Created for His Glory

This blog post has been a few good months in the making and not because it was hard to write, but I did feel the opposition of the enemy greater than at other times. Someone once said that the area where God wants to use you is the area where the enemy will attack the most. And, for me, the topic of identity has resurfaced many times and it has been that one place in my life that has seen the hardest and most frequent spiritual battles. But despite all of that, God was and is faithful - He completes what He starts (Philippians 1:6), and His love is steadfast and unchanging through all the ups and downs of life (Psalm 136). And, when the enemy attacks, He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Though our experiences do not define us, God uses experiences to point us back to the truth of His Word. Whether good or bad, God is able to work out all things for the good of those that love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Growing up, especially teenage years, I dealt a lot with insecurity and was very timid and shy. I remember asking God often what my purpose was and what will He do with my life since I did not think I could ever change. Looking back now, I can testify that God has been so involved in my life, so near, even in the hard and confusing moments. And, I cannot but thank Him for revealing the Son to me, for rescuing me from darkness and transferring me into the Kingdom of light, for giving me courage to step out in faith when called to, for allowing me to see what He can do with a life filled with many weaknesses, and for the work He is still doing and will do. And this all to point to the greatness of God, to His work in us and through us.

And I wanted to share one experience that was very defining for me, as in it solidified the Word of God in my life, and that I hope will encourage you in your personal walk with the Lord. In my early twenties, I attended a Romanian Christian Conference and, at that time, I was still struggling with finding my purpose and, comparing myself with the girls I was surrounded by did not help either. During the last prayer in the final night of the conference, I was asking God to show me what He created me for, and to my amazement, He responded. God spoke straight to my heart and mind part of a verse that I did not know existed. I remember that moment clearly because it changed something in me. From a very timid and self-conscious girl, I then saw myself as God’s creation, made not to please man, not to prove anything to anyone, but created with love for God’s glory. I realized then that my identity was not defined by who I thought I was or who others saw me as, but it was defined by who God made me to be. I wish I could say that since then I have never again doubted God’s love and purpose and I was always secure in my God-given identity, but like I mentioned in the beginning, this has been the area in my life that has seen the most battles. Believing and living out God’s Word daily takes faith and trust in God and it is much easier said than done, but also it is the most rewarding and can lead to some beautiful experiences with the Lord.

After the conference, I searched the Word to find out if what God spoke to me was actually in the Bible, and it was. The verse is found in the book of Isaiah the prophet, chapter 43, verse 7:

everyone who is called by My Name, whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made. (emphasis mine)

The context speaks of God coming to save Israel and reminding them of who they are as His chosen people. And it is an overarching message for us all, how God has come to save us and how He defines our identity and purpose in life. It is a great reminder that His voice is the most important voice we need to pay attention to.

And so, since the Word of God is powerful and it changes and transforms us continually, below is a list of verses and passages that speak on the topics of being created by God and being known and saved by God (to note that this is not an exhaustive list). I would encourage you, if you can, to take some time and read each verse out loud. And if you have been believing lies about yourself, ask God to help you replace them with His truth. Write verses down on sticky notes and display them in places where you can see them daily if that would help. Or, mark them as reminders on your phone. The Word of God is a sword we can use when the enemy comes with his lies (Ephesians 6:17). It is also the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). And it is the truth that sets us free (John 8:32).

For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. (Psalm 139:13-18)

So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27)

everyone who is called by My Name, whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made. (Isaiah 43:7)

For by Him [Jesus] all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:16)

But now, oh Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our Potter; we are all the work of Your hand. (Isaiah 64:8)

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:6-7)

what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him? (Psalm 8:4)

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. (John 3:16-17)

but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. (Romans 5:8-9)

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him. (Colossians 2:13-15)

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13)

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. (1 John 3:1)

for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:26-29)

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. (Romans 8:15-17)

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:31-34)

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)

And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight. (Ephesians 1:3-8)

In a short summary,

We were created and formed by God in His image.

We were all designed uniquely, fearfully and wonderfully, a masterpiece of the Creator.

We are seen by God. Each life matters and each life has value.

We were all created to bring God glory.

God is in the details - He keeps count of the hairs on our heads.

God’s love is sacrificial and whoever believes in Christ receives eternal life.

God sent His Son to save the world through Him, not to condemn it. We are justified by the blood of Christ. We are saved by Him from the wrath of God.

We are saved by grace through faith - it is God’s gift to us.

We are children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, and we are fellow heirs with Christ.

Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, whom God gave to us - we are not our own.

God prepared good works for us to walk in them.

We are chosen. We are royal. We are holy. We are God’s possession.

God is for us, not against us. He graciously gives us all things.

God justifies us. Jesus intercedes for us before the Father God.

We are more than conquerors though Him who loved us.

Nothing and nobody in this world can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

God began the good work in us and He will complete it.

We are blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing - we have all we need in Him.

And all this to say that God wants us to live in freedom, as in He wants us to walk into the identity He has given us and into the plans and purposes He has for our lives, no longer bound by fear and insecurity. As a side note, this is a life-time process. We are always learning and growing as we allow the Word of God to change us and transform us.

But I pray that this blog post will encourage you to look to God and let His Word define you and, that He will show you how His strength is made perfect in your weaknesses. If, by any chance, this is not something you need in particular, I want to challenge you to be attentive to those around you who are struggling in the area of identity - encourage them in the Lord and remind them of God’s truth. The Lord might have placed you in their life at this time for that specific reason.

And, if you have a testimony you would like to share to encourage others, or a Bible verse that has helped you along the way, feel free to write it down in the Comments section below.

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