Be-Do-Have

Most of us were trained to live life backwards. The world tells you: “If you do enough, then you’ll have enough, and maybe then you’ll finally be enough.” But the Kingdom flips it. God starts with being, not doing.

This is what I call the Be-Do-Have Principle: who you are shapes what you do, and what you do shapes what you have. It all flows from identity.

Think about it: before Jesus ever performed a miracle, the Father declared over Him at His baptism—“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17 NKJV) That’s identity first. From that place of being, Jesus went out and did the works of the Kingdom. And the fruit followed.

Why “Be” Comes Before “Do”

If you chase achievement without identity, you’ll always be hustling for validation. You’ll think success will fix the question of who you are—but it never does. On the other hand, when you know who you are in Christ, your actions flow naturally, and your results line up with your true self.

Paul said it this way:
“By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NKJV)

Notice the order: I am (identity), then I labored (action), then the fruit of grace (results).

Living the B.E. Framework

Here’s a practical way to reframe your life around being first.

B – Believe Your New Identity
Start by accepting what God says about you. You’re righteous, loved, accepted, chosen. This isn’t about “becoming” through striving; it’s about believing who you already are in Christ.
📖 “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26 NKJV)

E – Embody the Identity
Don’t just agree mentally—begin to act as if it’s true. Embodying means aligning your actions, words, and posture with who you already are. If you’re a king, carry yourself like one. If you’re righteous, stop calling yourself a sinner.
📖 “Put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24 NKJV)

When you believe and embody who you are, what you do flows naturally. And what you have—fruit, impact, resources—becomes the overflow.

From Hustle to Flow

The Be-Do-Have principle frees you from the endless hustle. You’re no longer chasing identity through achievements. Instead, you’re releasing what God already put inside you.

• You stop trying to earn love—you live loved.

• You stop grinding for worth—you create from worth.

• You stop hustling for success—you walk in success because it’s part of your nature as a child of God.

A Final Word

The world says “Do more, have more, then maybe you’ll be more.” But the Kingdom says: “Be who I made you to be, and everything else will flow.”

So today, stop striving to achieve your way into identity. Believe who God says you are. Embody that identity with confidence. And watch as your doing and having align effortlessly with your being.

Be first. Do second. Have as the overflow.

—Shannon