As You Are
“God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” - 1 John 4:9-10
I want you to know something today: if you are a believer and a follower of Jesus Christ, you have a friend. And you don’t just have any friend. You have the best friend anyone could possibly have. You have a friend who has advocated on your behalf (see yesterday’s devotional) and has ACCEPTED YOU AS YOU ARE.
That’s right, Jesus doesn’t need you to change who you are. He isn’t asking you to “be cooler.” You don’t have to raise your status to be with Him. He isn’t saying “dress nicer.” You don’t have to look more appealing to be friends with Him. He isn’t saying “get smarter.” You don’t have to have a certain level of intelligence to be friends with Jesus.
Nope. None of that. Jesus loves you as you are. Listen, God created you. He designed you to be exactly who you are. And that is enough for Him. He loves you and He accepts you. He accepts you even when you don’t seem to accept yourself.
1 John 4:9-10 tells us that He not only accepts us but loves us. It says, “God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.”
Listen, there are a lot of people who don’t give their life to God or have stepped away from their relationship with God because they think they “aren’t good enough.” They think what they have done is too much and that God could never accept them, let alone love them.
I’m here to tell you, that just isn’t true. Before you were born, He knew exactly who you would be. He knows who you are. He accepts who you are. And He loves who you are!
I want you to know something today: if you are a believer and a follower of Jesus Christ, you have a friend. And you don’t just have any friend. You have the best friend anyone could possibly have. You have a friend who has advocated on your behalf (see yesterday’s devotional) and has ACCEPTED YOU AS YOU ARE.
That’s right, Jesus doesn’t need you to change who you are. He isn’t asking you to “be cooler.” You don’t have to raise your status to be with Him. He isn’t saying “dress nicer.” You don’t have to look more appealing to be friends with Him. He isn’t saying “get smarter.” You don’t have to have a certain level of intelligence to be friends with Jesus.
Nope. None of that. Jesus loves you as you are. Listen, God created you. He designed you to be exactly who you are. And that is enough for Him. He loves you and He accepts you. He accepts you even when you don’t seem to accept yourself.
1 John 4:9-10 tells us that He not only accepts us but loves us. It says, “God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.”
Listen, there are a lot of people who don’t give their life to God or have stepped away from their relationship with God because they think they “aren’t good enough.” They think what they have done is too much and that God could never accept them, let alone love them.
I’m here to tell you, that just isn’t true. Before you were born, He knew exactly who you would be. He knows who you are. He accepts who you are. And He loves who you are!
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January
Why Me?Ordinary but ChosenYour Past Prepares You for God's FutureWhy Not Me?The Burden of PreparationIt’s Bigger Than YouJust Show UpAnchored in PrayerBreakthrough Was Always God's PlanWaiting on Your BreakthroughTransformative Power of PrayerThe Art of PrayerThe God of BreakthroughKryptoniteLifelineThe Dare of DependenceWho Needs Your Prayers?Soaring in PrayerObedience Through PrayerThe Power of Prayer in Overcoming TemptationIs Your Heart Prepared for God's Mighty Work?The Joy of SimplicityPatient in Affliction, Faithful in PrayerBurning PrayersWhile You Wait...He WorksChoosing His Will with Free WillEquipped for Victory: Overcoming Sin from WithinEverydayThe Great I AMSaying Yes to GodOrdinary People, Extraordinary God
February
Freedom from LabelsFaithful Before the AppointmentLabels Don’t Define YouPut Off the ArmorRun Your Own RaceA Champion, Not a ContestantThe Story’s Not OverWhat Really MattersWinning the Battle WithinYou Are Positioned for a PurposeYour Worth Is SetYou Are EnoughTake Off the MaskOn Purpose, For a PurposeKnown. Loved. Enough.What Are You Afraid of Losing?What Are You Trying to Hide?What Are You Still Trying to Prove?What Are You Chasing?Stop Faking ItAre You Living in Fear?Stop Hiding Behind FearLive in God’s TruthOne OpportunityYour Identity Is in ChristYou’re His WorkmanshipYour Weakness Doesn’t Disqualify YouYou’re in God’s Providence
March
Stop Living the LiesGod Put You HereGod Didn’t Make a MistakeYou Belong HereTake Off the MaskBreaking Free from Imposter SyndromeWhat Are You Afraid of Losing?What Are You Still Trying to Prove?Leading with HumilityLeading with WisdomStop Holding Yourself BackWho Are You Really?The Cost of Believing the LieT.H.I.N.K.Failure Is Not FinalThere is a Dream Inside of YouIt’s Time to Dream AgainThe Journey to Your DreamBe Careful Who You Share Your Dream WithWhen the Dream Leads to a PitThey Can’t Steal God’s FavorFaithful in the Small ThingsIntegrity When No One (and Everyone) is WatchingWhose Name Are You Building?God Will Honor Your ObedienceGod Will Honor Your ObedienceGod Has Not Forgotten YouA Renewed Mind Changes EverythingA Mind Set on the SpiritChange Starts from the Inside OutThe Power of BeliefA Renewed Mind Sees Differently
2 Comments
Feeling inadequate not knowing if I'm living in Gods purpose . I don't believe I've e stepped away ,
I think I've been moving to my on beat and got off track. I believe I'm working in my purpose but I've lost my confidence to complete task ahead that Gods placed . And this is where this message hits home. I need to believe again and self motivate , He loves me no matter what , I just got her back on track to his glories for me. I've waited so long and come so far . Amen
Thanks Ed for the reminder! We simply need to show up and look to God for our daily bread! My goal is to bring God into my daily decisions. Especially now as I have a glimmer of an idea that has not quite formed in my head or mind's eye. 2023 I am trying to better my live. Serve my husband and 90 yo parents better and use my new little, tiny, miniscule business I created in 2022 to bless and empower women to be their best so I can be more present for helping them during their health challenges. Daily, moment by moment I am trying to remind myself to seek God's guidance, wisdom and vision to pay blessings forward. Thank you! In God's love, PoDunc