The personal data of 143 million U.S. consumers — nearly half the country — was potentially compromised with the hack of Equifax’s database. The data includes names, Social Security numbers, birthdates, addresses driver’s license numbers, and security questions and answers, which gives hackers the ability to change your passwords, all of which can be used to steal people’s identity and get access to their money and more.

But unfortunately, your personal identity has been targeted by a more sinister force: none other than Satan himself! He wants to take your God-given identity and keep you living a double life. He doesn’t want you to live in the fullness of who God created you to be. He wants to convince you that you are less than you are.

Satan will use anything he can to keep you from living out your true identity:

  • What other people say about you
  • The hurtful experiences you’ve gone through
  • The culture around you
  • The thoughts in your mind

Sometimes, we get so used to believing lies about ourselves, that we don’t even know who we are created to be.

The 5 Fingerprints of My Identity

If your identity is ever stolen, or you forget who you are, your unique fingerprints can be used to discover and confirm your true identity. The five unique fingerprints of your true God-given identity are found in 1 Peter 2:9-10:

“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10

  1. I am completely accepted.

Complete acceptance heals the wounds of rejection we all carry around. The good news is that you are completely accepted every single day of your life by God Himself!

You can know you are accepted because…

  • Because God chose me first.

“He chose us in Him before the creation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight by His love.” Ephesians 1:4

  • Because Jesus made me acceptable.

“Jesus treated us much better than we deserve. He made us acceptable to God and gave us the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:7 (CEV)

  1. I am extremely valuable.

Your condition is extremely valuable!

One way to determine value is by who previously owned an item. Things are more valuable to people depending on who owns it.

Who do you belong to? Who own you? If you belong to God, you are owned by the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, and that makes you extremely valuable.

“You are a people holy to the Lord your God… His treasured possession.” Deuteronomy 7:6 (NIV)

“God says, ‘You are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.’” Isaiah 43:4 (NLT)

You are precious to God:

  • Because God is my Father.

Everyone who chooses to be a part of His family through faith and trust in Jesus is a child of God.

“Look at the birds… God feeds them and you are far more valuable to Him than any birds!” Luke 12:24 (NLT)

Because Jesus paid a high price for me.

Another way to determine how much something is worth is by how much someone is willing to pay for it. Your worth is determined by the cross of Jesus! He paid a high price, the price of his very life, to buy your salvation.

God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world. 1 Corinthians 7:23 (NLT)

  1. I am eternally loved.                  

“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” Jeremiah 31:3 (NLT)

God’s love is unconditional.

[bctt tweet=”There’s nothing you can do to cause God to love you any more or any less than He already does.” username=”colephillips”]

Because God is love.

For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; Psalm 100:5 (TEV)

  1. I am totally forgiven.

God gives us His mercy by forgiving us.

“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1

God doesn’t carry grudges.

Because God is gracious.

“I am the God who forgives your sins, and I do this because of who I am. I will not hold your sins against you.” Isaiah 43:25 (TEV)

Because Jesus paid for my sin.

I’m not forgiven because of how good I am, but because of how good Jesus is.

Christ paid the price to free us from the curse that the laws in Moses’ Teachings bring by becoming cursed instead of us. Galatians 3:13 (GW)

  1. I am fully qualified and able.

Every member of God’s family is a minister, called by God to tell your friends and your family and your neighbors about Jesus!

…to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in Me.’ Acts 26:18

There aren’t enough professional pastors to do everything that needs to be done. But there are enough of all of us! And God has fully qualified you when He called you to do exactly what He made you to do.

[bctt tweet=”God doesn’t call the qualified. God qualifies the called!” username=”colephillips”]

You can’t do it on your own, but you aren’t on your own.

It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, 2 Corinthians 1:21 (NLT)

Whatever challenges you face this week, you can handle it, because:

  • Because Jesus gives me strength.

“I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

When you know your true identity, it will change your life by giving you everything you need to live freely and fully as the true person God made you to be. Not who you think you are or who others think you are, but who God says you are! You are accepted! You are valuable! You are loved! You are forgiven. You are capable. Take hold of your true identity.