When I go shopping I choose what I want to buy carefully because I'm parting with my hard-earned cash. I wanted to buy a new beanie yesterday (it's the middle of winter at the moment). I visited every shop that sold beanies (and some that didn't) until I found one I loved at a price I was willing to pay. I'm happy to report that I found a super-cute navy beanie with a furry pom-pom. You're not a beanie, but God chose you because he loves you. He didn't choose you because you were cheap - the price he paid for you was the life of his son, Jesus.
It's painful when you feel left out, ignored, invisible, alone. When these feelings overwhelm you remember that God chose you. You are not insignificant - you matter. Memorise this verse and meditate on it when you feel worthless. We have all felt like we are useless at one time in our lives. We've all felt like we're not enough - not young enough, not old enough, not good enough, not pretty enough, not smart enough, not popular enough, not confident enough, not intelligent enough, not brave enough etc. I have struggled with feeling insignificant my whole life. I struggled with all the insecurities listed above and felt like God couldn't use me. But the Bible says that he prepared good works for me to do. That's why I'm writing this post - in the hope that even one person might be encouraged. God has good works for you to do too. You don't have to be a famous preacher or musician to be used by God. He is looking for people to work in your school, neighbourhood and street. Ask him how he wants to use you!
PRAYER: Lord, thank you that the Bible says that you prepared good works for me to do. Show me what you want me to do in my family, school and community. Help me to listen to the prompting of your Holy Spirit and to be brave and obedient to do what you ask. Thank you that the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in me and helps me. Amen. Challenge: What good works do you think God is asking you to do? If you are a Christian - you are saved. Full stop. Your salvation doesn't rely on you being good (thank goodness, because none of us are good enough). We are saved because Jesus paid the price for our sin with his death and resurrection. When I was a young Christian, I felt like I had to earn God's love even though I knew I was saved by grace. I also felt condemned, guilty and ashamed. These are lies are from the evil one. I couldn't understand how God could love me because of my sin. I heard someone say that when God looks at me, he doesn't see my sin, just the blood of Christ. It blew me away!
Prayer: Thank you Father that Jesus died to forgive my sins and that you have forgiven and forgotten them. Help me not to listen to the enemy when he tries to make me feel guilty and ashamed. Thank you that I have been saved by grace. Transform me to be more like Christ. Amen Psalm 139:14 says, I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way (International Children's Bible).
Here is verse 14 in some different translations. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about (The Living Bible) Body and soul, I am marvellously made! (The Message paraphrase). I am fearfully and wonderfully made (New International Versions). Fearfully in this context means that you are in awe of something, not terrified of it. No matter what version you read it in, the message is the same - God made you in an awesome, amazing, wonderful way. Have you ever thought about how incredible your body is? Here are some amazing facts from National Geographic Kids*:
CHALLENGE: Look up some other amazing facts about your body. Thank God for the amazing and wonderful way you are created. * https://www.natgeokids.com/au/discover/science/general-science/15-facts-about-the-human-body/ God made us like him. When an artist makes a sculpture of someone, it looks like them but it is not them. When God made us in his image we look like him but we are not exactly the same (cause we are not God obviously). Unlike all the rest of God's creation, you have a spirit. How awesome is it that you are made like the creator of the universe. You are not pond scum or a bug, you are made like God. And God is love. He is fair, powerful, merciful, patient, forgiving, unchanging, generous, compassionate, fearless, eternal... I could go on all day. So, next time your inner mean girl tells you you are worthless, or stupid, or a failure... remember Genesis 1:27 - you are made in God's image.
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