May 25th, 2026
by Joel Dupree
by Joel Dupree
5-Day Devotional: Who God Says You Are
Day 1: Beyond the Name Tag
Reading: Romans 8:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:17
Devotional: The world has been handing you name tags your entire life—some based on your achievements, others on your failures. But God's identity for you isn't written in erasable ink based on your performance. When Paul declares "there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," he's ripping off every label the enemy has placed on you. You are not defined by your worst moment, your greatest success, or even what others say about you. In Christ, you are a new creation—not refurbished, not "like new," but completely new. Today, identify one false label you've been wearing and declare God's truth over it instead. Your identity is not fragile because it's not based on you—it's based on who God says you are.
Day 2: Before You Did Anything
Reading: Matthew 3:13-17; Ephesians 1:4-6
Devotional: God spoke over Jesus, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased"—before Jesus performed a single miracle. This wasn't performance-based approval; it was identity-based love. The same is true for you. God chose you before the foundation of the world, not because of what you would accomplish, but because He wanted you as His child. You don't have to earn God's pleasure through endless striving. Your worth isn't determined by your productivity, your usefulness, or how many people need you. Stop trying to become loved and start living from the reality that you already are loved. Before you did anything right or wrong, God already said over you: "You are mine, and I am pleased with you."
Day 3: Blocking the Telemarketer
Reading: Matthew 4:1-11; James 4:7
Devotional: The enemy is like a spiritual telemarketer who keeps calling with the same question: "If you really are who God says you are, then why...?" He questioned Jesus' identity in the wilderness, and he'll question yours too. But notice Jesus didn't debate, defend, or explain Himself. He simply responded with Scripture: "It is written." The devil can't name you—only God has that authority—but he can pose questions that make you doubt. The solution? Stop answering his calls. Block him with the Word of God. When shame calls, answer with "I am forgiven." When fear calls, declare "I am a child of God." When insecurity calls, proclaim "I am chosen and loved." You don't need to engage in lengthy discussions with lies. Know the Word, stand on the Word, and watch the enemy's influence diminish.
Day 4: Under Construction, Not Damaged
Reading: Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 1:6
Devotional: You are God's workmanship, His masterpiece—but you're also under construction. Don't confuse the two. A building under construction isn't worthless; it's valuable enough that someone is investing resources to complete it. The scaffolding around your life doesn't mean you're broken beyond repair; it means God is building something significant. You weren't mass-produced on an assembly line. You were individually crafted, uniquely designed with intention and purpose. Yes, God is still working in you, refining and reshaping, but that doesn't diminish your value. When you feel unfinished or inadequate, remember: the One who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it. You're not sitting on heaven's clearance shelf marked down for damage. You're God's ongoing masterpiece.
Day 5: Your New Birth Certificate
Reading: John 3:1-7; 1 Peter 1:3-5
Devotional: "That's just who I am" is one of the most dangerous statements you can make when it's attached to something God wants to transform. If you find yourself justifying sin, brokenness, or destructive patterns with "I was born this way," you might just need to be reborn. Jesus told Nicodemus that to see the kingdom of God, you must be born again. This isn't about self-improvement or behavior modification—it's about receiving a completely new identity through Christ. Your old birth certificate listed your earthly parents and physical characteristics. Your new birth certificate, signed in the blood of Jesus, declares you are a child of God, forgiven, chosen, and made new. Stop defining yourself by your first birth and start living from your second one. Today is your day to embrace your new name, your new nature, your new creation identity in Christ.
Day 1: Beyond the Name Tag
Reading: Romans 8:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:17
Devotional: The world has been handing you name tags your entire life—some based on your achievements, others on your failures. But God's identity for you isn't written in erasable ink based on your performance. When Paul declares "there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," he's ripping off every label the enemy has placed on you. You are not defined by your worst moment, your greatest success, or even what others say about you. In Christ, you are a new creation—not refurbished, not "like new," but completely new. Today, identify one false label you've been wearing and declare God's truth over it instead. Your identity is not fragile because it's not based on you—it's based on who God says you are.
Day 2: Before You Did Anything
Reading: Matthew 3:13-17; Ephesians 1:4-6
Devotional: God spoke over Jesus, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased"—before Jesus performed a single miracle. This wasn't performance-based approval; it was identity-based love. The same is true for you. God chose you before the foundation of the world, not because of what you would accomplish, but because He wanted you as His child. You don't have to earn God's pleasure through endless striving. Your worth isn't determined by your productivity, your usefulness, or how many people need you. Stop trying to become loved and start living from the reality that you already are loved. Before you did anything right or wrong, God already said over you: "You are mine, and I am pleased with you."
Day 3: Blocking the Telemarketer
Reading: Matthew 4:1-11; James 4:7
Devotional: The enemy is like a spiritual telemarketer who keeps calling with the same question: "If you really are who God says you are, then why...?" He questioned Jesus' identity in the wilderness, and he'll question yours too. But notice Jesus didn't debate, defend, or explain Himself. He simply responded with Scripture: "It is written." The devil can't name you—only God has that authority—but he can pose questions that make you doubt. The solution? Stop answering his calls. Block him with the Word of God. When shame calls, answer with "I am forgiven." When fear calls, declare "I am a child of God." When insecurity calls, proclaim "I am chosen and loved." You don't need to engage in lengthy discussions with lies. Know the Word, stand on the Word, and watch the enemy's influence diminish.
Day 4: Under Construction, Not Damaged
Reading: Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 1:6
Devotional: You are God's workmanship, His masterpiece—but you're also under construction. Don't confuse the two. A building under construction isn't worthless; it's valuable enough that someone is investing resources to complete it. The scaffolding around your life doesn't mean you're broken beyond repair; it means God is building something significant. You weren't mass-produced on an assembly line. You were individually crafted, uniquely designed with intention and purpose. Yes, God is still working in you, refining and reshaping, but that doesn't diminish your value. When you feel unfinished or inadequate, remember: the One who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it. You're not sitting on heaven's clearance shelf marked down for damage. You're God's ongoing masterpiece.
Day 5: Your New Birth Certificate
Reading: John 3:1-7; 1 Peter 1:3-5
Devotional: "That's just who I am" is one of the most dangerous statements you can make when it's attached to something God wants to transform. If you find yourself justifying sin, brokenness, or destructive patterns with "I was born this way," you might just need to be reborn. Jesus told Nicodemus that to see the kingdom of God, you must be born again. This isn't about self-improvement or behavior modification—it's about receiving a completely new identity through Christ. Your old birth certificate listed your earthly parents and physical characteristics. Your new birth certificate, signed in the blood of Jesus, declares you are a child of God, forgiven, chosen, and made new. Stop defining yourself by your first birth and start living from your second one. Today is your day to embrace your new name, your new nature, your new creation identity in Christ.
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Joel Dupree
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