How we identify ourselves is key to who we become. It’s so important that we identify first and foremost not with our achievements or our mistakes, but first with the fact that we are God’s beloved because you live up to what you call yourself. What you say about yourself to others, to yourself in the mirror; you will ultimately live up to. You become what you call yourself.

As a child, there was a woman in our family who called me “clumsy” every time I saw her. I was a kid, but I wasn’t clumsy. Whenever I got around her, she would laugh and lightheartedly say, “Bobby’s so clumsy.” Guess what? I became clumsy around her. That’s a negative version of this principle. In a positive example, I was involved in this new youth group when I was about 15. There was a DJ, basketball courts, arcade games, and pool tables. It was a blast! My school, Broken Arrow, was not included in its outreach program. One of the leaders told me I was the answer to their prayers. They prayed that God would send an outreach person to this school to bring kids on buses. I heard that, and I believed I was the answer to their prayers. My behavior changed, and it became true. Within a year, we had two buses going to the church every Wednesday!

Friend, when you are called clumsy, stupid, poor or ugly, you start to believe it. On the flip side, if you are called a leader, smart, rich, or handsome enough times, you start acting that way. You become what you think you are as a result of your perception. Remember, we are called God’s beloved. So, believe this and live up to what you call yourself!