Topic: Knowing Your True Identity Determines Your Destiny [RICK WARREN Devotional 29 December 2019]
Click HERE for Previous Devotionals
BY RICK WARREN — DECEMBER 29, 2019
“It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27 NLT).Your identity determines your destiny. That’s a pretty big statement. But in the life of Moses, we see that it’s true. Once Moses realized who he was, his life took a whole new direction.
Hebrews 11:27 says, “It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible” (NLT).
Learning your true identity does two things: It gives you the courage to let go of the past, and it gives you the courage to walk into the future.
Moses “left the land of Egypt.” He had the courage to let go of his past.
In the Bible, Egypt always represents slavery and bondage to something. So here’s the question: What’s your Egypt? What’s enslaving and controlling you? Do you have the courage to walk away from it? Knowing your true identity gives you courage.
Next, “he kept right on going.” He had the courage to walk into his future, his destiny.
Knowing your identity gives you the courage to walk into a new destiny. The Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
When you receive Jesus by faith, God forgives your sins. He gives you a whole new identity in Christ. People sometimes call it being “born again.” It’s a fresh start, a clean slate, a new destiny.
Once Moses discovered his true identity, he focused on his destiny. He was like an Olympic runner who doesn’t look to the right or left, but just looks ahead to the finish line.
Hebrews 12:2 says, “Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in” (The Message).
And Colossians 3:1-2 puts it this way: “Set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits . . . Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth” (NLT).
When God has given you a new identity, you can focus on the long term—not on other people’s priorities or opinions but on the realities of heaven and the race God has given you to run.
Know your identity. Walk away from your past. Move forward into your destiny.
- What part of your past do you need to walk away from?
- When do you find it most difficult to keep your eyes focused on Jesus?
- What specific step can you take today to move toward your God-given destiny?