Becoming Who God Created You to BE: Why Your Identity Precedes Your Actions
- Kathryn Baker
- Oct 13
- 3 min read
Have you ever found yourself on your knees, sincerely asking God, “What do You want me to DO?” If so, you’re not alone. Many believers spend hours wrestling in prayer, seeking the next step, the next assignment, or the next task that will please God. This is a commendable pursuit—after all, obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22)! But recently, as I entered prayer with this very request, I heard a gentle whisper in my spirit: “A better prayer would be that He would make you who He created you to BE.”
That revelation stopped me in my tracks. Suddenly, I understood what we DO flows from who we ARE. Our actions are the fruit, but our identity is the root. If our “doing” is disconnected from our “being,” we risk producing fruit that isn’t lasting—substandard fruit that may not reflect God’s true purpose for our lives.
Who You ARE Shapes What You DO
Consider this: sugar doesn’t strive to be sweet; it simply IS sweet. Likewise, when we are rooted in Christ, our “doing” becomes a natural outflow of our “being.” Jesus Himself is the perfect example. He didn’t just perform acts of love—He IS Love (1 John 4:8). He didn’t merely heal the sick—He IS the Healer (Exodus 15:26). The miracles, compassion, and faithfulness we experience from Him are not just things He does, but expressions of who He IS.
When Moses encountered God at the burning bush and asked for His name, God replied, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14, NIV). God’s identity is the source of everything He does. In the same way, our truest, most impactful actions come from embracing who we are in Him.
Scripture: Our Foundation in Christ
The Bible is rich with reminders that our identity in Christ comes first, and our actions flow from that foundation:
John 15:5 (NIV): “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV): “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV): “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
1 John 4:17 (NIV): “In this world we are like Jesus.”
Romans 12:2 (NIV): “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.”
A New Kind of Prayer: BE Before DO
So, what if instead of only praying, “God, what do You want me to DO?” we also prayed, “God, make me into who You created me to BE”? This is a transformative prayer. It shifts our focus from striving and performance to surrender and identity. When you know who you are in Christ, your actions naturally align with His will, and your life bears fruit that remains (John 15:16).
Practical Steps for Praying to BE
Start with Worship: Acknowledge who God IS before you ask what you should do.
Ask for Transformation: Pray, “Lord, shape me into the person You designed me to be.”
Reflect on Scripture: Meditate on verses about your identity in Christ.
Invite the Holy Spirit: Ask for guidance to act out of your true identity, not just obligation.
Rest in His Grace: Trust that as you are being transformed, your actions will follow.
Let Your Doing Flow from Your Being
Imagine the freedom of living from your identity in Christ! You don’t have to manufacture fruit; as you remain rooted in Him, your life will overflow with His love, peace, kindness, and purpose.
Let’s be intentional in our prayers. Seek to BE all He’s created you to be, and you’ll discover that everything you DO becomes an authentic reflection of His character in you.
Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for making me a new creation in Christ. Today, I ask not only for Your guidance in what to do, but for Your grace to become who You have created me to be. Transform my heart, renew my mind, and let my actions flow naturally from my identity in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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Coach
Kathryn
