Decades ago some of my college training to be an educator introduced me to “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.” This triangular-shaped, psychological device gives us insight into our needs as human beings. Our basic necessities, illustrated by the base of the pyramid, are our physiological needs – things like air, food, and water. These must be met first if we’re to survive. Go up a level, and we can move from survival to growth – because when we feel safe, we can do much more than exist.1 We can thrive.
For the students I taught, this translated: if students are to have the capacity to learn, they must feel safe.
For us who seek to live as our True Selves, this translates: if we’re to grow in our faith, living from our God-given identities, we need to feel safe. Safe in the Lord. Safe in our own skin. Safe from all that threatens to steal what’s rightfully ours as children of God.
Safe From Our Enemy
And you better believe that there’s nothing more our enemy wants to steal than our identity as Daughter of the Almighty. Identity theft. It’s something we fear and stay alert to in the physical world. It’s also something we have to remain on guard for spiritually.
But, it’s easy to forget that our struggles aren’t actually against people – but spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). It’s easy to focus on what we can see (ie: people, problems) and neglect asking the Holy Spirit to give us eyes to see what’s happening spiritually – so that we can stand against it. So that we can live from Christ’s victory (1 Corinthians 15:57).
“On this journey of living out our full identity in Christ, we have to be able to walk wisely, knowing the enemy doesn’t want the people of God to live like they have already won the battle.”2
Wisdom and truth tell us that we have an enemy! And he stalks us like a lion, desiring to steal, kill, and destroy us (John 10:10). Our enemy is cunning. He knows that if he can steal our identities as children of God, then we will fall susceptible to his lies, living under his influence instead of our Father’s.
Our enemy also knows that if he can kill our hope, we will lose all trust that we are kept safe. We’ll give-in to his insinuations about God’s unfaithfulness and our own safety. And we’ll start building those self-preserving walls that keep everything out, including God and His love.
And, our enemy knows that if he can destroy our belief that we are Image Bearers, then we will cease listening for the voice of our Savior. Instead, we’ll follow voices of deception and temptation. Without a Gate to walk through, we will wander aimlessly and remain easy targets (John 10:9).
But. We’ve been given Truth – Jesus. The Word. Our Gate.
And, He spoke this about our enemy, “he has always hated the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44 NLT). If we’ll take Jesus at His word, our ears will learn to discern the deceptions and recognize the twisted-truths that flow from our enemy’s mouth.
Armed with Truth, we recognize that our enemy’s fabrications spew forth because He wants to keep us isolated, separated from Jesus and other believers – because alone, wallowing in defeat, we believe the lies. We give in. We give up.
Anchored in Truth, we know that all who come through the Gate will be saved (John 10:9). Saved for eternity, yes. But also kept safe from forces of evil, each and every day.3
Friends, when we enter the Gate, we enter our Shepherd’s safe-keeping. Because we’re our Savior’s special flock, He knows us. And we know Him (v.14). That means we will know His voice; we’ll know the truth of His words. Thus equipped, we can discern the difference between His voice and all the others.
Truth also builds within us a stash of weaponry that helps us stand against our enemy’s attacks – weapons that have “divine power to demolish strongholds” and “arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). In other words, when we are armed with Truth, we can right our minds. We can “pinpoint all the lies, take them captive, and exchange them for the truth.”2
We no longer have to live deceived by the lies of the enemy because we have Truth. We can lay down fear, trusting that the voice of our Shepherd will always lead us to safety. With Jesus as our Gate, we will be cared for eternally and given abundant life now – a better life than we’ve ever dreamed of (John 10:9-10 MSG).
Safe From Doubt and Shame
It may seem impossible that by simply entering the Gate we are kept safe from all our enemy’s attacks. So, maybe it helps if we pause here and do some mental imaging. What does it look like to enter the Gate?
I think of cinematic moments where heroes made irreversible choices, like when Neo chose to swallow the red pill in order to have the illusion of the matrix removed – to see the world as it really was. Or when Frodo chose to be the bearer of the Ring in order to save the human race, knowing he’d probably die in his quest.
Like when Jesus chose the cup of crucifixion to save us all from sin and death.
Stepping through the Gate looks like intentional decision-making. For instance, the first time we enter the Gate, it’s a forever, eternal choice. It’s that moment of justification. But it is also a daily decision, one that allows us to keep entering the protective covering of our Savior – a process of sanctification. A shaping and strengthening of our faith.
