Child of God

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” – Romans 8:16

Abby’s mom was a single parent who worked two jobs just to keep the lights on and food on the table. As a result, Abby and her younger sisters spent most of their time at her best friend, Tasha’s house.

Tasha’s parents welcomed the three girls into their home. Abby and her sisters regularly ate dinner with the family. Tasha’s dad, Leonard helped the four girls with their homework every evening.

Years later when Abby became a Christian, she struggled with how to see God. “My church told me that God was a loving Father. For a long time, I didn’t understand it. My dad split when my sisters were little.”

Then one day, Tasha reached out, inviting Abby to come to visit her and her young family. “Leonard was there, and I walked in to see him playing with his grandkids. For the first time, it hit me that I did have a father.”

“Leonard taught me to drive, just like he did for Tasha. He took me on college visits when my mom couldn’t get time off work.” Abby laughed as the truth soaked deep into her heart. “Because of Leonard, I knew what it was like to be loved deeply by a father and that made me see God in a whole new light.”

Dear God, let the truth of Your love surround me, soaking into my spirit. I want to feel Your love and shine it so others can learn of Your great compassion. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

 

When Trust Is Hard

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

One cold January day while Peter was eating home-cooked stew with his wife and kids, he shared a concept he’d heard about on the radio. “You pick one word that you’ll use to guide you through the upcoming year. I thought it’d be cool if we did that as a family this year.”

His wife loved the idea and encouraged their children to think up the word they should choose.

After a round of suggestions, Lexi his daughter grinned, “What about trust? You said our home’s foundation is Proverbs 3:5.”

So, Peter and his family chose the word ‘Trust’ for the year. They were surprised to see it come up again and again as the months passed.

“My wife didn’t get the job she wanted and God told us to trust. So we did and God opened up a position for her at another company with better benefits and less commute time.” Peter explained.

“We saw it work with Lexi. She tried out for cheerleading then cross-country running. She didn’t get into either one. But God reminded us to trust. A few weeks later, God brought a wonderful vocal coach into Lexi’s life. If she’d been busy with those other activities, she wouldn’t have time to work on her singing.”

Sometimes, things don’t work out the way we’d hoped. That might mean losing out on a job you wanted, not getting to participate in an activity you love or missing out on a special trip. But rest assured that God is working behind the scenes for you, His beloved child.

God, sometimes I’m disappointed with the way a situation happens. But when those moments come, help me to remember to trust in You. I know You’re always working on my behalf. I love you, Father. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

He Delights in You

“He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.” – Psalm 18:19

Alice grew up in strict churches. She had a mental image of God as a mob boss, demanding and cold. Strict and unrelenting.

So, Alice spent all of her time trying to be a good girl. She got the best grades, went to a college her church approved of and married a man her parents adored.

Despite the fact that her life looked good on the outside, Alice felt like she was falling apart on the inside. She was always worried she was disappointing God and she lived in constant fear.

It wasn’t until her baby boy became sick that Alice finally approached God. “I fell apart, right there in the hospital room where my four-month-old baby was sleeping. For the first time, I admitted that I couldn’t do it all. It was the first time I’d ever asked God for help.”

She spent the next few days, reading Psalms to her son. “One of them—in Psalm 18, I think—talked about how God rescued David because He delighted in him.”

That was the day, Alice realized that God loved her and truly delighted in her. “Not because I follow the rules or do all the right things but because He loves me, as His child, no doing required.”

God, sometimes, it’s easy to believe that it all rests on my shoulders. On those days, help me to remember that You delight in me. That You love me and You’re the One holding everything together. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
 

When You Lose Something Precious…

“Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.” – Acts 9:8

Saul was traveling to Damascus, intending to persecute Christians. He thought he was doing the right thing, defending his faith.

But while he was on the journey with his buddies, there was a light so bright and blinding that each man immediately fell to his knees.

As Saul breathed in the dust of the ground, he heard a loud voice, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

When Saul asks who he’s speaking to, the same voice replies. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

But as Saul is scrambling to his feet, he has a sickening realization. He can no longer see. The world is all darkness and he feels around, his stomach lurching.

His buddies take Saul by the hand and lead him to Damascus. After three days of fasting and prayer, a man arrives at the house where Saul is. He lays hands on Saul and prays for him.

After the prayer, Saul opens his eyes and he can see again. How different the world must have looked to him! Suddenly, he could see things clearly that he never had before.

