Know Who You Are In Christ | Victoria Osteen

Summary

Episode Summary: Know Who You Are In Christ | Victoria Osteen

Joel Osteen Podcast | October 25, 2025
Speaker: Victoria Osteen

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Overview:

In this episode, Victoria Osteen delivers an empowering message titled "Know Who You Are In Christ." She unpacks the importance of understanding and maintaining your true identity as someone created in the image of God. Victoria draws from scripture and relatable life analogies to encourage listeners not to let circumstances, failures, or the opinions of others distort their self-image, and to embrace the authority and confidence that comes with knowing who you are in Christ.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Image and Identity

• Victoria emphasizes that how we see ourselves—the "image" we carry—is the source of our confidence and strength.
• She references Genesis, affirming, “We are made in the image of God.”
• Our identity can become distorted by life’s hurts, failures, or the words of others, but God’s intent was always for us to live anchored in His image.
• Quote [01:44]:

  "The image that we carry on the inside of us has a lot to do with what we reflect. It has so much to do with what we identify with, how we see ourselves, what we go after."

• Life experiences like divorce, mistreatment, or pain can smear our identity, but those are not God’s definition of us.

2. The Mirror Analogy

• Just as we recognize our physical appearance by looking in a mirror, our spiritual image is seen by looking into the “mirror” of God’s Word (James 1).
• Quote [02:58]:

  “Just like we know our physical appearance, the image, because we’ve all looked in the mirror, God wants us to be able to locate our spiritual image by looking into the mirror He has for us. In James 1, it says, the word of God is like a mirror.”

• Victoria highlights that people often let others define or label them, but God’s Word is the true reflection of who we are.

3. Overcoming Negative Labels and False Images

• Many people allow negative labels—such as “divorced person” or “victim”—to define them, but Victoria insists these are not God-given identities.
• Quote [04:31]:

  "God says you are not a divorced person. You are not a victim. You are made in My image. You are a victor. You need to get your image back."

• She shares a conversation with a young woman who admitted to letting the words of others determine her self-worth, illustrating how easily one’s image can be covered up by outside influence.
• Quote [06:12]:

  "If someone is trying to make you feel bad, you know what? That’s when you just stop and say, you know what? I know who I am. You don’t have to fight back."

4. The Connection between Identity and Authority

• Knowing your identity brings spiritual authority; ignorance of identity limits the power God intends for your life.
• Victoria compares this to a police officer confidently directing traffic versus someone without that authority hesitating to step out.
• Quote [08:14]:

  "If you don’t know who you are, you can’t carry much power."

5. Protecting Your Spiritual Identity

• As identity theft is rampant in the physical world, there is also a spiritual attack aimed at stealing your “God-image.”
• Quote [09:22]:

  "You’ve got to protect the image on the inside of you because the enemy wants to steal that image. He wants to steal your worth and your value. If you don’t know who you are, you can’t have what God said you can have."

• She stresses that your identity isn’t just about you, but about representing the God within you.

6. Validation & Self-worth

• Many seek validation from job titles, possessions, or relationships, but these are fleeting. True value comes from being marked by God’s eternal identity.
• Quote [11:01]:

  "Your friends can change. Your finances can change. Things can change. The image of Almighty God is eternal. It doesn’t change. Your value doesn't change because your circumstance changed."

7. Living Out Your Identity

• Victoria encourages bold prayers, persistent praise, and resilience as hallmarks of people who know their identity in Christ.
• Such people are “kind, compassionate, a servant of all...not easily offended”—they take on the likeness of Christ.
• Quote [12:44]:

  "There’s no circumstance that defines you. God, and God alone, defines you. When you put on His identity, He’ll give you His victory and you’ll get to where you’re intended to be. Amen. Amen."

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [01:44] Victoria: “The image that we carry on the inside... has so much to do with what we identify with, how we see ourselves, what we go after.”
• [03:00] Victoria: “The only way I know what I look like is because I can see myself in the mirror... God wants us to be able to locate our spiritual image by looking into the mirror He has for us.”
• [06:12] Victoria: “If someone is trying to make you feel bad... that’s when you just stop and say, you know what? I know who I am. You don’t have to fight back.”
• [08:14] Victoria: “If you don’t know who you are, you can’t carry much power.”
• [11:01] Victoria: “Your value doesn’t change because your circumstance changed. Your position in heaven doesn’t change because your circumstance changed.”
• [12:44] Victoria: “There’s no circumstance that defines you. God, and God alone, defines you.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:44–03:50] — The meaning and distortion of God’s image in us; importance of self-image.
• [03:51–05:50] — Mirror analogy; how we see ourselves physically vs. spiritually; authentic self-knowledge.
• [05:51–07:45] — Labels and negative identities; personal anecdote about letting others’ words shape self-worth.
• [07:46–09:00] — Identity and authority; power comes from knowing who you are.
• [09:01–10:32] — Spiritual “identity theft”; protecting God’s image within.
• [10:33–11:50] — Validation, value, and the unchanging nature of God’s image.
• [11:51–13:36] — Living from Christ’s image; attributes of secure identity; practical encouragement.

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Conclusion

Victoria Osteen passionately calls listeners to reject false labels, recognize their unchanging value as children of God, and stand firm in the confidence and authority given by Christ. By consistently looking in the “mirror” of God’s Word, believers can reinforce their true identity and live empowered, purpose-driven lives.

Final encouragement [13:36]:

"Take on His identity today. Don’t let anyone label you. There’s no circumstance that defines you. God, and God alone, defines you. When you put on His identity, He’ll give you His victory and you’ll get to where you’re intended to be. Amen."

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End of summary. This episode offers faith-building, practical wisdom for anyone questioning their personal value or seeking to root their identity more deeply in Christ. Victoria’s relatable examples and gentle yet firm encouragement make this message especially impactful.

Transcript

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We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in your life.

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Yes. Hallelujah. We are a grateful people. The Bible says in Genesis that we are made in the image of God. You see, the image that we carry on the inside of us has a lot to do with what we reflect. It has so much to do with what we identify with, how we see ourselves, what we go after. In fact, our image is our source of strength and confidence. That is really the key to living the abundant life that Jesus came to give us. Now, our image was distorted in the garden. It was separated from God. But God said, I'm gonna rebirth this image in you. So you have been rebirthed with the image of God when you said yes to Jesus. But too often, things that happen in our life, maybe the way we were raised, a divorce, hurts and pains, try to distort or smear that image that tries to cover up the true you, the one that God created in his image. Then you begin to identify with your circumstances. You begin to identify with the pain, when all along, God never intended these things to hurt you. He intended you to know who you are in Christ Jesus and to identify with him and his power that lives in you. You see, if you don't know who you are, you won't know what to identify with. It's interesting because God knows what we're made of. He knows who we are. He knows that we were made in his image. The question is, today, do we know the image that's on the inside of us? Or have we allowed things to distort that image? I was thinking the other day, the only way I know what I look like is because I can see myself in the mirror. I get up in the morning, I wash my face, I brushed my teeth, and there I am looking back at myself. We all know what we look like only because of the mirror. Now, granted, someone can describe our looks, our physical. But if you ask two or three people, I bet you'll get a different description every time. But when you look in the mirror, you see the image of yourself. You know, if someone shows me a picture of a big group of people and I'm in that picture, I can locate myself because I know what I look like. I can identify who I am because I've seen myself in the mirror. I know my image, see? And just like we know our physical appearance, the image, because we've all looked in the mirror, God wants us to be able to locate our spiritual image by looking into the mirror he has for us. In James 1, it says, the word of God is like a mirror. It reflects his image on the inside of us. You see, God wants us to know that we are made in his image, that there is a spiritual person that is far greater than what you see on the outside. You see, what your image is has a lot to do with your confidence, has a lot to do with your inner strength. It has a lot to do with what you identify with. You know, some people go around saying, I'm divorced. They go around with that image, I'm divorced. I'm a divorced person. Some people say, I was mistreated and abused. I'll never get to where I need to be. They go around with this victim mentality. But all the while, God says, you are not a divorced person. You are not a victim. You are made in my image. You are a victor. You need to get your image back. When we allow the word of God to create that image on the inside of us, when we put ourself in church, when we listen to God's word, we're creating and making sure that image stays in place. If you had a very important event, I guarantee you would go to the mirror and check your hair, check your tie, make sure it's straight. You don't want to go out there with your tie going that way. You know what? You'll check yourself. You adjust yourself. And you know, when you put yourself in the presence of God, what you're doing is you're readjusting and affirming your image on the inside because you want to be able to locate who you are in a world that doesn't know who it is. You see, there's so many opinions out there that if you don't know your image and your identity, you may allow some identity on you. I was talking to a young girl the other day, and we were talking about this very thing about the image on the inside of us and how we live in this place of strength when we have God's image. And she said, admittedly, she said, victoria, it's so crazy. She said, I allow people to say things to me, and it determines my worth and my value. They can literally say the wrong thing, and I walk off ashamed. Have people ever tried to label you? Have you ever taken something maybe even out of context? And it's so funny, because that image is so covered up, you don't really know if that's who you are or not. You remember, when I see myself in that picture, I can locate myself. I know that's me in that picture. Now, if someone holds a picture up and they say, look, Victoria, look. Look at you right there. And that's not me. You know what I say? That ain't me. That's not me. I know what I look like. I know my image. And see, so many times people are trying to tell you who you're not. You gotta know that ain't me. If someone is trying to make you feel bad, you know what? That's when you just stop and you say, you know what? I know who I am. You don't have to fight back. You see, the image of God is not about arrogance. It's about humility and strength. You know, it's about being assured, in confidence. Still waters run deep, and God wants you to run deep. He wants that image to be deeply impressed in your very being. It's interesting because I really feel like that identity and authority go hand in hand. Now, we know when you have authority, you carry power. But if you don't know who you Are you Can't carry much power. Can you imagine a policeman not being able to believe that he can stop traffic? Now, if you put me out there, I am not going to step out in the middle of that traffic because I don't carry that authority. I don't carry that identity. But you know what? He has authority and power because he knows his identity. If I go to the bank because I need some money out of my bank account, I go to the bank, go to the teller, get all my stuff together, and I say, I want my money, she's going to say, where's your identification? If I'm not carrying my identification, it doesn't matter how much money I have in the bank, I'm not getting it. I have to know my identity. I have to know that identity or I'm not gonna get what's rightfully mine. And can I tell you, you've got so many things out there that are rightfully yours. But unless you know who you are, unless you identify with the power that lives on the inside of you, you won't get what's rightfully yours. The Bible says it's the enemy who comes to steal. He comes to steal. Have you ever heard about stolen identities? It's rampant these days. Like we get all this protection trying to take care of our identity. You see, you've got to protect the image on the inside of you because the enemy wants to steal that image. He wants to steal your worth and your value. If you don't know who you are, you can't have what God said you can have. You know, what makes me so irritated is that it's not really just about me. It's about the God in me. And when the enemy steals from me, you know what he's doing? He's stealing from God. I don't want him stealing from God. I want to protect what's God's. You see, sometimes we think it's about ourself, but it's about the greater one who lives in us. He's given us the privilege to bear his image. I can't think of a higher calling on this earth than to bear the image of Almighty God. If you don't have a purpose, I want to give you one. Today you are the bearer of God's image. You see, when you know who you are in Christ. Christ, you don't have to look for other people to validate you. You don't have to try to squeeze out of people what only God can give you. You know, sometimes we want to put our Validation or our worth in our job, position in the car we drive, the clothes we wear, the people we hang around, because it makes us feel good. We feel important. But can I tell you, that is great if you have those things. But those things are temporary and subject to change. Your friends can change. Your finances can change. Things can change. And if those things change, what does that mean to you? What's on the inside of you? The image of Almighty God is eternal. It doesn't change. Your value doesn't change because your circumstance changed. Your power doesn't change because your circumstance change. Your position in heaven doesn't change because your circumstance change. You gotta know who you are and locate where you're going because God has great things in store for you. Second Corinthians says this. God identifies us as his very own. He's already identified you. He knows who you are. You do. You know who you are. Don't let anything cover up your identity. Know who you are. People who know who they are pray bold prayers. They believe that God is working in their life. They praise. In the midst of difficulty. They push through because they know on the other side, God's gonna be right there waiting for them. People who bear the image of God. No, they look like Christ Jesus. So they're kind. They're compassionate. They're a servant of all because they know that the first will be last and that if you want to be a leader, you've got to be a servant first. They're not easily offended. They know who they are in Jesus Christ. Take on his identity today. Don't let anyone label you. There's no circumstance that defines you. God, and God alone defines you. When you put on his identity, he'll give you his victory and you'll get to where you're intended to be. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Lord.

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