Rediscovering My Identity in Christ: Who Am I?

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]." – 2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP

One of the biggest questions that has plagued humanity is found in these three words – Who am I? For centuries now, this same question has loomed over our heads, causing many of us to end up in an identity crisis. It's easy to fall into senseless sins and wrong crowds when you don't know your true identity. It's also possible that many of us have been raised to identify with specific things that aren't our God-given identity. We find our definition in how high we achieve in school, the clout of our job, or the flashiness of our outfits, cars, and houses. Our identity has been reduced to things rather than character and calling. Or perhaps we've likened our identity to our family name and the greatness of our ancestors – leaving no room to achieve greatness in our own right. Maybe even our identity has been reduced to the many roles we fill in our lives. So today, I ask you the same question, the one that has probably confused you time and time again – Who are you?

Redefining Identity

Before you answer, I'd like to preface this question: who are you outside of what you do? And who are you outside of what's attached to you? About a year ago, my response to this question would look a lot different than it is today. Last year, I probably would've answered by saying something like, "I'm Morgan Takae. I'm a Senior at Rutgers University, studying Journalism with a double minor in Marketing and Video Production. I'm also a programming and production intern at Madison Square Garden. I really like to write and read. I serve on the media team at my church, and above all else, I love the Lord." It's funny what a year could do. This past year, God has stripped away a lot of what I do, causing me to no longer equate my value with my productivity. Rather, I now realize who I am is much bigger than what I do in any particular season. What you do changes, but who you are evolves. 

Your identity starts as a seed from the moment you are born, and often, as you grow, healthy and flourishing leaves (or aspects) from you are pruned – not because of God's doing, but due to human faults. Although, as we know, everything will work together for our good! When we come to Christ, as the scripture above, 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, we are a new creature. Our identity in Christ has been renewed, and from that moment, it is our job to rediscover the identity God has already given us!

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." – Jeremiah 1:5 AMPC

You are CHOSEN by God. You are NOT a mistake. God chose and predestined you for such a time as this! With this understanding, we do a disservice to God and ourselves when we reduce our identity to what we do rather than who we are. And if I'm being honest, you can almost always identify who you are by understanding who you're called to. Because God designs every one of us for His Glory and to do His Ministry. This means that we are created to glorify God and evangelize to the world, in addition to meeting the needs of people. 

Now, if you ask me today – Who am I? I am Morgan Takae. My name means Morning Blessing and Virtuous. I'm a Daughter of the Most High God. My core values are vulnerability, authenticity, and creativity. I'm an Innovative Leader and Kingdom Scribe. I'm a Chief Ideator and Problem-Solver. I'm called to empower people to become who God destined them to be, with a particular passion for women and youth. And if you were to ask me why I do what I do – Legacy. I want my legacy for generations to come to be that Morgan Takae was a fierce Woman of God who promoted righteousness and godly womanhood by fulfilling biblical prophecy and empowering others to do the same! 

Who you are shows up in every room you walk into. Whether in the classroom, corporate meeting, or church youth gathering, I will still be an Innovative Leader and Chief Ideator. Who I am doesn't change based on the room I dwell in – my identity is whole and complete regardless of my environment. When you identify yourself by your roles alone, you smite your ability to be authentically who you are at all times. 

Other characteristics can be used to identify yourself, like your stronger attributes. For example, I'm outgoing, inquisitive, and a strong communicator. These great attributes will often be revealed in every environment I'm in. God has intricately designed us. Everyone has been given specific characteristics that support and uphold our identity. It'd be very difficult for me to empower others to live in their God-given identity if I wasn't outgoing. My life's mandate has been shaped through the confines of my identity. 

This is why it's imperative not to believe the enemy's lies concerning your identity. Over the past few years, I've heard many people say, "I'm a shy person." Their "shyness" often keeps them from sharing in public spaces and speaking up for themselves in conflict. Even in our current generation, a buzzword is introverted. So many of us have wrongly identified ourselves as being introverted. Introversion isn't an excuse to be a coward or timid. Boldness is a sign of being filled with the Holy Spirit and, ultimately, His power. How can a Spirit-filled Believer shrink in timidity in the name of shyness and introversion? Many of us have allowed our past to prevent us from sharing and becoming who we are designed to be. Often, in the past, our mouths have been muzzled for speaking out. Thus, we learn to hold our opinions and ideas in out of fear of rejection and timidity – not because we are shy or introverts. Your identity is more significant than your past. Your identity is greater than the enemy's lies!

