E74: Day 14 How I Stopped Striving and Received My Identity | Birthed into Purpose

Jesus stepped into the Jordan River to be baptized. John tried to talk Him out of it: "I need to be baptized by YOU." But Jesus insisted.

And when He came up out of the water, heaven opened. The Spirit descended like a dove. And the Father spoke: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Before Jesus preached a sermon. Before He performed a miracle. Before He healed anyone. Before He did ANYTHING in public ministry.

God declared His identity and His pleasure. Not for what He DID. But for who He WAS.

In this powerful episode, Desiree Day tackles one of the most exhausting struggles in Christian life: STRIVING. Trying to EARN God's love. Working to PROVE you're worthy. Performing for His approval. Fixing yourself before you come to Him.

But here's the shift: You don't have to STRIVE to become who you already ARE. You just have to RECEIVE it.

We've got it backwards. We think: "When I accomplish enough, THEN God will be pleased." But God says the OPPOSITE: "You are My beloved child. I am well pleased with you. NOW go do the work I've called you to."

Identity FIRST. Work SECOND. Not the other way around.

This episode will free you from the exhaustion of performance-based faith and give you permission to REST in who you already are in Christ.

✨ Today's Transformation: From striving to BECOME → Receiving who you ALREADY ARE
✨ Action Step: Stop striving for 24 hours. Just receive.

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💬 DM: What are you stopping STRIVING for and starting RECEIVING?

Your story isn't over—it's just getting good. Stay faithful. Stay expectant. Keep shifting.

EPISODE OVERVIEW: The life-changing moment when Jesus was baptized and God declared His identity BEFORE He did any ministry work. Learn to receive your identity instead of striving for it.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

• Matthew 3:13-17 (NLT & KJV) - Jesus' Baptism & God's Declaration
• Romans 8:15-16 - Spirit of sonship
• Ephesians 1:6 - Accepted in the Beloved
• Galatians 4:6-7 - No longer slaves, but children

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. God declared Jesus' identity BEFORE He did any public work
2. "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" - present tense, already done
3. Identity FIRST, work SECOND (not the other way around)
4. You don't have to EARN what's already been GIVEN
5. You're loved for who you ARE, not what you DO

STRIVING VS. RECEIVING: Striving says:

• "I have to EARN God's love"
• "I have to PROVE I'm worthy"
• "I have to FIX myself first"
• "I'll be loved WHEN I'm good enough"

Receiving says:

• "God already loves me—I'm receiving it"
• "I'm already worthy because of Jesus"
• "God accepts me as I am"
• "I'm already loved—living FROM that love, not FOR it"

THE ORDER MATTERS: Jesus was baptized → Heaven opened → Spirit descended → Father spoke → THEN ministry began

Not: Ministry first to earn approval But: Approval declared, THEN ministry flows from that place

NEXT EPISODE - DAY 15: 🎉 SERIES FINALE! "How I Birthed Purpose Today" - Heaven OPENED and it's still open over YOU. Time to birth what God's been developing! (Matthew 3:16-17)

PERFECT FOR:

• Perfectionists exhausted from trying
• Christians with performance-based faith
• Anyone tired of trying to earn God's love
• Those who never feel "good enough"
• Believers needing to rest in God's acceptance
• Women struggling with worth and identity