Whose opinion of me truly matters?
The man replied, “Who appointed you to be our prince and judge? Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?” Then Moses was afraid, thinking, “Everyone knows what I did.”
Exodus 2:14, NLT
Some mistakes are painfully public. (Social media snafu, anyone?) The incident, no matter how big or small, can come to define us in ways we never thought possible. We come to believe lies like, “I’m done leading. I’m never leaning in again.”
This is exactly what Moses believed while tending sheep during 40 years in self-exile. These words from a fellow Hebrew were probably on replay in his head. We do this too. Some words are seared into us like a tattoo on our souls, causing us to shrink back and assume an identity we were never meant to wear.
Moses thought he was done. But God showed up in a burning bush and changed Moses’ story and identity from murderer to leader of Israel. He can change your story too.
ACT
Write down an identity you’ve assumed because of someone’s words. Next to it, write down who you know you really are. Then cross out the old one.
pray
Father, I’ve come to believe lies about my identity. Help me to root them out and then allow you to replace them with your identity for me.