How We Perceive Ourselves
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of
God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ
(Romans 8:16, 17).
Lydia is a middle-aged woman who was dealt a bad hand in life right from the
beginning. Memories of ritual and sexual abuse that she suffered as a young
child have haunted her continually throughout her Christian life. When she
came to see me, her damaged self-image seemed beyond repair. As she told me
her story, Lydia displayed little emotion, but her words reflected total
despair.
When she concluded, I asked, "Who are you, Lydia? How do you perceive
yourself?"
"I'm evil," she answered stoically. "I'm just no good for anybody. People tell
me I'm evil and all I do is bring trouble."
"You're not evil," I argued. "How can a child of God be evil? Is that how you
perceive yourself?" Lydia nodded.
It is never pleasant to see the evil one express his ugly personality through
a victim like Lydia. But realizing that she is primarily the product of the
work of Christ on the cross instead of the victim of her past, she was able to
throw off the chains of spiritual bondage and begin living according to her
true identity as a child of God.
Nothing is more foundational to your freedom from Satan's bondage than
understanding and affirming what God has done for you in Christ and who you
are as a result. We all live in accordance with our perceived identity. In
fact, we cannot consistently behave in a way that is inconsistent with how we
perceive ourselves. Your attitudes, actions, responses and reactions to life's
circumstances are often determined by your conscious and subconscious
self-perception. If you see yourself as the helpless victim of Satan and his
schemes, you will live like his victim and be in bondage to his lies. But if
you see yourself as the dearly loved and accepted child of God that you really
are, you will more likely live like a child of God.
Dr. Anderson, Freedom in Christ and Harvest House Publishers www.ficm.org