How to Resist Identity Crisis

February 26, 2016

1. MAKE UP YOUR MIND. When King Nebuchadnezzar took Daniel and his friends away from Jerusalem, he ordered them to learn the literature and language of the Chaldeans for three years—essentially trying to brainwash them with the Babylonian system. He even gave them new names (Daniel 1:1-7). This was pure identity disruption. But “Daniel made up his mind.” He drew a line and asked permission from the king’s commander to eat a different way (Daniel 1:8).

God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams. As for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm. Daniel 1:17, 20

2. THRIVE WHERE YOU ARE. Joseph was sold as a slave and ended up in a pit and then in a prison before saving an entire nation. David was forced to hide out in a cave before becoming king. Though they tried to change everything about Daniel, they couldn’t get to the heart of the matter – he was God’s. Because Daniel took a stand, stayed focused, and stayed in love with God, he went beyond just survival and began to thrive behind enemy lines.

And Daniel continued until the first year of Cyrus the king. Daniel 1:21

3. CONTINUE. Daniel continued and served God in Babylon through several different reigns of kings. A culture shift can happen through one person’s obedience. You can be in the world but not conformed to it (Romans 12:2). If you’ve encountered vicious oppression, keep going. Keep trusting Jesus. Having done all to stand, stand and believe God for breakthrough!

Press on,
Pastor Jeff

DAILY CONFESSION
I have received a kingdom which cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28). In all these things I overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loves me. I forget what lies behind and reach forward to what lies ahead, pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12-14).

i·den·ti·ty, noun
The state or fact of remaining the same one or ones, as under varying aspects or conditions. The sense of self, providing sameness and continuity in personality over time.

Copyright © 2016 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. “Identity.” Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 24 Feb. 2016. Dictionary.com.