Sometimes, God takes things from our lives so we can clearly see Him. Maybe God has taken your relationship, your job, or your home. Rest assured, God has not taken these things from you to be cruel—He’s taken them because He longs for you to rely on Him, to show you His faithful love.

God, please remove from my life everything that prevents me from seeing You clearly. I want to know You more, to love You deeply, just as You love me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Reflecting on Your Identity

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” – Psalm 139:14

Sarah had a chaotic home life. Her parents divorced when she was young and her mom always seemed to find a new man each week.

Sarah dealt with these changes by eating. Food was the one constant in her life that never forgot her or belittled her. But her eating habits took a toll on her body and Sarah was bullied in middle school for her weight.

So, she decided to do whatever it took to lose weight. She started by watching her calorie intake but it quickly became an obsession. How few calories could she eat while still allowing her body to function normally?

It wasn’t until Sarah’s mom found her web history filled with anorexia websites that she realized Sarah needed help. She immediately got her daughter an appointment with a therapist who specialized in eating disorders.

At first, Sarah went to the sessions and didn’t answer the therapist’s questions. Instead, they played board games and puzzles. But slowly, she opened open to the older woman, sharing her pain and the questions that plagued her. “Why am I like this?” She asked.

The counselor handed Sarah a mirror. “Do you see yourself clearly?” She asked.

Sarah nodded and the counselor handed her a second mirror that was broken. “How about now?”

“I look distorted.”

The counselor nodded. “Eating disorders can distort what you see in the mirror. You’re still you but the mirror you’ve been using is broken. I can help you if you’ll let me.”

God, sometimes, there are things in my life that distort the way I see myself. Please show me clearly who I am, help me to understand that I’m Your child, fearfully and wonderfully made. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

Is My Sin Too Great?

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.” – Psalm 51:1

Tyler’s grandmother raised him in a rough neighborhood. She urged him to stay in school and not get involved with the local gangs.

But Tyler was eager for the affection and protection of family that a gang leader promised when he was recruited.

One day, some of the guys decided to rob a bank. During the robbery, one gang member shot a security guard. Tyler stayed behind in an effort to save the dying man but it was too late.

That’s how Tyler found himself serving life in prison at only nineteen. A few months into his stay, his grandmother’s church organized a prison ministry. The church group would share the Word of God with the inmates and encourage them each week.

At first, Tyler attended the meetings because it gave him an excuse to be out of his cell for an extra hour. But the more he listened, the more curious he became about Jesus.

He began to ask his grandmother’s pastor questions about God, how he had designed the world, and what it really meant to be a Christ-follower. The other man listened patiently and answered Tyler’s questions.

One day after the church group had shared Psalm 51, Tyler asked, “Is my sin too great? Can God forgive even me, the murderer?”

The pastor smiled and shared the story behind that chapter of the Psalms. “It was written after David had an affair with a married woman. When he discovered she was pregnant, he had her husband killed in battle. Yet God still forgave David when he confessed his sin. There is no sin so dark that the blood of Jesus cannot cover it.”

When Tyler heard this, he decided to become a Christ-follower, too. He prayed with the pastor, gratefully accepting Christ’s gifts of forgiveness and eternal life.

God, thank You for Your forgiveness. Thank You for having mercy on me. Please blot out my sins and help me to walk in Your ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

How You See God

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8

At a recent eye exam, John learned his vision had worsened and he needed a new pair of prescription glasses. His optometrist’s office called a week later to tell him that the glasses were ready.

When John first tried on the glasses, the world around him looked blurry. But he figured since he hadn’t updated his prescription in a few years that he simply needed to get used to the new lenses.

But the blurriness didn’t go away. Now, John felt dizzy and bumped into things. He even had trouble parking his car one night and hit a mailbox, leaving a long scratch on his car door. That’s when his wife urged him to make another appointment with his optometrist.

At the second appointment, John’s doctor checked the prescription. He quickly realized that someone on staff had accidentally switched John’s lenses with another patient’s glasses. This was the cause of John’s accident and his visual problems.

It wasn’t that the world around John had changed. Rather, the problem was John couldn’t see clearly. This can happen to us, too. An illness, job loss, or tragedy can make you think that God has changed or moved. But while your circumstances might shift, God never changes and never abandons His children.

God, help me to see You clearly. I want to know Your heart and follow You, even when I can’t see what’s around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.