“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
You may have considered yourself normal all your life. This is because you would think that you are a normal person who goes to a normal school. You may be a worker who goes to your normal job. You may be a mother who raises normal kids. You may be a father who thinks he is living a normal life.
“Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me,
when as yet there were none of them.”
Psalm 139:16
Since the beginning of creation, the motive of the devil is to make you think less of yourself than what the Word of God says about you. In the Garden of Eden, the serpent came to Eve and said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
My Declaration of Faith:
Today, I remind my heart that I don’t have to chase after people’s approval to feel worthy. I don’t have to earn my value through someone else’s kindness, invitation, or applause. Yes, it feels good when others affirm me, but that’s not where my identity is rooted.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him.”
Luke 15:20
We all can remember the times we have messed up. When we fall short, hurt someone knowingly, and even sin intentionally. In our failures, our conscience is always ready to condemn us and fill our minds with guilt and shame.
My Declaration of Faith:
Today, I remind myself of this truth: I am already approved. Before I ever breathed my first breath, God knew me. He saw every part of my life—every high and every low—and still, He chose me. He placed something unique inside of me that no one else carries. I’m not a mistake. I’m not overlooked. I’m not flawed. I am called, equipped, and chosen in Christ.
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12
Our names play a vital role in our identities. They are intertwined with deeply personal, cultural, familial, and historical ties. They also provide us with a sense of who we are, our place in the world, and the communities to which we belong. Some given names even allow the person to have special access to places or connections that others don’t normally have access to. For example, the President of the United States has access to the White House, the Pentagon, or any top-secret military compound. The Pope has access to the Vatican Palace and all its resources. Queen Elizabeth had access to Buckingham Palace and all its resources. If you have any special relationship with any of these people, then you can also have special access to certain resources available to you that you would not normally have.
