He teaches about the danger of finding our identity in what people say about us, what we have, and what we do (Nouwen, Being the Beloved sermon 1 of 8). When our identity is not based on “BEing” the beloved, we will go through our entire life searching for who we are in things that hold no value. Henri Nouwen says that this leads to depression and “our life ends up nothing” (Nouwen, Being the Beloved sermon 1 of 8). Admittedly, I still struggle with this even though I believe that “I am the beloved of God” (Ephesians 5:1, NIV Thinline Bible). I recognize that I place too much value on what people think and say about me, and not enough on what God says about …show more content…
I realize that how people view me, how they treat me, and what they say about me has been a controlling aspect of my life. As often as I have studied the scriptures that speak about being a child of God, I still do not completely grasp that concept. In order for me to continue to allow my identity to be shaped by God, I must continue to fill my life with this truth. The first step I have already begun to take is to meditate on every scripture that declares my identity. Through continual meditation, eventually the truth of God’s word will reshape my mind. I also intend to read and reread books on this subject such as: So Long Insecurity by Beth More; Healing for a Woman’s Emotions by Paula Sandford; Transforming the Inner Man by John, Loren and Paula Sanford; and The Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce