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Issue link: http://magazine.kcm.org/i/1500694
2 4 : B V O V by David S. Winston The egg rolled down the mountain until it fi nally found its way into a chicken coop. Soon, the egg hatched and the brown eagle came out. But the eagle did not know that he wasn't a chicken. So, the brown eagle grew up learning to live like a chicken. He went to chicken school and had chicken friends. He played chicken games and ate like a chicken. But there was one problem—he was an eagle acting like a chicken! One day, a big eagle spotted him from above and swooped down to ask, "Why are you here in this chicken coop with all of these chickens?" The brown eagle responded, "What do you mean? I'm a chicken just like them." The big eagle laughed as he explained to the brown eagle his true identity. After some debate, the big eagle convinced the brown eagle that he could fl y. It was hard for the brown eagle to believe, since he had not seen any of his chicken friends or family do it before, but he decided to give it a try. He backed up, gave himself some space, and got a running start before taking o . BAM! Instead of fl ying high, he hit the fence face-fi rst. "I told you I couldn't fl y! I told you that I'm not an eagle. I'm a chicken!" he exclaimed. He demanded that the big eagle leave him and his chicken family alone. The big eagle tried to convince him to try again, but to no avail. So the big eagle had no choice but to oblige and leave. The brown eagle continued to live, and eventually died, in that same chicken coop with his chicken family. The chicken-eagle fable shows us this truth: You will live life according to your identity. Misunderstanding your true identity can keep you separated from the life God wants you to live. It can keep you locked into mediocrity and locked out of destiny. Instead of fl ying high, where you are supposed to be, it will have you living the low life. Maybe a few people around you see the potential in you. They encourage you to escape the confi nes of comfortability, but stepping out feels almost impossible. The good news is, everything is about to change. The things you once thought were impossible are now possible with God's help. Graduating from college, having a strong marriage, starting a new business or organization, living a prosperous life, getting that big promotion, living your lifelong dream— all of it is possible. The Bible says that with God all things are possible (see Matthew 19:26). Identity is always based on what we choose to identify with. What makes the di erence is how we choose to identify ourselves. What Will Your Identity Allow? In the book of Genesis, we read the story of a man named Abram (later called Abraham). Abram was married to a woman named Sarai. When the story starts, God promises Abram that He will make him a great nation, or people group (see Genesis 12:1–4). Abram was 75 years old at the time, and the scripture tells us that Sarai was unable to have children (Genesis 11:30). But God was not discouraged by their age or physical Unlock Your Identity ON MINISTRY TRIPS TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES, MY DAD, BILL WINSTON, WILL OFTEN USE THE MORNING SESSIONS TO TEACH ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS ABOUT LEADERSHIP. HE TELLS THE STORY OF AN EAGLE'S EGG THAT ACCIDENTALLY FELL OUT OF THE NEST. God can only do in your life what your identity will allow. If you think you are a loser, it will be hard to fi nd victory.