Devotional | Shannon Miller.
Not many years ago, I realized that there was a fundamental problem with how I saw myself as a Christian. I was adopted but still thinking like an orphan, a daughter but still working for my keep like a hired servant. The truth was on my lips, but a lie was written across my heart–that I was an outsider who had somehow slipped inside the door of God’s house, but not a citizen there. On a deep level, I felt that if He got a good look at me, He would be ashamed of me and throw me out. To displace this fear, I had to let the Lord write truth on my heart instead. Here are some of the words He wrote.
Jesus has made me a daughter of God, and He is not ashamed to call me His sister (Hebrews 2:10,11). He has made me co-heir with Him and given me a permanent place in the family, setting me free from my slavery to sin (Romans 8:16,17; John 8:35,36).
In Christ I am a true child of Abraham (Galatians 3:29) and I can receive these words written to Israel:
“The LORD did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! Rather, it was simply that the LORD loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the LORD rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery,” (Deuteronomy 7:7,8 NLT, italics mine). I have a Father who chose me and welcomes me in, not because I can work harder or be better, but simply because He loves me, and He is faithful (Luke 15:17-24).
The halls of heaven are my home (Philippians 3:20), and the King is not ashamed to bring me there! Instead He raises a banner over me, to shout that I am limitlessly loved (Song of Solomon 2:4, Zephaniah 3:17).
This week I challenge you to say these statements out loud about yourself, and if any are hard to say, write those verses out and post them where you will see them daily.
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