GETTING A WHOLE NEW OPERATING SYSTEM
The topic of our worth is something many of us—if not all of us struggle with and it’s where most of us have had and may still issues and problems. As we get older, we can try to ignore, cover up, or compensate for these self-worth issues by filling our lives with possessions, achievements, or at times addictive behavior.
Down deep, our need for significance is one of our number one needs for thriving in life.
Let’s go way back to Eden.
Satan’s plot against Eve, hinged upon her value and significance. Satan’s phrase “did God REALLY say” initiated mankind’s first insecurity, sharing with her that God couldn’t be trusted. He wanted her to SEPARATE from God, so he could lure her away from the fact that she ALREADY WAS worthy and valuable. He wanted her to think OUTSIDE OF GOD’S GOODNESS and rely on something besides God.
Personally, like many of you, I have been lured away by this same temptation.
I believed my worth and need to be significant was found by how well I performed as a pastor and what I achieved.
I could tell this mattered too much to me when others didn’t recognize my hard work and effort, which made me feel more insecure, so I tried HARDER.
Our search for significance doesn’t go away when we become Christians, but at times it can be masked by our high need to achieve, to be good, to not have weaknesses, and to hide our struggles.
I want you to know that being self-critical, devaluing your efforts, and trying to work harder to please God – never works.
Why?
You are trying to live in an old system that has never worked.
If we try to prove our value and worth—we will all end up failing because God has given us something NEW.
Needing a Different OPERATING SYSTEM
When I look at what Jesus did on the cross, I have to understand that everything I relied upon before I came to Christ had to do with propping up my self-esteem by proving I was good enough, which never worked.
When I became a Christian, according to Romans 12:1,2, Paul says that as a Christian, I have to ACTIVATE A NEW OPERATING SYSTEM. In other words, I have to get rid of the old way of thinking, believing, and behaving. If we rely upon God’s grace and Truth to affirm our value, then the “old” system of trying to prove worth is de-activated.
Jesus died on the cross, to prove we ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH based upon our relationship with Him—not because of our performance.
He paid for my freedom and it is imperative that I live from this NEW operating system.
We can tell which operating system we are living in (old or redeemed mindset) by our self-talk, faith level, and if we are experiencing righteousness, peace, and joy. The old operating system can leave us feeling exhausted, insecure, and constantly dealing with lack of value.
The truth is that our security is found in Christ’s value of us alone and that He has a good plan if we just let go of the old system (Jeremiah 29:11).
When our identity is rooted in God's love, we no longer have to prove ourselves. We can live from significance instead of striving for significance.
One of the greatest discoveries we will ever make is that our value is not determined by our accomplishments, titles, income, influence, or even our failures. Our significance comes from being loved by God. We have to believe that nothing can separate us from His Love (Romans 8).
Let’s look at some heroes we all love in the Bible who formed their identity and value in the right operating system:
Before David was a king, he was a shepherd who knew he was chosen by God.
Before Esther saved a nation, she was an orphan who discovered she had been positioned "for such a time as this."
Before Peter became a bold leader in the early church, he was a fisherman who often got it wrong—like us but learned to receive God's grace and calling.
None of these people found significance in what they did. They found significance in who God said they were.
When identity is settled, destiny becomes possible.
The Embarrassing Tag on My Dress Story
Ready for a TEST?
Significance under duress or “dress:” moment
I remember preparing my notes for weeks before I spoke before a crowd of 250 women who wanted to hear my story because I had just been appointed as the Women’s Pastor at a large Vineyard church in Southern California.
My mentor was in the crowd and after I was done preaching, I was excited to see what she thought about my message. I was expecting great feedback since others in the room responded with so much enthusiasm.
I ran up to her and then she commented, “Oh Theresa, that was amazing, but you had a tag on the side of your dress that I just wanted to pull off.” She was laughing and I was turning red.
What? You’ve got to be KIDDING! I had bought a new dress and the plastic tag WAS STILL THERE! I was so humiliated and my value as a competent leader fell way below zero.
I thanked her and then all the way home thought about this embarrassing moment—and not all that God had done. My old operating system was beginning to take over!
It’s crazy because now I can laugh about it WITH you because I learned from this moment that God was so pleased that I had given it my all in speaking about Him! It’s crazy how the enemy wants to woo us back to a defeating mindset. Right?
Just when I was up in the clouds and so excited it had gone so well, I was hit with the truth that I am imperfect and can’t see what others see.
I am so grateful for this new operating system, where my value and worth DO NOT CHANGE when I am weak and when I am imperfect because my worth is IN Christ – not in my appearance being perfect before others.
Identity Prepares You for Destiny
The Apostle Paul says:
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:2)
Our old operating system is dismantled, when we replace lies with truth and discover God's perspective about our lives.
It is shaped by identity.
Your New Operating System starts to kick in when you believe:
Who God says you are
What He has called you to do
What dreams He has placed inside you
When you live out of a whole new operating system, you begin moving from confusion to clarity and from dreaming to doing.
Discover who God created you to be, receive His perspective about your life, and develop a plan to move forward with confidence.
Your identity is the foundation of your destiny.
"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago." — Ephesians 2:10
Remember, you are born to create!
-Theresa