When we turn from lies toward Truth, we’re choosing to die to self (Galatians 2:20). When we seek Christ’s protection, we’re choosing to put our trust in Someone other than ourselves. We’re choosing to believe that this is truly the only way to be safe…even from all the doubts and shame that continually assail our thoughts.
With each choice to enter the Gate, we’re equipped to overcome all the persuasive attempts of our enemy to sway our thoughts toward:
- Doubt that says, I’m not enough. Or, God can’t be trusted.
- Shame that says, I’m not worthy. Or, God won’t want me.
These strategies are aimed at keeping us from believing Jesus is who He says is because the enemy knows that if “we enter the Gate, we enter the light of Truth.”2 He knows that all the seeds of doubt sown in the dark depths of our souls shrivel in the Son-light because the light of God always overcomes darkness (John 1:5).
The enemy also uses doubt to make us question our identity. Look how he caused Eve to doubt her enough-ness, “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God…” (Genesis 3:5).3 He even tried to tempt Jesus to doubt His identity, “If you are the Son of God…” (Luke 4:3).
Doubt is a mighty tool of the enemy, which is why we have to continually step through the Gate and into the light of the Word to remember truths, such as, “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:5).4
Shame is another dagger in Satan’s arsenal that he uses in his attempts to kill the truth of our identity in Christ. Just as we can remember who we are in Christ by recalling the truth of who Jesus is, we can also look to Scripture for Truth to come against the lies of shame: there is no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1). Period.
We need to know, however, that shame will work overtime, making “us question who we are because we know our flaws, our thoughts, the excuses we’ve given, and we know our brokenness.”5 Shame will try to make us believe that we are beyond the reach of God’s grace and redemption. But that’s not Truth. There is no condemnation…
We no longer have to cower to the doubt and shame that lurk in the shadows of our beings because our Father will always rescue us “from hidden traps” and shield us “from deadly hazards” that threaten to steal the truth of who we are in Christ (Psalm 91:2-3 MSG). This is Truth that we can recite to ourselves as we pick up our Sword of the Spirit and slay the lies of the enemy (Ephesians 6:17).
Truth – Christ’s sacrifice is always enough (v.3). His grace is always sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). There’s nothing we can do or think or say or feel that is bigger than Christ’s saving power – to think so is nothing more than pride.
Truth – in Christ we are forgiven, cleansed, made new and whole (1 John 1:9; 2 Corinthians 5:17). In Christ we are restored to our Father (2 Corinthians 5:18), and our identities as Daughters of the One True King are forever solidified (1 John 3:1).
Truth – we step through the Gate, and we’re made safe even from doubt and shame.
Safe In the Presence of Jesus
Truth – once inside the Gate, we are fully surrounded by His protective, truth-giving grace. Because we’re in His presence.
In. His. Presence…we are made safe. We hear His voice over all the others. We find Truth to overtake the lies. We believe who we are.
In His presence…we live confidently in the power of our Advocate – the one who comes to our defense against our Accuser. While the Accuser seeks to drive us away from God, the Holy Spirit nudges us back to God.6 Our Advocate constantly assures us that we are always held by the gaze of our loving Father.6
In His presence…we are hedged in with Jesus’ protection – by His grace and truth – so that no one and no thing that comes against our identities as His daughters can succeed.
Friends, we no longer have to live hidden behind the self-protecting walls we’ve built. We’re free in Christ! We’re known and loved, treasured and forgiven. In fact, if we need somewhere to run to when we are under attack, “God is [our] safe place to hide” (Psalm 46:1 MSG, emphasis mine).
Therefore, we can reclaim our stolen identities! Our Creator knows and loves us for who we are (1 John 3:1). Because of this great love, He will forever give us strength, and everything else we need, to be who He created us to be – by helping us, by holding us steady, and by keeping a firm grip on us (Isaiah 41:10 MSG). In Him, we are safe. In Him, we find all we need to thrive…as our True Selves.
