You get in life what you focus on. We can all too easily focus on our faults, our imperfections and our shortcomings. As a result, many of us quietly hold ourselves in deeper judgment than we’d ever admit, or that we’d ever place upon someone else. We desperately need to agree with what God says! Here’s the truth: You are his dearly loved child! He “wanted” you so profoundly, he went all the way through turmoil, pain, rejection and even death just to sign the adoption papers to bring you home to him! You were the “joy set before him” that made him able to endure the cross (see Hebrews 12:2). You may not always feel wanted here, but you are more profoundly desired by the King of Kings than you’ve ever dared to dream. He lavishes his love upon you, and wants so deeply for you to call him, “Daddy”! Receive it:
“See what great love the Father lavished upon us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1
“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you again live in fear; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our Spirit that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:14-16 – Emphasis added.
“In love, He predestined us to adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will.” Ephesians 1:4-5b – Emphasis added.
QUESTIONS FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION:
Have you asked God to truly come and be your Father - to pay for your sins and to adopt you so you can know him? If not, do that now. If you need direction, ask a trusted friend who is a Christian.
2. Be vulnerable: Do you feel any of the words below describe you? Why?
Rejected
Unloved
Helpless
Unwanted
Unworthy
Unimportant
Invisible
Insignificant
Dirty
Other? What emotion comes to mind?
3. What words come to mind when you think about God saying he delights in adopting you?
Loved
Special
Unworthy to receive his love
Doubt that he really loves me
Valued
Other? What emotion comes to mind?
Prayer: Abba, I am amazed that I can call you my Father. I accept your love for me: that you know me and choose to call me by my name. Help me to see and to trust your love, so that I can rest in your presence and joyfully receive all that you have for me today. Wash my mind and heart clean of the places I’ve felt ___________________________ (fill in any words from #2 above). I open my heart to experience your indescribable love! What do you want to say to me today?
Listening Time: Stop for a few minutes and ask God what he wants to say to you. He may bring to mind a picture, a word, a song, an encouragement, a scripture, or an answer to something you’ve been praying about. Don’t rush and don’t feel under pressure to figure it out. Just invite him to speak and write down what you hear. Afterward, ask Him to help you discern and understand what he is saying to you. You may want to ask other trusted friends in the Kingdom as well.
Tools for family devotions: Talk about how what adoption is. Ask your kids, “How would it feel to not know your mom and dad or to grow up in a home where you just feel like one of a crowd?” Share the verses above about how God adopted us so we can know him as our Daddy. Pray for the over 132 million orphans in the world, that they would find forever homes and know the love of their Daddy. Thank God for adopting you!
Tools for praying for others: Ask the Lord who you know that needs to hear this truth. Thank the Lord for each one, and ask him to continue to call them in to be sons and daughters! Ask that they will see clearly how he sees them!
Adapted from "Life in the Overflow Devotional" © 2017 by Chuck Ammons, with Cindy Ackerman and Chris Thomas. Available on www.amazon.com
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