Discovering Your True Identity: The Power of Intentions

Do you truly know who you are? In a world where we often become consumed by material pursuits—what neighborhood we want to live in, what kind of car we want to drive, what brands of clothing to wear—we can lose sight of a more important question: Who are we really?

Many of us wake up to the realization that while there’s nothing inherently wrong with wanting these things, they often become the byproducts of a life focused on doing rather than being. And yet, we are human beings, not human doers. Shouldn’t our outcomes flow naturally from who we are and why we are here, rather than what we accumulate?

We know deep down that material things—houses, cars, clothes, job titles—don’t define us. So, what does? How do we uncover our true selves, the identity behind the ego?

The answer lies in our intentions.

Take a moment to consider how your intentions reveal who you are. For instance, I’ve spoken openly about my past struggle with pornography addiction, and yes, the temptation still surfaces from time to time. Recently, after a particularly stressful day, I woke up with anxiety and was tempted to escape through old habits.

In my journey to recovery, I learned to examine my intentions. I recognized that my temptations were triggered by feelings of overwhelm and lack of control. In the past, I tried to resist out of fear—fear of punishment, fear of disobedience. But this fear-based intention was doomed to fail. Why? Because fear keeps us stuck in our own power, and no amount of human willpower can defeat sin. I call this the “dead power of the law.”

But something changed when I shifted my understanding. God is love, and His perfect love casts out all fear. When I began to see my addiction as rooted in fear and shame, I realized the key to breaking free was not fighting against my weaknesses but transforming my intentions. Instead of fearing the consequences, I began to trust in God’s love for me and, in turn, love myself. It wasn’t about avoiding punishment; it was about choosing what aligned with my true identity, rooted in love.

This principle also applies to our material desires. Why do we want the things we want? Is it because we fear what others might think if we didn’t have them? Or is it because those things are truly in alignment with God’s purpose for us, reflecting love, peace, and service to others?

God cares about the intentions of our hearts, not the outward manifestations. When we examine our motives, we gain clarity about whether we’re operating from a healthy identity. Our identity, if aligned with love, creates outcomes that reflect God’s truth, not fear-based illusions.

The question we must constantly ask ourselves is: Are our actions and desires flowing from fear, or from the love that defines who we truly are?