. No, it’s not easy, just like forgiving our offenders is not easy, loving others is not always easy either. But God loved us (and them) enough to send His Son to die for us all. And Jesus loved us enough that while we were still sinners, He died for us. Love is not only something God does, but who He IS. Love can never be separated from His character.
Thank God I am chosen, loved, redeemed and free. Amen amen! So wonderful to have this identity in Jesus.
Isnt’t it wonderful, amazing, awesome, and comforting all rolled into one, Jessica! Praise the Lord!
I love spending time learning the I AM’s of God. (sidenote: 2 great books for that are “Finding I Am” and “I Am: A 60-Day Journey to Knowing Who You Are Because of Who He Is”)
But this is so good! I need to know who He is but I also need to believe who I AM!
Hey Rebecca, thank you. Yes, our ladies at church have done Lysa’s study on “Finding I Am.” It’s great. But as you note, it’s so important to know both…who God is and who I am.
So good, Karen. Such an important thing to declare over ourselves the word of God, the truth, and shut out the lies. Loved this and all the supporting Bible verses. Super post!
Thanks so much, Pam. And glad this message resonated with you as I think it does with all of us as Christ followers. If we’re honest, we all strugle to “shut out the lies” and believe God’s truth about who we are in Him.
Thanks for reminding us that God loves and accepts us because we are his children. This article gave so much peace to my heart. The verses you selected were inspirational.
Grateful for both your encouraging words and how much this article gave you peace, Teresa. Keep repeating these declarations to your heart and never forget this is who you really are! God bless!
Karen, you’re speaking my heart-theme here: Identity. I love how you highlight four aspects about knowing our true identity in Christ. I’ve had to grapple with each one of these. As I read your words for, “I am loved.” I remembered exactly when the Lord showed me this and I actually got it. 🙂 There is something so freeing about knowing we are loved, isn’t there? And the other three you shared almost seem to sprout from understanding we are loved.
You’ve given me a lot to think about. Thank you for that!
Jeanne, most of us admit to having an identity crisis at some point in life and likely multiple times. What I loath about the enemy is his constant tactic to steal our identity in the Lord. Because the devil has his own identity theft program, and he’s the master at robbing us of who we really are and were always meant to be. Glad for your breakthrough of knowing and believing, “I am loved.” And I agree in how the other 3 declarations flow from that first important truth.
Thank you for this beautiful reminder of God’s love for us–and our freedom in Him.
You’re welcome, Nancy. Our freedom in Christ is important to maintain by not becoming yoked again to anything that would enslave us. I pray to stay yoked only to Christ!
Karen, I love this. Simple, pure and powerful. How we need these reminders…literally daily. I could relate to every example you gave. Even now when I am opposed in my writing about Christ by those who have rejected Him, honestly, I struggle because I feel the sting for myself and for Jesus. So, I still need these reminders, like as a child getting “not chosen” for the team. Oh Jesus, let me love belonging to you more than anything or anyone else. You have already taken the sting for me!
Agreeing with your prayer, Melissa. “Oh Jesus, let me love belonging to you more than anything or anyone else. You have already taken the sting for me!” Amen! So thankful God chose us before the foundations of the world to make us holy and blameless (Ephesians 1:4-5).
What a wonderful collection of I am statements! I cling to these as I screw up and make mistakes for the ump-teenth time every single day. There is such peace knowing that I am chosen, loved, redeemed, and free. Thank you for linking up with Grace & Truth this week, Karen!
Hey Valerie. I enjoy linking up with Grace & Truth each week. It’s such a blessing. And like you, I’m thankful for who I am in Christ regardless of what I do or when I mess up!
These are such great truths!
And I’ve always loved reading Ephesians 1 for even more truths about my identity in Christ all grouped in one chapter!
I love that entire chapter too, Ava. Such powerful truths and great prayers for us and others.
Rejoicing with you in this glorious truth!
Michele, you are loved, chosen, redeemed and free!
Love this! This brought to mine the little chorus: “I’m my Beloved’s and He is mine. His banner over me, is love.” I guess the one I struggle with most is “I am Loved,” simply because I know my own unworthiness.
Jerralea, I had forgotten about that chorus. I remember singing “His banner of me is love.” How powerful! So thankful the Lord’s love is unconditional and we don’t have to earn it or be worthy enough to gain it!
Ugh, Karen … I remember those days of anxiously waiting to be chosen for one side or the other in P.E. class. So comforting to know that our identity in Christ is secure because He chose us, not because of anything we did or didn’t do.
It was rough and heartbreaking, Lois, to be the last kid standing and chosen last. Grateful we belong to a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation…a people for his own possession…to proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
Yes! I am loved, I am chosen, I am redeemed, and I am free! Sometimes the world tries to bog me down with false claims about who I am, but I am a child of the Most High, made in His image to fulfill His greater purpose. I think I struggle most with the truth that I’m chosen. I seem such an unlikely choice, but God’s grace is greater than my failures. Thanks for this great post.
Joshua, I like saying and remembering “I am a child of the Most High.” Yes! We are all “unlikely” choices, especially to the world. That’s the great thing about God’s grace. It meets us where we are not where we think we should be.
This is a beautiful post! I love how you added the scriptures to memorize and repeat for each statement. It is so important to retrain our minds to remember these truths and that can only be done by filling our minds with God’s Word. And as we retrain our minds with the true declarations of our identity in Christ, our hearts will follow. Thank you for writing this! Grace to you!
Thank you, Melody. I like how you said, “…retrain our minds to remember these truths and that can only be done by filling our minds with God’s Word.” Yes!
If you belong to Christ, repeat after me:
I am loved.
I am chosen.
I am redeemed.
I am free.
Thank you for these wonderful truths, Karen! Your faithfulness to bring God’s Word to the world blesses me every time I’m in this space, and these were wonderful truths to start my Tuesday!
Awe, your kindness and encouragement made my heart soar, Stacey. I desire to walk in my calling and mission, “To know Jesus more and make Him known.” Remember friend, you are loved, chosen, redeemed and free!
Karen, thank you for this wonderful reminder of our identity in Christ. We are all loved, chosen, redeemed and free. What a gift! I am reminded of the verse “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
It is a gift, Laurie! God chose us before the foundations of the world to make us holy and blameless (Ephesians 1:4-5). Thanks for adding your thoughts!
Love this because it’s so very important for us as Christians to understand what true freedom in Christ is. To be set free in His truths is something we have to be bathed in. So, we can really soak in the abundance that comes with being free!
Hey April, I like how you expressed freedom in Christ…being bathed in His truths. Amen, sister. God’s precepts help us walk in freedom (Psalm 119:45).
These are such great reminders of truth! It’s so important to hold onto. I think “I am chosen” is the one I most need to remind myself of right now.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Yes, it’s so powerful to know that even when others don’t choose us, the heavenly Father chose us and appointed us to bear fruit in His name (John 15:16).
Karen,
I’ve struggled with all of these, but lately, I need to remember that I AM FREE! Jesus paid a mighty price to buy my freedom and so I need to say, “Because Christ was perfect for me, I can walk in freedom.” No striving, performing or earning needed. I no longer need to be slave to fear and doubt. Thanks for this reminder to walk in freedom!
Blessings,
Bev xx
So true, Bev. No striving or performing to earn grace or freedom. We are already free in Christ because of His blood that paid our sin debt! Hallelujah!
Karen – Thank you for this post. As you state – yes, we do tend to forget who we are in Christ. And usually we then create an identity for ourselves off what and who the world says we are. Thank you for these reminders. My spirit was filled by your words!
Stacey, I’m so guilty of creating a false and negative identity for myself. Such a great point. And don’t you just know the enemy loves it when we allow that to happen. When we allow anything or anyone other than Christ define us and say who we are, the enemy gains ground against us! May we know who we are in Jesus Christ. Thanks for adding your insight!
Hi Karen. I think in terms of daily struggle, I slip away from living free from from my tendency to sin. I like your bullet: “True freedom means nothing masters us” along with the verse. We don’t need to let sin master us. Amen.
Stephen, that’s a good perspective because the Christian life is a daily walk, trust, and surrender to letting Christ live in us. So I can either be yoked to sin or enslaved to something, or I can be chained to Christ…true freedom!
I love remembering and learning more about my identity in Christ! It’s so uplifting and encouraging. I feel like this sounds a little too sad, but I struggle with the “I am loved.” I believe it in a sort of logical way, but don’t really connect with it on an emotional level most of the time. Thanks for the reminder 🙂
Hey Christina, if we’re honest, most of us struggle with knowing without a doubt we are loved by the Lord. And that’s good insight to distinguish between believing it logically versus on an emotional level. I pray the Lord helps us with both!
I love that meaning for redemption of “recover.” He does recover so much that we have assumed is lost forever. What love He has for us! Thank you for these precious reminders!
I love that too, Bettie. When I imagine recovering something, it conjurs up images of something lost, then found, or something stolen, then bought back. So thankful Christ recovered us! Christ redeems us by His blood and forgives our sins by God’s grace (Ephesians 1:7).
Thank you so much for sharing these reminders from the Word of God of our true identity in Christ.
This past winter I really struggled with getting to the root of why I can doubt God. Through journaling I discovered that I was not fully accepting His love for me, a result of past experiences in my own life. As a result, I did a study on all the names of God and found so much encouragement and full acceptance of God’s love for me.
Our Ladies Bible Study at church is doing a study on the book of Ephesians written by our fellow sister blogger Sarah Koontz where she notes all the “In Christ I am’s” in that book. It is a great exercise to make note of all of those too!
Karen, I love to journal, it’s such a release and a window to our souls. The key word you used is “fully.” Maybe we feel God loves us on a surface level (the way many people love). Yet, when we consider the height, depth, width of God’s great and full love, we can’t help but know that’s part of our true identity. Sarah’s study sounds amazing. I also love the entire chapter of Ephesians. Appreciate you sharing your thoughts and experience.
Amen! I often forget that God redeems me, mess and all, and fall for the lie that I have to tidy myself up.
I like that wording, Anita, “… fall for the lie that I have to tidy myself up.” 🙂 Sad really we fall into that trap. I guess if we could tidy ourselves up and our lives and redeem ourselves, we would have no need for a Redeemer. We put our hope in the Lord, with Him is full redemption (Psalm 130:7).