Human beings need validation and crave it from anyone who will oblige them with encouragement and kudos. We need it most from our spouse, children, extended family, church family and even strangers.
We
also look to other people for our personal identity. We delineate our self by
what they say about us - good or bad. We allow their opinion to decide for us,
if we are "enough". We excel or fall short according to their
expectations.
We
all want to be liked and accepted, but people will let us down and disappoint
our hopes. With God, we hope in what we do not see (Romans 8:25), and we
believe His Word and His promises. We are wonderfully made by His own hands
(Psalm 139:14).
Our
True esteem, worth and identity are in who we are in Him. We are His own
He calls us by name, because we are His (Isaiah 43:1). He gives
us the strength to do everything that He asks us to do (Philippians 4:13).
God
values us enough to take on the form of a man and die in our place, paying for
us the penalty for our unholy thoughts, words and deeds. He gives us a smooth
path to traverse through life (Psalm 27:11).
Satan
comes to kill, steal from and destroy us (John 10:10). He wanders around like a
hungry lion looking for someone to deceive with His lies (1 Peter 5:8). He uses
other people, and he plants his lies in our own thoughts, which we often
believe and sometimes even speak them out loud to our self and others.
Jesus
is our example in life, and He did not allow people to label Him (John 2:24).
His worth came from our Father God (Matthew 3:17). Jesus never put His trust in
people, and He teaches us to follow His pattern. He and we trust only in God always
(1 Peter 2:23).
Prayer:
Father
God, Your voice is the only one that should really matter to us. You hold the
issues of life and death in Your hands (Deuteronomy 32:39). Therefore, we do
not need to fear what people can do to us (Isaiah 41:10). Remind us to listen
to Your still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12), and to believe Your Truth as we resist
the devil's lies (James 4:7).
Remind
us to exchange the heavy yoke of our own making that we carry for Your yoke in
life, which is easy and light (Matthew 11:30) as long as we walk in step with
Your will for us (Ephesians 2:10). You are only a prayer away from us, and if
we realize that Christ lives within us by Your Holy Spirit (Galatians 2:20), we
will consult You continually and never rely on our own human abilities or
understanding (Proverbs 3:5-8).
Thought
for the Day:
As
we listen to God's voice, it will drown out all of the hurtful and discouraging
voices all around us (John 10:4); as we take time to notice all the blessings
He showers on us during each and every moment of our life, we sing for joy at
His care for us, and His presence in our life.
