Dear Writer, I hope you had a beautiful week and took time to consider your next bold step forward in your writing and marketing journey! This week, we’re going to look at the marketing mindset of identity.
You see, writer, if we don’t have a clear grasp on who we are and the value of the message God’s given us to share, it can be easy to miss or dismiss the opportunities He opens up. After all, one part of boldness is knowing and believing God has indeed given you something valuable that others need to hear. When we don’t know our identity, we can end up talking ourselves out of the invitations God has for us to step out and take our story to the next level. Or to take it into arenas and places we never imagined.
So how do we know and grow in our identity? Let’s start by taking a look others whose clarity catapulted their message to those who needed it most…
Identity in History
William Wilberforce’s grasp of his identity as a new believer nearly caused him to step out of his God-ordained role in the British Parliament. You see, after coming to salvation, he rightly saw the godless ambition and abuses that took place there and assumed his new role in advancing God’s Kingdom had no place in such an environment.
Happily, Wilberforce listened to the counsel of mature believers who helped him to see that his gifts of oration, persuasion, and position were part of His God given identity and gifting. A gifting designed specially to give voice to the voiceless multitudes suffering in the European slave trade. Wilberforce’s willingness to embrace his God-given identity and message enabled God to use him in a key way to abolish the European slave trade.
You see, writer, sometimes it can be tempting to downplay the identity and assignment the Lord gives us, because it seems so “big.” But here’s the thing. When we keep our eyes not on the “bigness” of the call, but on God Himself, it allows Him to move freely through us in ways we may have never imagined.
Identity in the Bible
David was another who walked strongly in his God-given identity. When King Saul fell into David’s hands in the cave, David refused to kill him. Now here’s the interesting thing. David had already been anointed as the rightful king by the prophet Samuel, years before. But David rested his identity as king squarely in God first and foremost. Because David knew his kingship came from God alone, he was able to trust God’s timing in stepping into that role. He was able to refuse the temptation to take that timing into his own hands. And here’s the thing…
Embracing our identity not only helps us say “yes” to our Heavenly Father’s God-sized opportunities and roles. It helps us say “no” to the pressures that would pull us and the story He’s given us out of His timing and plan.
Identity in Life
A strong sense of identity kept me from trouble in college. When a friend mistakenly assumed I’d done something inappropriate and began spreading it around. A different friend came to warn me what the others were saying. I told her what actually happened. But, when she advised me that I go and tell the others, I said without a moment’s hesitation, “If they want to know what happened, they can come talk to me like you did. What they’re spreading and believing about me, isn’t my problem.” Just like that, the rumors died down. And here’s the thing…
If I had tried to prove myself innocent to everyone, it would have only opened space for conjecture, argument, and debate. Instead, I walked in my innocence, knowing I had absolutely nothing to prove. And that spoke louder than any words. And here’s the thing…
Identity in Your Life
When we walk in our identity, we walk in peace because we know who we are. We have nothing to prove. And one of the things that kills the marketing efforts is desperation. You see, others often feel when we are desperate. And trying to prove ourselves creates a barrier to simply connecting with readers, because in the back of our minds, we’re thinking of us not them. And here’s the other thing…
When we don’t have a strong grasp of our identity, trouble along our journey can cause us to question ourselves, our writing, and our call. But when our identity and the value of our message is based on God’s call, it enables us to stand through the storms we will inevitably face. Let me show you…
- Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit. – Jeremiah 17:7-8
- …but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. – Daniel 11:32
- For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. – Psalm 112:6-7
- But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. – James 3:17-18
You see, writer, part of what hinders our writing journey is thinking this “writing thing” is our idea and not a call from God. But when we recognize that identity and gift comes from Him, not us, then like David, we become unstoppable.
Where to Start with Identity
So how do you know if your desire to write is actually a God-given dream? Here things to consider…
- What Has God Already Said? Think back to and write down anything you know God has said about your call to write. Some of us have already received direct words from God, but the human mind can be very forgetful. Especially in the rush of life and in the face of adversity. Write down anything you know God has aid about your writing and keep it somewhere you can see it daily. Consider framing it, putting on your desktop or phone lock screen, or bathroom mirror, etc. This will help keep you anchored as you face choices and challenges.
- Ask God about Your Writing. If you don’t know if you have a call to write, set aside some time to seek the Lord and see what He says. As you pray, write down any thoughts or scriptures that comes to mind. Ask others to pray with you as well. Often, clarity comes from through that prayerful counsel. That said, don’t worry if you don’t hear all at once! Stay in conversation with the Lord, and trust Him to speak His wisdom. Often He gives insight as we go.
- Consider Your Life Story. Prayerfully do a little digging into what God has done in your life. Sometimes, as you see what He’s done in the story of your life, where He’s taken you, and how He’s gifted you, it will become clear that there is a specific message He’s given you to share. Don’t be afraid to ask mature believers who know you for their thoughts as well.
- Take a Step Forward? If you’ve done all this and still are not sure, take one small step forward. Sometimes, God is simply waiting for us to begin moving so He can come alongside us with direction, redirection, correction, confirmation, timing, etc. as needed. And here’s the thing…
Learning to walk in our identity is really about learning to walk in who God says we are. You see, knowing what God says about us critical to completing our work in Him. Without the grounding of His words about us, it can be all too easy of the enemy to talk us out of or trick us out of God’s plans.
If you’ll notice, Wilberforce, David, and I all faced situations, pressures, and voices that could have pushed us out of God’s best. But with our identity rooted in who God said we were, we were able to not only navigate the trials, but came into a place to help others find freedom and fulfillment as well.
So, I encourage you today, writer, if you don’t know of or fully understand your God-given identity, take some time to seek the Lord. He gives wisdom to all who ask. As we take time to root ourselves in His word, we lay a foundation that not only positions us to persevere but that allows Him to speak His truth powerfully to others too.
#identity #value #boldness #marketing #EveryWriterWriting
