Develop Your “I-Factor”

Listening to Dr Caroline Leaf this morning inspired me to write about this “I” factor in us. What is the “I-factor”, you ask? It is our Identity 🙂

Dr Caroline encourages us to “Go do what only we can do! It is not about competing with others, but enhancing others.” This immediately sparks the story about the older brother in the story of the Prodigal son. Most of us would remember how rebellious and rotten (R&R) the prodigal son was to his loving father. However, there is another character that we might have missed out on Jesus was wanting to point out to us.

The older brother felt the need to compete with his young brother. He felt unrecognised and unrewarded. He was probably trying to be someone that he did not even enjoy being! This is what we would call an “orphan spirit”. 

An Orphan feels like he or she does not belong, all alone, no one is there to provide or to fight for him or her. This person will try to perform to be accepted and finds it hard to celebrate another person’s success. I was like that and sometimes still needed to shake this orphan spirit off whenever it tries to attach itself to me.

The only antidote against this orphan spirit is to tune ourselves back into the unique sonship identity that God has called us into. By the way, ladies you can be “Sons” of God, like guys, you can be the “Bride” of Christ 🙂

Galatians 4:7 “

“Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.”

2 Corinthians 6:18 (The Passion Translation)

I will be a true Father to you,[a]

    and you will be my beloved sons and daughters,”

    says the Lord Yahweh Almighty.[b]

Paul talks about the earth eagerly waiting to see the manifestations of the sons of God. It is only when we are living out of the identity as children of God will we be secure in all that we are and do. That is when we know for sure (fully convinced) that our Father will never fail us and He does love us with all of His heart. When we see someone else doing well, we can cheer them on, because we know that Father God will never short change us. He has more than enough in His storehouse for you and me. Just because someone else is prospering spiritually, financially or physically, my share of blessings from my Heavenly Father will not be lessened. They are not taking away my blessings. Oh, that is so good to remember.

Investing time to shape our own unique identity is very crucial. First of all, I think we need to accept ourselves, love ourselves and believe in ourselves. What do you think? Because why would we want to take care of ourselves if we don’t love ourselves in the first place? Father God understands this concept better than anyone of us and that is why He has left us with this promise from 2 Corinthians 6:18

Dr Caroline Leaf, who is a Christian Scientist wrote this: “No one can compete with you because you have no equal. Your individual specialization contributes to the group success. When you get a hold of the truth of your core identity, your I-factor, you can live life with an enhancement mindset, as opposed to a competitive mindset.”

There is abundance in our Father’s house for each one of us. Whether you are a believer of Jesus or not, everything that you need is in the Father’s house. You can turn to Him and ask for help. Ask for what you need. He loves you with an everlasting love. Don’t be afraid to ask. He is generous. Over many years I have held on to this belief that “I don’t have because I do not ask.” I can testify to you that He has provided for me and my family more times than I can even count 🙂

Prayer

Father God, I want to be a person who is secure in You. I am tire of competing and of trying to do my best to make others like me. I want to be who You have made me to be. Help me to develop this “I-Factor” in you. Turn me into my true Identity as a child of God. Please help me to recognise the wrong mindset I have about you and about myself, so that I will no longer agree with these lies. Give me your truth to replace these lies about who I truly am and what a good Father You really are. In Your precious Son’s name, Jesus Christ, I ask. Amen!