“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7a (KJV)

Good morning, God’s people. The Lord bless us all in Jesus’ mighty name.

Many times, believers tend to say who they are—not as a product of a desire for change, but as a conclusion about who they believe themselves to be.

Child of God, are you saying who you are because you desire change, or are you saying who you are because you have concluded that, no matter what anyone says, people must deal with you just as you are?

Many of us call ourselves believers, yet we are already forming characters that partner with the devil to destroy us and our destinies.

Carefully follow me this morning.

I have heard some of you say:

• “Naturally, I am an angry person.”

• “I am a lazy person.”

• “I am wicked by nature.”

I have said it before: that is not honesty—that is pride and an identity that leads to destruction.

Honesty is when you acknowledge these things because you truly desire change, and you refuse to let them define you.

Identity is when you have already concluded these things about yourself and expect everyone to accept you in your wickedness, laziness, anger, and other character defects you are unwilling to let go of.

Many of us did not expect this teaching to come in this direction, but I have come as the Lord has instructed.

Let me round off today with further analysis on our Bible reading:

Your constant thoughts of wickedness, laziness, pride, or anything God has not planted in you will soon become your identity if you are not careful.

Stop telling me the Bible was only referring to achievements and positive thoughts in that scripture.

If your constant thought of wickedness is not stopped, you will soon become a wicked person.

If your constant thought of failure is not stopped, you will soon become a failure.

My generation has reached a point where Christianity, friendships, and even professional relationships are built on the idea of being “honest” about who we are.

But in reality, sir, it is not honesty that makes you say, “I am an angry person by nature.” It is an identity—one that refuses to change for God or for anyone.

So I leave you with this question:

For you—has it been honesty, or has it become your identity?