What Jacob Reveals to Us About Identity 

One of the most profound stories in the Bible concerning identity is Jacob. If you aren't familiar with the story, I'll give you a bit of a rundown. It started from birth –

"Afterward his brother came forth, and his hand grasped Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob [supplanter]. Isaac was sixty years old when she gave birth to them." – Genesis 25:26 AMPC

The story goes on where Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for food. Later on, he began to regret this decision. Jacob was quite deceitful, often being influenced by His mom. When their father Isaac was dying and ready to bless His children, Jacob also deceitfully stole Esau's firstborn blessing. This left Esau sorrowful and resentful towards Jacob, causing him to run away. Years later, Jacob and Esau came back together, and despite Jacob's fears, they made amends. But somewhere in the middle, on the journey to making peace, Jacob had an encounter…

"This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob's hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, "Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!" But Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." "What is your name?" the man asked. He replied, "Jacob." "Your name will no longer be Jacob," the man told him. "From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won." – Genesis 32:24-28 NLT

At the point of this encounter, Jacob had become restless and desperate enough to know that the blessings he'd deceitfully received weren't enough. Jacob received a stolen blessing from His father Isaac. His mother groomed him to be deceitful and cunning, often helping him with schemes to get what she wanted for him. Doesn't that sound like some of us? We've been groomed to do and act a certain way. From childhood, you've been fed a specific identity, and it's taken until now to realize who they called you isn't who you are…

I have a charge for you – it's time for you to get up and wrestle! If I'm being honest, I believe our generation has become convinced that identity is found in saying cute affirmations and having hundreds of Instagram likes or a viral TikTok video. Who you are isn't who follows you. Who you are isn't based on the affirmations you say alone. Who you are isn't even found in what people call you – often out of negligence or disrespect. Who you are can ONLY be found in God. And for you to become the person God called you to be, you'll have to wrestle for your identity.

You need a name change. For years, you've been the life of the party – inappropriately dancing, drinking, and smoking – whatever you could get your hands on, and at every party, they knew you'd be there. For years, you've had an addiction, sleeping with whoever, texting whoever, flirting with whoever – an addiction to sexual immorality. For years, you've allowed the disgrace of your past, like that physical and emotional abuse, to define and silence you. These are simply examples, and perhaps you've identified with some of them, or something similar I haven't yet mentioned – whoever you've become, sometimes as a means to survive, other times due to who has been surrounding you – I want you to know that God has a new name for you!

The easiest part of this process will be receiving the name, but the hardest will be living in accordance with it. The real wrestle will be when your Jacob nature appears after God has called you Israel. The real wrestle is when family and friends remark on your past as Jacob when you are now Israel. God has called you Israel. God has called you Beloved! God has called you HIS! 

You are not who you were. You are not what they call you. You are not even who you think you are. You are so much greater! Today, I want you to realize that your identity will evolve, and coming into your new name will be a journey. But the first step of this journey is accepting your new name! It's easy to fight the God-ordained version of yourself when you feel unlikely and unworthy, but today, God welcomes you with open arms. He knows you – the real you! Above all else, I want you to know this: who you are is enough! You no longer have to add or compensate for what you lack that "they" want you to have through lies and deceit. The authentic and most vulnerable version of you is the one God loves and wants the world to see!

Now is the time for the manifestation of your God-given identity!

“This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!” – Romans 8:15

Prayers to Accept Your God-Given Identity

Dear Lord, 

• Help me to see myself the way that you see me

• Lead me into a journey of self-forgiveness of my past mistakes and identity

• I renounce any false identity that's been placed on me throughout my life

• I receive my new calling, identity, and the name that's found in the resurrection life you've gifted me

• Align me with individuals that can help me see and cultivate my God-given identity