True North – The Definer of Purpose

Part 1 of 2

The issue of identity and self-identity is a big deal for many people.  It is for me. 

Over a time I struggled with the subject.  I considered many things and aspects of life that I thought defined me.  I thought of my background, my physique, my possessions or what I thought I needed to possess among other variables.

What is it that makes one’s identity such a big deal?  What is identity and how does it affect God’s purpose for us here on earth?

The Merriam Webster Dictionary presents identity as the ‘the distinguishing character or personality of an individual.’  (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/identity)

According to the Wikipedia, identity is whatever makes an entity definable and recognizable over time. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity)

These two definitions holistically deal with the individuality of a person.

Self-identity then is self-understanding or awareness of who one is. 

One’s identity has a psychological orientation of the self with a resulting feeling of close emotional association.  To this end, one’s identity largely models their thoughts, feelings, and actions. 

Now, our daily lives are made up of our thoughts, our feelings and actions whether singly or within group contexts.  At home, at work, at church or in any group set up, we express ourselves through our thoughts, feelings and actions.  It therefore goes without saying that these ultimately determine how we deliver in any one given role.

Our understanding and awareness of who we are then becomes a critical aspect of consideration in determining the results of our daily pursuits.

As mentioned earlier self-identity is a big deal for me.  While in the past it was, from a negative perspective, now it is on a positive perspective!

I know my true identity – my true north.  And this aids completely in shaping my purpose.

In the last decade or so the Lord has been teaching me on this subject.  I have known without a doubt that I am not defined by things – whether the shiny objects or not.  I am not defined by people, not by my environment or by my background. 

I am defined by my maker.  My genesis, my source, my roots.  I was not made by my parents – mmmh – I was made by God.  My parents received me as a gift from my maker, God.  My identity is sealed in the Lord God

See, the Lord made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.  (Ref: Psalms 139:13-14).  Besides, He knew me before he formed me in my mother’s womb.  (Ref: Jeremiah 1:5).

And this morning, dear friend, the Lord confirmed this, yet again.  See what He said:

“Listen to me … I have cared for you since you were born.  Yes, I carried you before you were born.  I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age.  I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”

Isaiah 46:3-4

I do not know if this resonates with you.  But unless you undauntedly know who you are, you will not deliver in your purpose.  Unless you find your true-north in your creator, the only constant in life, you will always falter. 

So, what is your identity?  Do you really know who you are?  Is this sealed for you?  How does it affect your thoughts, emotions and actions in your daily output?  

…To be continued …

FREEDOM A FUNCTION OF OBEDIENCE

I have been reading a Psalm a day.  Today’s Psalm, 81, completely awed me!  It’s a fresh breath of life in the midst of crises – not only the Corona Pandemic but the day – to – day entanglements, especially the ‘sin that so easily trips us up.’

In verses 6 we read;

“Now I will take the load from your shoulders; I will free your hands from their heavy tasks."

Oh!  That’s a reprieve!  That sounds like freedom.  I want freedom – I want to live a life free of burdens; I want to live a life with my shoulders rested; able to support my hands to attend to anything that I need to do – not burdened at all.  And see, the promise ensures that my hands shall be freed from heavy tasks.

Notice that the verse above is founded in the freedom of the Israelites from their captivity in Egypt.  If you remember, their hands were full-laden as ‘the Egyptians made them their slaves.  They appointed brutal slaves drivers over them, hoping to wear them down with crushing labour.  They forced them to build the cities of Pithom and Rameses as supply centres for the king … they made their lives bitter, forcing them to mix mortar and make bricks and do all the work in the fields.’ (Exodus 1:11; 14b)

Continuing with the Psalm, verses 6-8 reads;

“Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings. O Israel, if you would only listen to me! You must never have a foreign god; you must not bow down before a false god. For it was I, the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.”

And the Psalmist continues;

“Oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths! How quickly I would then subdue their enemies! How soon my hands would be upon their foes! Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him; they would be doomed forever. But I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.”

Psalm 81:13-16

Can we open our ears and listen?  Can we truly hearken and heed the voice of the Lord and walk in His ways?

If only we can, He will QUICKLY subdue our enemies?  He will give us rest.  He will free us from all the burdens we have found ourselves in.

I don't know whether you have enemies - I do!  Faithlessness is my enemy, selfishness is my enemy, sickness is my enemy, Corona is my enemy, lack is my enemy, broken relationships is my enemy, pre-mature death is my enemy ... all works of darkness ... these are my enemies! They hinder my progress, they work towards my downfall.  They are my enemies!  They enslave me.  My shoulders are heavy-laden as a result of these enemies – my hands are tied – I cannot do anything productive with such enemies!  I want freedom to do what I have been created to – I want to live in my purpose!  I want freedom! 

Oh! Thank God.  Today He says that as I (us) yield to Him and give no room for foreign gods (don't think of Baal) ... think of the foreign gods of self-centeredness, envy and malice, pride, self-righteousness, immorality, worship of material stuff and all related, worship of positions ... yeah!  These are foreign gods.  And of course yes, if you call on and worship any other God other than God Almighty, Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, the maker of the Heavens and the earth – that's a foreign God; an idol.

As we yield to Him and Him alone, He will swiftly subdue our enemies, they will be DOOMED FOREVER!  Halleluyah.

And as we continue in obedience to Him, He will feed us with the finest wheat; He will SATISFY us with wild honey from the Rock.

What is your finest wheat?  What's your cry for satisfaction?

It's all found in your listening and obedience to God, our Rock.

Will you listen and obey?

As you listen and obey, He will take the load from your shoulders; He will free your hands from their heavy tasks.

Freedom is a function of your obedience to the Lord.