So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.  Galatians 4:7-9

I love refreshing seasons with the Lord when He transforms and changes us in surprising ways with His truth. I am in one of those seasons now. The Lord has been reminding me of the beginning of my relationship with Him when I knew I was saved by grace and that His love for me was not based on anything I had to do or had done, but based entirely on His sacrifice on the cross. He is reminding me that the grace I was saved by is the grace in which I now stand. And, oh how my heart has needed these blessed truths!

You see, there was a time in the past when I embraced the idea—without realizing it—that I had to do more for God or He would be displeased with me. Honestly, deep down I feared He would love me less. I also believed my significance with Him was tied to my behavior. These false beliefs were heavy burdens to bear; I have only begun to realize just how heavy during this refreshing season with Him. I forgot that God’s love is unchanging and consistent, not based on anything I can do or have done for Him, but because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Maybe you can relate to my sentiment. Perhaps you believe God’s love for you is tied to what you do, rather than who you are in Him (1 John 3:1-2), and this has led to all kinds of emotional and spiritual problems. Please accept these words as encouragement for your heart as if from Him.

Dear Child,

Much of your discouragement, fear, anxiety, striving, desire for perfection, and lack of grace for others has come because you aren’t convinced you fully belong to Me- you belong to Me, and there’s nothing you can do to un-belong to Me (John 10:29). As you understand that I have you in an eternal embrace, and that I will never let you go, you’ll be able to live in the abundant internal freedom I created you for (John 10:10), rather than living like an orphan. . . striving, driving, being filled with fear that you aren’t enough and that you can lose My love (John 14:18).

You can’t understand who you are apart from Me and you’ll never understand your worth apart from Me. Without receiving My love and living in authentic relationship with Me, you’ll always be trying to establish your identity and validate your worth on your own when I have already given both to you. In Me, you are truly found. In Me, you live and move and have your being (Acts 17:28). There isn’t any true life apart from Me (John 15:5; John 14:6). Until you are convinced of this and live in this truth, you’ll always be trying to find life apart from Me, and you’ll always come up empty. You are my child. You are not an orphan. You belong to Me.

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father’” (Romans 8:15)!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, how magnificent is your love! I praise you that you love me only because you are so good. There is nothing I can do to earn your love. How liberating! I praise you, Lord. Thank you. Amen.

Application: Go to a quiet place and sit quietly with the Lord. Ask Him to remind you of His love and to reveal what He wants you to know about your adoption in Him.  If you do not know Christ and have a personal relationship with Him, you can learn more about becoming His son or daughter here.

Related Readings: Ephesians 1:5; Luke 12:32; Romans 8:30; Galatians 3:26

By Shana Schutte

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