Join Kelli as she walks us through living out empowerment through our identity in Christ. 

Living Out Empowerment Through Our Identity in Christ 

by Kelli Baker 

Last week, we discussed our identity in Christ. When we are firmly rooted in our identity in Christ, we can confidently walk out of our roles and responsibilities in this lifetime. This week we will talk more about living confidently in our identity as women, regardless of our roles.  

Identity in Christ

We are children of a Father who adores us. First John 3:1 says, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” When the truth of our position as children of God resonates deep within our souls, we are empowered. Operating from a place of acceptance and reassurance as daughters of the King gives us the confidence to know that we can glorify and reflect God regardless of what we do.

In basic training, we were taught we are Soldiers first. Everything else we did stemmed from this viewpoint. Similarly, everything we do as women following Christ should derive from the place that we are daughters of God first. 

But what does that look like practically? 

Living it Out

In part one of this two-part article, we discussed God’s intended purpose for women as ezer or helper. If you have not seen that article, go check that out for more context.

We talked briefly about the idea that, as women, we are equal yet diverse and unified with men. There are roles that only women can hold – like daughter, mother, wife, and sister. These roles are unique to women.  However, as ezers, we are warriors for God’s kingdom, not simply warriors here on earth.

As a warrior, we are given titles like Soldier or Airman, or maybe you are an accountant, a a waitress, or a doctor.

Regardless of our job title, we are first and foremost daughters of the King.

Our world has gotten it wrong.

So often, we find our identity in our roles rather than in God. When this occurs, we feel a sense of emptiness when we do not live up to the standards that we or others have placed on us.

As women in uniform, it is easy to identify with our role in the military. However, when it is time to step away from the military, we can get lost in what we used to be. 

Empowerment in Humility

After serving six years in the Army, I decided to get out of the military to raise my children as a stay-at-home mom.

For the first several months, I found myself lost. I had placed so much of my being in the Army rather than in God’s love for me. I failed to find peace with my position at home.

Living Out Empowerment At In His Image (a recent conference for military women) there was a conversation where an Air Force veteran expressed her emotions about leaving the military as well. She said that she cringes and feels the sting when her husband gets promoted. “That could have been my career,” she said in disappointment. A wise young lady at the table pointed out that Christ’s example is one we can follow. He laid aside his divinity in heaven in submission to the Father to fulfill God’s will. Christ came to the earth, knowing what he would ultimately face. Jesus was so sure of his identity that he humbly came to this earth all for love’s sake. 

We can also humbly submit to our roles when we are confident and sure of our identity in Christ. 

Please click here to go to our Youtube channel and listen to a beautiful work by U.S Army’s Tiara Hensen. She wrote this while deployed to Afghanistan. If you are like me, you have felt these words at some point in your journey.

I pray that God’s love for you will be written on your heart so that you can live freely, regardless of the roles you hold. 

Closing Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for adopting us into your family. Remind me of who I am in you when I doubt my identity, empower me to walk out your plan for my life. Amen. 

Bibliography

  1. Look for part one of this series here.
  2. Read the introduction for our Faith Full Friday series here.
  3. Read the intro to our month of discussion on Women’s Empowerment here.
  4. Look for a fantastic Deeply Rooted Podcast episode on Women’s Empowerment here.

Living Out Empowerment