The Grace MarriageSample

DAY 5—Grace and Identity

Who do you think you are? How do you view yourself?

Identity is a hot topic in our culture today. We are taught to identify with the strongest feeling we have, or the characteristic that we feel makes us the most “special.” The problem with our feelings is that they are ever-changing with our circumstances, our experiences, our mood, and even our health.

We can get lost in the sea of our emotions instead of standing on the solid foundation of who God says we are. The truth is that our identity begins and ends in the person of Jesus. Scripture tells us of our beauty and value in God’s eyes:

-We are His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10);

-We are accepted (Romans 15:7);

-We are God’s special possession (1 Peter 2:9);

-We were fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-14);

-We are children and heirs of God (Romans 8:17);

-We are known (Psalm 139:1); and

-We are loved (Ephesians 2:4).

Where we find our identity will determine where we find our security and confidence. Our self-talk can feed a positive (and true) or negative (and false) view of ourselves. Receiving and believing our identity as adopted sons and daughters of the King of heaven will free us to believe and accept the truth of God.

And the beautiful thing is, when we are secure in the love of Jesus and confident of our worth in His eyes, we are in a good position to love our spouse well. Drawing from the bottomless well of His grace toward us, we can readily extend that same grace to them.