We are in a constant search for security in an insecure world. No matter what you believe or what religion you are connected to, we all are infinitely part of the universe and are looking to define ourselves. All people have a purpose in life if they choose to follow it. For the believer, it’s important to know your identity in Christ. Maybe you lost your way and feel like you’re standing on shaky ground in a world constantly clutching for your attention. Knowing who you are in the spirit is important to your spiritual depth and finding your way in life. Thomas, David and Peter seemed to lose their identity and struggled to remain on target in their culture, which was godless and immoral. This is the same battle that we face in modern times. Yet, there is hope for all of us who struggle. Let's look at finding and perhaps, keeping, your identity in a shallow world.

Know that you are loved.

We live by feelings and if we are happy, God is with us. If we are depressed, God can't be around. We will never lose our identity no matter if we have money to pay the bills or have millions of dollars to spare. When we look around to see the world in shambles, He is with us. Author Joyce Meyer explained that God loves us perfectly and unconditionally. "His perfect love is not based on our perfection or anything except Himself. He always loves us, but often we don’t receive His love because of guilt about our wrong behavior." In order to find your identity in the world, you need to know who you are in Christ.

Be like Christ.

Self-sacrifice for the sake of God’s purposes and plans cost us. The Gospel is free but it requires those who follow to lose their life so that Christ may live in them instead. When we try to hold onto our life we will lose it. Author Dr. Tony Evans shared that the people of God are "The only ones who have been endowed with the spiritual resources necessary to do God’s work God’s way. Many believers need to become worth their salt, and to do so, they must be salty every day of the week—not just in church on Sunday." In a culture where people want to be affirmed, people are nervous to be themselves. Decide to be who you really are, not what you think others want you to be. In order to fight the decay in the world, we need to be the salt of the earth to avoid mediocracy. Today, take a stand and be counted. 

Use your faith.

Stepping out in faith allows you to see things from God's perspective and allows us to shine as a beacon of light. We are reminded in Romans: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will." Why does being a light matter? If we just go with the flow of the world, we not only fail ourselves, but we also risk being seduced by secularism or becoming implanted into secular society. Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Show off the light of Christ in the world because it keeps you strong and focused.

Learn to encourage yourself.

Learn from your mistakes and turn your experience into a wealth of wisdom. Trust God to encourage you and to use your circumstances for good. When you feel that you are losing a sense of yourself remember what the Bible said in 2 Corinthians 1:3-8, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." Cast down anything that goes against the knowledge of God. Choose the path of truth today by speaking life into your darkness and power over the given situation. Just because today really stunk, doesn’t necessarily mean that your life is a disaster. We have no choice, but to press on.

Be prepared.

We're in a spiritual battle and it's necessary to read the Word, fast and pray for God's direction. For example, find a Scripture to help you in this area. When you find one that speaks to you, keep this nearby on an index card or in a journal. For example, use this Scripture when in difficulty: "The righteous cry out and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all," Psalm 34:17-19. Doing this daily will help you remain staunch in your spiritual walk. Also, our spirits need to be attended to on a regular basis.

Don't allow the enemy to steal your identity. He uses culture and the world as a vital weapon against believers to keep them sidetracked. Start to immerse your mind in God’s Word and know that you are His treasure and that the Kingdom is within you. Ephesians 2:10 also said: "For we are God’s masterpiece, created to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do." Remember this when the world seems to be summoning you.