by Gail Rodgers
** What are the benefits of recognizing your significance to God and others? In this Online Bible Study you will learn the answer. http://mag.thelife.com/study/lifesignificance.html?section=living_significance
It’s important to accept what God says about who we are. All too often we live with feelings of deep inadequacy. We may regret the past or fear the future. In life’s crazy pace it’s easy to forget to schedule in time with our Lord and to ask ourselves, “Am I growing or eroding in who I am becoming?”
A wise person grows in understanding who he is.
One who knows how God sees him is confident in his identity. He knows God made him just the way he is and for specific tasks. He does not compare the inside of himself with the outside of another.
He makes the effort to grow in his knowledge of the truth of what God says about him. One who understands who he is in God’s sight knows he is:
* Accepted (Ephesians 1:5)
* Secure (Philippians 1:6)
* Significant (John 15:16)
His identity is not bound up in what he has, how he looks or what he wears. His identity is secured in who he is as a beloved child of God.
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
Read Psalm 139 and ask God to fill your heart with the knowledge of just how esteemed you are in God’s sight. Ask Him to help you grow in your understanding of who you really are!
~ Father God, Sometimes it’s hard for me to think of myself as a piece of Your artwork, created to be just who I am. Help me to embrace the knowledge of who You say I am! I know all too well the weaknesses in me. I invite You to use these very things that I dislike about myself to be the entry point of Your strength and power in my Iife. I know You have things for me to do that go beyond this “to do” list of mine. Show me who You want to touch through me. Help me to live as an accepted, secure and significant child of the Almighty God today by the power of Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Permanent devotional link: http://thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/gods-workmanship/
Questions: Do you know that you are significant in God’s eyes? What difference does that make in your daily walk?
About the Author: http://www.thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/gail-rodgers/
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October 2nd, 2008 at 4:14 am
To me it means I am valued by God and I can value others as God has valued me. THere is a peace that comes in knowing this truth! I am fearfully and wonderfully made by God
You belong to God and He loves you just as you are. You can love people just as they are! God brings purpose into living.
Thanks for the reminder today of Who are in Christ Gail.
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:05 am
I think we sometimes allow the enemy to cause us to focus more on our weaknesses and how ineffective they can make us, instead of listening to the Holy Spirit highlight our strengths and gifts. Each one of us, as a Christian, has specific gifts that God ordained for us, to benefit the body of Christ. When we seek to uncover these gifts, and engage the Holy Spirit in using them, we will ‘feel’ significant. We ARE significant by the virtue of God’s grace and mercy on us, but we will not ‘feel’ significant until we realize His purposes for us and use our God-ordained gifts for His glory!
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:35 am
to me your question Do you know that you are significant in God’s eyes? What difference does that make in your daily walk?
i know that i am significant in God’s eyes b ecause the bible tells me so and i look forward to growing in that as the Lord reveals more to me. It makes a difference knowing that i am significant daily because for me it is a protection against harm emotionally, mentally, and verbally from the ugliness of the world. It protects me from confusion, condemnation and guilt. Knowing that I am significant to God is my protection and vindication. Because HIS standards about me i can cling to and it can’t be taken away from me. His standards about me guide me in applying the rest of HIS principles to my life. AMEN.
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:53 am
Some time ago I learned something really neat about the original word that is translated as “workmanship” in the key verse. The word has a connotation of the end result being a work of art. That means that we are not being made into something like a table - a utilitarian item. Instead, we are being made into something of great beauty and value - like a painting that can be enjoyed by many.
Knowing that gives me a sense of worth that is not connected in any way to my usefulness or performance. I am valuable because of God!
Yes, I want to be useful and do a good job of the things I do. That is how “God’s painting” is displayed to the world. But the neat thing is that the Holy Spirit is present to assist me in that endeavor.
Thank You Father! Thank You Jesus! Thank You Holy Spirit! Amen
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:28 pm
I really wonder what my purpose in life is, I am retired now, and it seems as if I am just constantly searching for something , I don’t know what, the house is clean everything is done. I love the Lord and I am a Christian, but something seems to be missing. I know I need a closer relationship with the Lord and maybe that is what I am searching for.
