One of the biggest blessings in my Christian walk is knowing that I am unique. There is no one else like me.
“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” —Ephesians 1:4-6 (NKJV)
Until you are content with who you are, you will never be content with what you have. —Doris Mortman
Nature never repeats herself and the possibilities of one human soul can never be found in another. —Elizabeth Cady Stanton, 1892
So many of us try to show the world and the church how “together” we are by what we wear and how we behave. But in reality, many of us are dying inside, just wishing we could be real. Then when we don’t measure up to the expectations of others of how to look and behave, a vicious circle of self-loathing and denial takes place, which is hard, if not impossible, to avoid.
God wants us to know He loves us and to feel His love.
God wants us to have beauty and goodness established within us so it can shine out of our lives effortlessly—despite how we look on the outside. We can only appreciate the fullness of what we have when we realize and believe we are whom He says we are.
We are accepted in the beloved, complete in Him, precious, valuable and sure of our salvation because we are saved by grace—His work in spite of our lack.
It’s time to grab hold of God’s best—to believe His unconditional love for us.
First John 4:16 says, “… we have KNOWN and BELIEVED the love that God has for us.” He loved us FIRST.
Instead of living under a government of condemnation, let’s live under the government of affirmation.
We don’t look at the laws of right and wrong, of how to look and what to wear anymore. We look at the liberty of the gospel in the face of Jesus Christ who has removed the veil. It is the message of affirmation of our value as children of God.
When we turn to God, we see clearly—face to face—that He loves us. Then the outside “masks” become unimportant and the quiet, gentle, peaceable spirit will show. Believing this love brings a sense of peace and contentment that passes understanding.
You cannot tap into the spiritual without affecting the natural at some stage.
We cannot exude self-confidence, beauty and joy without a sense of our dignity and worth as human beings. God has restored to us this dignity and self-worth completely through Jesus. He has made us accepted in the beloved. He has removed our sin and guilt.
“…Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high.” —Hebrews 1:3b
Jesus, Himself said He wants us to become yoked together with Him so our lives will become easy and unforced.
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” —Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV)
Leo Tolstoy said, “True life is lived when tiny changes occur.”
Decide today to do something small to change the way you see yourself. “I did not lose myself all at once but a little at a time. I cannot find myself all at once—only one step at a time.”
Accept Jesus’ offer to become yoked with Him and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in the small changes every day to establish your heart and mind in His goodness and mercy.
FOR IT IS GOD WHO IS AT WORK WITHIN YOU, GIVING YOU THE WILL AND THE POWER TO ACHIEVE HIS PURPOSE. —Philippians 2:13 (Phillips)