Father God, how humbled and grateful we are that You take such care of us. You do all that is necessary to keep us safe in your protective arms. You went so far as to send your Son, who made the choice to die for us, so that we can continually enter your presence for all that we need. You’ve given us your Spirit to dwell in us – our Advocate who continually comes against the lies of our Accuser with your Truth. How we thank You. How we love You. Lord Jesus, thank You for being our Gate, for willingly laying down your life for us so that You become The Way we enter our Father’s presence. Thank You for granting us entry into your holy walls of grace and truth and love. Today we choose to follow your voice! In the days and years to come, may we consistently follow your example… by choosing to die to self, by choosing to put our trust in You, by choosing to believe that we are Yours – and You are ours. In You, we are kept safe. Holy Spirit, we ask that You would give us spiritual eyes to see how all the problems and challenges and attacks coming our way have their source in the spiritual realm. Grant us the courage to keep choosing to use the weapons God has given us. Grant us the wisdom to know truth from lies. And grant us the grace to keep stepping into the Gate where we can finally and fully live as we truly are – free and forgiven, loved and adored, chosen and protected. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
(inspired by Psalm 121:7-8, 91:1-2; John 3:16-17; Titus 2:14; Ephesians 2:18, 6:11-12; 1 Corinthians 3:16; John 14:16-17,26; 2 Corinthians 2:11; John 10:3,9-10,14-18; 2 Corinthians 4:4-6; 2 Kings 6:17; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5; 1 Corinthians 2:12-14)
Resources: I love sharing with you the books, podcasts, articles, and anything else that has inspired, encouraged, or taught me. These are humble offerings with no expectations.
- 1 – Here’s more on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
- 2 – Gretchen Saffles in her Bible study, Redefined: A Bible Study on Identity in Christ, P.17, 34, 132, 134
- 3 – Strong’s explanation of John 10:9’s use of the word “saved” includes both salvation for an eternal life with God and salvation from all the enemy’s ploys. The quote: “to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment; to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance.”
- 4 – Suit Up by Aimee Walker at The Devoted Collective, week four video
- 5 – Wake Up Call, “For Shame,” Susan Kent, 3/23/24
- 6 – Several Wake Up Call posts by Dan Wilt teach about our enemy, the Accuser
- Our Hidden Identities playlist packs a lot of TRUTH that we can add to our arsenal of weapons to use against the lies of the enemy. Songs like MercyMe’s “Always Only Jesus:”
The righteous will sing as evil shakes
There is power in your name…
Sing the name that took on sin
Oh, sing the name that finished it…
Jesus!!!!
Or, Erik Neider’s “Faithful:”
Even when I doubt, your Truth holds
Even when I’m lost, You won’t let me go
Or, Koryn Hawthorne’s “Speak The Name:”
Gather all who wonder, hostages of shame
Miracles unfolding…Mercy raining down…Healing waters flowing…
At the mention of the Name…
The Name above all other names
Lord Jesus. Your name holds power. Your very being is Truth. May we keep calling on You and choosing to enter your presence each and every moment. May we believe we are who You say we are. XOXO - The next issue of The Abiding Life newsletter comes out next week! I don’t know how I’ll be able to talk about anything but our trip to Italy, so buckle up. 😉 Be sure to subscribe here if you’d like to receive future issues.
Rhythms: As my newsletter’s title infers, we seek to develop an abiding life in this space — a place where we can get informed but also be transformed as we learn to abide in God’s presence throughout our days. I like to think that developing rhythms is one way to aid us in our desire to become more Christlike.
- As we lean into the process of learning more about ourselves — our true identities in Christ — we are going to step into the spiritual practice of REST. I once made the statement that there’s nothing more exhausting than living from our own strength — but perhaps there are other, just as tiring, situations and pursuits. Like…living under attack.
And you can KNOW that as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have targets on our backs. Our enemy will throw everything at us to get us to doubt our identities, to doubt our Lord, to surrender what is rightfully ours for lives outside the Gate. Inside the Gate, my friends, is where we’re safe. It’s where we know Christ best. It’s where we know ourselves best. It’s also where true rest can be found — because in Him, we can lay down fears , doubts, and the lies of shame. In Him, we are encircled in protectedness. Even as we remain vigilant to the enemy’s wiles, we can find rest in Christ — because He fights our battles for us.
So, this week, let’s choose to enter the Gate. Each time a doubt assails us, let’s turn to Truth. Every time shame tells us we can’t or Jesus won’t, we come against those lies with Truth. And, when Satan’s lies threaten to steal our identity in Christ, we run to the Gate and cling to our Good Shepherd. We follow His voice, leaving all the lies behind us. In Jesus’ name.
- And while it’s not a spiritual practice or rhythm, I invite you to share this site. This is such an important topic that I want as many people as possible to join us here. Together we’ll find support and encouragement and the simple truth that we are not alone in our struggles.
Featured Photo by Sterling Lanier on Unsplash.
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