by Tim Isbell 1/7/2015, latest revision 3/31/2026
Culture and our egos teach us that the self is the center of existence. A recent NPR interviewer asked, "Who or what is your moral compass?" The interviewee responded, "Me. I'm my moral compass." Surprised, the interviewer asked whether religion, literature, or anything external to her life contributed to her moral outlook. But the interviewee doubled down on being her own wellspring of morality.
That's similar to G. Gordon Liddy's famous line: "I have found within myself... all I shall ever need. I am a man of great taith, but my faith is in G. Gordon Liddy. I have never failed me."
Then there are the majority of us who acknowledge disappointments, insecurities, and shame that stifle our joy and fruitfulness. Such feelings arise from personal failure, inadequate skills, our appearance, guilt or shame, our family of origin, someone's opinion about us, or even our cultural background. Perhaps we grew up in a demanding family where we never satisfied a parent. For some, our insecurity comes naturally from our psychological makeup. Regardless of the origin, we desire the freedom to lead a joyful, productive life.
The truth is: we all need outside help crafting a healthy identity in something beyond ourselves. Here’s how Christians can deepen their identity in Christ: First, accept that you'll need to live in a community of Christians, so find a healthy Christ-centered church. Then, add the following two tools:
By Christian Wisdom Nuggets, I mean finding or creating a list of healthy thoughts we can hold in the background of our minds for a day or so, to keep us centered. They may come from Christian music lyrics, writers, or speakers. Here's one of my favorites:
God is in control, despite all appearances to the contrary. This is what I believe. This is what I have seen. This is what I have to offer the world. — often attributed to Walter Brueggemann
By Personalized Identity Scriptures, I mean scriptures that I (or you) have personalized. Years ago, I noticed some passages in the biblical book of Romans that describe the new identity Christ offers his followers. But these were written to a church, not to an individual. So I rewrote them to address me specifically. Since then, I did the same for many scriptures beyond Romans. God’s Spirit uses them to inform me of my true identity in Christ. After all, who better to tell me who I am than the God who created me?
The mechanics are simple. Usually, it just takes changing some pronouns from “we” and “you” to “I” and “me.” Sometimes it takes a little more. When I read the results, especially when I read them aloud, they speak much deeper to me than the original text. I can invoke them whenever I find my identity slipping. Better yet, I can set up a routine to revisit the same one(s) every day for a week, then move on to others.
Here’s an example of one such modified scripture using Romans 6.5, from the New Living Translation:
Original: Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.
Modified: Since I have been united with Jesus in his death, I will also be raised to life as he was.
If you want to grow deep in Christ or are looking for a routine to help you grow deeper, choose a single tool from one of the lists and dwell with it for a day or two. The next day, choose another one and do the same thing. You'll be surprised at how God uses it to inform your identity.
Before diving into my complete lists of Christian wisdom list and Personalized Identity Scriptures list, have a listen to Laura Daigle’s song Look Up.
For both complete lists, click on Christian Wisdom Nuggets & Personalized Identity Scriptures. Or you can get it by typing bit.ly/idinchrist into any browser.
Blessings, Tim