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:24 am
This has truly blessed me. I am at that point in my life where God is undoing everything the enemy placed in me and righting every wrong that resulted from that. This is a reminder of God’s great love for me. Thank you so much.
October 3rd, 2008 at 11:27 am
thank you
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:49 pm
gail, thank you for the devotional. i read each of the 3 scriptures(Ephesians 1:5, Philippeans 1:16, and John 15:16) with each scripture I felt the power of His Love. when I read Psalm 139, I felt uplifted, as light as a feather within.
as God knows every hair on my head, I know with His grace, I am significant in God’s eyes.
the difference in my daily walk today is that I walk in one-ness with Him, not behind Him nor ahead of Him. as in John 15:16, i did not choose Jesus, He was the last of my ”To Do List”. I don’t have a ”To Do List” because they are the ”to do’s” of the flesh.
my ”I Will List” is———”God’s Will”, in accordance with His pleasure and will(Ephesians 1:5
October 3rd, 2008 at 11:10 pm
sisters, if you could just pray a prayer for me, of encouragement. and that I would not just be discouraged from misunderstandings. thank you, and God bless.
October 6th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Mugs, I like the simplicity of your response to the devotional. To everyone else thanks for your input as well.
Pat, it sounds as if you are on the right path in looking for that deeper relationship w/Christ. Perhaps this will lead you to some type of ministry outward to others??? Let me know your thots on that? Or are they too private for the blog? Forgive me if this is too presumptious to ask.
Anon I stand here this evening asking our loving Father to give you HIS great peace and grace to come over you in a deep and profound way. May HE grant you HIS wisdom to know the way in which HE would have you go and not to be side-tracked by misunderstandings of any kind. May HE bless you just as you have asked, to have encouragement from HIS word and the assurance of being HIS beloved child by having HIM surround you in HIS love and may you feel the presence of HIS Holy Spirit in all your days. May you seek HIM first in all your ways and lean not to the wisdom of mankind and not give in to the fear of man either; but rather learn to rejoice and dwell in the arms of your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is in HIS name that I stand today in prayer along w/you and for you. Amen and amen!
October 9th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Sister Andi, God bless you for your heart to reach out to me. Thank you so much for your heartfelt prayer, and for covering me in that way. I believe God really heard and honored your prayer, and thank you so much for encouraging me. I was a bit discouraged as it seemed, I might’ve even been a bit misunderstood by some on the blog (communication through typing, etc)., and hoped that God would restore what needed to be. Anyhow, thank you so much, sometimes it is tough b/c we do not necessarily know how difficult each other’s circumstances can be, but it is always encouraging when we pray for one another. Just as His word says, “therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thess. 5:11). God bless you, and I pray He also touches you and your family.
October 9th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Anon, Yes the ladies on the blog are good for lifting each other up in prayer. Keep blogging for everyone’s input is greatly appreciated as we come from varying viewpoints but we all have Jesus Christ in common and our desire to follow HIS ways. Praying for each other is one of the best things we can do for each other when we are feeling down, discouraged, etc.
Thanks for your prayers for me and my family. Right now we need them as we are selling our home and now it appears we do not have one picked out to move to. Kind of scary walking out on the water this way. But trusting HIM none the less.
October 13th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Andi, thank you so much for your prayers and insight. Amen, yes we need to keep praying for each other. I pray God would bless and provide for your family during this time. May we continue to hold onto Proverbs 3:5-6 in our lives, even when things don’t seem to make sense (I can say that for my life!) But I hope & pray God will do something special with our lives. God bless you.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Hey Mugs, I’ve re-read my comment and I trust you know me enuf to understand I was stating the simplicity of your wise words were there for all of us to see and read. Wisdom is SO often captured by a short wise statement and you did it here!
Anon, thanks for your prayers for us. We know that HE is in control and I just keep reminding HIM ……… LOL & praising HIM while we wait to find out what HE’s got for us up HIS sleeve. Life loving and trusting HIM is never dull. LOL
October 14th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
thank you, sister yes let’s keep praying for one another.