On this Mara Prose Monday, I thought I would share a devotional that really resonates with the message I am forever sending to my followers: Finding Your Identity.

Self awareness and knowing your purpose are paramount to a happy, balanced life. Too often we allow other people’s opinions to distract us from our goals. We become insecure and we lose sight of our defining moments meant to accelerate us into our destiny.

Thankfully by the grace of God, we will always reach His intended purpose for our lives if we prioritize our relationship with Him, remain true to ourselves and stop comparing ourselves to the unrealistic earthly standards perpetuated in the media.

I have shared a lot about my own personal journey in discovering ‘Mara’. Now, I want to help others find and become secure in themselves using all the tools that have been helpful in my journey to healing and growth.

Welcome to the new niche for my blog ~ Mara Prose

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Mark 2:15-16)

We live in a day and time when people are very concerned about their image. They worry about who they are spending time with, what they are wearing, where they are living, and what other people think about them. Sadly, this is a trap many Christians fall into, where we care more about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Thankfully, Jesus modeled perfectly what it means to be secure in who we are. During His earthly ministry, Jesus spent a lot of time with people who religious individuals looked down upon and ignored. He was very intentional about building relationships with “sinners.” He even went so far as to have dinner with tax collectors, the lowest of the low at the time.

As Jesus spent time with these people, He didn’t care what other people thought of Him. He didn’t worry about how He would be perceived or what people said about Him behind His back. He was more concerned about loving and ministering to those who were hurting and who were used to being overlooked. 

We would be wise to follow this example which our Lord Jesus set for us. When He gave His disciples the Great Commission before He ascended into heaven, Jesus instructed them to go and preach the Gospel to all nations! He didn’t say go and preach only to people exactly like you, or preach to people who make you look good or feel important. No, He commanded the disciples to spread His love and message to everyone on earth! Clearly, this same command applies to us today.

Because we are children of God, our identity is secure. It has nothing to do with who we associate with or how we appear. The sooner we stop placing our identity on earthly things, the more secure we will become. As a result, we will be more effective in loving and witnessing to others. ~ Dr. Curt Dodd

Next Monday’s Topic: The Law of Attraction and Manifestation