New Year: New Identity, To Know Christ

to know Christ

“I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death.” -Philippians 3:10

For us to understand our identity in Christ, we need to know Him. The most powerful tool to use to know Christ is His Word.

An Awakening

It’s my first Mother’s Day on a perfect spring day, and I’m excited to open my present. Our first-born son is three weeks old, so I’m still healing from a c-section and deep into sleepless nights. We are in that newborn fog of parenting, each of us tries to make sense of our new roles. My hubby works long hours at the car dealership, needing to be the number one salesman each month, and I’m happy to be home with our newborn.

I excitedly open the gift and inside is a beautiful new Bible. It is pink with flowers and filled with lovely devotionals written by Godly women interspersed between the books of the Bible. I’m excited to dig in.

I’ve walked with God for four years, but something happens this spring as I open my new Bible and pour over its contents. I can’t wait for our newborn to nap so I can read the Word. I create a cozy spot on our front porch and sit in the sunshine and read. Tears pour down my cheeks and a longing in my soul is quenched as I read the Word. I know reading the Bible is important, but this is the first time in a long time I feel it’s life-giving power renew my weary soul. 

I’m hungry to know Christ, I want to understand God’s character. I want the Word to change me, to shape me into the person God has created me to be. I sense God’s nearness and His love for me overwhelms me. I never want to feel far from Him again.

The Power of God’s Word

Often we don’t understand our identity in Christ because we neglect our devotion to His Word. 

“Even among worship attendees less than half read the Bible daily. The only time most Americans hear from the Bible is when someone else is reading it.”-Lifeway Research

Our Bibles lay unopened and unread as we wonder why Christ seems so far off. We don’t experience our true identity in Christ because we don’t know our identity in Christ as it’s laid out in His Word.

Please don’t receive these words as condemnation because there is none for those who are in Christ. We can let conviction motivate us to pick up our Bibles. We read the Word because it brings life. Our motivation is rooted in our love for Him, but it’s hard to love Him when we don’t know Him. Do you see the futility of this cycle?

The Bible is a love letter written from God to you. Everything in it is meant to teach, encourage, correct, rebuke and strengthen the reader. The Word reveals the character of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It explains how each functions.

The stories are written so we can put ourselves in the plot and learn. There are letters written to churches that teach us how to function as one body. There are battles, loss, tragedy, miracles, restoration, and transformation revealed in the books. Broken people are restored, leaders are forged, the lonely and dejected find love. The theme of redemption is intertwined in many stories.

One of my favorite passages is Psalm 119. There are 176 verses that speak to the splendor of God’s Word. Try reading it in different versions, as it will stir your soul and increase your hunger for the Word. When you read your Bible, you will know Christ. It’s a precious promise.

Dear Papa, Help me return to your precious Word.  Help me come up with a plan to read it each day so I can know Christ. Please help me chose time with You.  I need to know Christ. I need to understand His love and see myself as He sees me. I want to walk in the fullness of my identity in Christ as a beloved daughter of God. Amen.

Still, struggling?

Maybe this will help.

I’ve included a free guide to help you understand all Christ has done for you. Simply click on the link below and leave your name and email so I know where to send it.