1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:13,400 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Welcome to the Crosswalk devotional. We're so glad 2 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:17,079 Speaker 1: to have you listening. Michelle E. Zurich. Today's topic is 3 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 1: Live Confident in your Identity in Christ. We'll be back 4 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: after we're from our sponsor. Live Confident in Your Identity 5 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 1: in Christ, Written and read by Michelle S. Lazurik. See 6 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:43,279 Speaker 1: what great love the Father has lavished on us, that 7 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: we should be called children of God, and that is 8 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 1: what we are. First John three, verse one, You're not 9 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 1: a fit. These words stung as the church leader told 10 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: us we were no longer a fit for the pastoral opportunity. 11 00:00:57,320 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 1: After many interviews and discussions with church leaders, we would 12 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: rually decided that we were not the best candidates to 13 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 1: assume a pastoral role in the church. Although it was 14 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: mutual and we knew this is true, those words still 15 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: stung as the fresh wave of rejection hid us like 16 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,320 Speaker 1: waves from the ocean. As much as we knew deep 17 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:16,399 Speaker 1: down that we did not possess the skills or abilities 18 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 1: they were looking for in their next pastor, we still 19 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:21,759 Speaker 1: wanted to be wanted. It was not easy to hear 20 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: that someone else had been chosen over us. Whether it's 21 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: the end of a romantic relationship, termination of a toxic friendship, 22 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 1: or the end of a lucrative job. The desire to 23 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 1: be included and loved unconditionally is a basic need for 24 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 1: every human being. As you pondered whether we truly made 25 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 1: the right decision, we knew what both of us were thinking. 26 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 1: We wanted to say yes because we were afraid of 27 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:47,919 Speaker 1: what would happen if we said no. Fear and money 28 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: are not reasons to do something. Talking yourself into something 29 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 1: because you're afraid of what it's like to be alone 30 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: or to lose something is not a reason to do it. 31 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 1: Talking yourself into something is like telling yourself you're not 32 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 1: anad relationship. All the signs of abuse are there, but 33 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 1: you choose not to see them. In the same way, 34 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 1: we were trying to fit ourselves into a mold that 35 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 1: didn't fit our gifts or abilities. God is with each 36 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 1: one of us with unique gifts that only we can use. 37 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: No matter how much we try to be like someone else, 38 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 1: we will never be exactly like another person. We can 39 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:24,919 Speaker 1: only be us the first in God has created us 40 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 1: to be quicker. We embrace that and solidify our identity 41 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 1: in Christ rather than our job or in our relationship, 42 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 1: the happier we will be. The above reminds us that 43 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 1: God loves us, whether we fit a particular mold, whether 44 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 1: we choose to acquiesce others' expectations or not, our identity 45 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 1: in Christ remains solid. Christ's death and the Cross afford 46 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 1: us the grace and ability to access God whenever we choose. 47 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: It also solidified our rank as as children and his 48 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: chosen people. Because we are God's children, we are afforded 49 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 1: an inheritance that will never spoil. We're fade. God wants 50 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 1: us to live each day in the freedom that we 51 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 1: are God's children. He wants us to trust him and 52 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 1: know that He is guiding every decision we make, whether 53 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,799 Speaker 1: we ask God for direction on our next romantic relationship, 54 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 1: next job, or how to navigate a difficult relationship. God's 55 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: love and acceptance of us will never change. Do you 56 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 1: live every day knowing that God loves you unconditionally? Do 57 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,920 Speaker 1: you find yourself talking yourself in his situations because you 58 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:30,920 Speaker 1: want to be loved and accepted by others? Do you 59 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 1: choose the right job, of the right relationship or choose 60 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 1: to be single even though you know your lost and 61 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 1: loneliness might result. It takes someone solidified in their identity 62 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: in Christ to not capitalize on a seemingly lucrative opportunity. However, 63 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 1: the more we wire our brains to live in the 64 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 1: freedom and liberty that has been afforded us through Christ Jesus, 65 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: the better off will be in every facet of our lives. 66 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 1: You will no longer matter what people think of us. 67 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:57,839 Speaker 1: If we don't have a relationship, we lose our job, 68 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: or we'll lose toxic friendship. People's opinions no longer matter 69 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 1: when we know whose opinion matters most. When we make 70 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: decisions not out of fear of money, and out of 71 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: obedience and true understanding of calling, that is a life 72 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 1: well lived. Father. Let us be people who live in 73 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 1: the understanding of our identity in Christ. Let us live 74 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: every day free to make decisions not based on fear 75 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,159 Speaker 1: of money, but out of obedience and a calling to You. 76 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:26,360 Speaker 1: Let us trust in you, knowingly you have ordered all 77 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 1: our steps, and we'll provide for every need. Amen intersecting 78 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 1: faith in life, what keeps you from living life confident 79 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 1: in your identity in Christ? Further reading First Peter two, 80 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:45,920 Speaker 1: verse nine, Thanks for listening to today's devotional. 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