But to all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.
John 1:12
Believe + Receive = Become
Let’s start at the beginning. If you are reading this today, you are one who is loved by God. No matter who you are, no matter what you believe or what you’ve done, He created you to be in relationship with Him.
In a world that says every path leads to heaven, let me say that Jesus is the only Way, Truth, and Life. We can’t get into His heaven that He created without Him (John 14:6). But it’s not enough to simply believe His message is true, you must also receive His free gift of forgiveness, grace, and salvation, turning from your sin and submitting yourself to His leadership.
It’s the turning and submitting parts we often miss.
The Bible says, in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.”
Genuine belief is not just a passive mental state. It’s an active force that must be proven and demonstrated through our actions… through our love, one for another… and by the fruit that is produced from our lives.
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God.
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
Romans 8:14, 16-17
Forget Not All His Benefits
Now that our foundation is settled, here’s the truth I came to offer you today…
When the enemy comes against a child of God, he comes up against the Blood of Christ. We are hidden with Christ in God, hidden in the shadow of His wing, hidden in the cleft of the Rock [of Christ] and God covers us with His own hand [like He did with Moses].
As a child of God, you are perfected in His image through Christ, holy and without fault in His eyes, adopted into His own household like a blood relative and heir to His throne. You have access to His power, His authority, and all His provision. But most importantly, you have direct access to HIM… His love, His heart, His wisdom and voice. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure (Ephesians 1:4-8).
Why on earth and in heaven would He possibly do this? For His own glory… because He cannot help but to be generous, loving, and kind… He overflows with grace in all His character… and for your JOY, which is your inheritance in Christ (John 10:9-10 AMP).
All you can see with your physical eyes are your unique circumstances and the finite world around you, but in truth, you are only who He says you are (2 Corinthians 5:17)… and you can do only what He says you can do (Philippians 4:13).
Let His Word be the only mirror for your life.
In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.
Psalm 18:29 NLT
Perfectly Known, Deeply Loved, and Fully Able
Even before a word is on your tongue, He knows it. Before you call out with your request, He answers (Isaiah 65:24).
When you fall, He will pick you up (Psalm 145:14). When you cry out to Him for help, the Ever-present Listener, He will tear open the sky to find you. He will rescue you because He delights in you (Psalm 18:16-19).
Even when you settle yourself far away from Him… going your own way and making your bed in darkness… He is there with you and will still answer you when you cry out to Him (Psalm 139:7-12). He will deliver you from all your distress. He will lead you by a straight way. He will bring you out of darkness and burst your bonds apart. He will send out His Word and heal you. He will cause the storms in your life to be still. He will hush the waves of the sea on your behalf (Adaptation of Psalm 107:6-7, 14, 20, 29).
You are never alone.
He will never leave you or abandon you because He really, really does LOVE you. You are PRECIOUS to Him (Luke 12:6-7). You are worth More than Many Sparrows.
If you have never felt like anyone’s prized possession, let all this truth wash over you today. You are CHERISHED like a sweet-smelling child in His arms.
See what an incredible quality of love the Father has shown to us, that we would [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so, we are! For this reason, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
1 John 3:1 AMP
Let this truth be woven into the foundation of your life. You are no longer standing on your own strength or merits. No, you are standing on His. You are no longer navigating through this life in the dark, just making it the best you can. No! When you actively believe God’s Word and apply it to your daily life, you are walking in His light!
- When you are tempted to beat yourself up, say, “No, I am a child of God! His Word says I am His precious treasure and the apple of His eye!” (Zechariah 2:8)
- When circumstances come to press you down and fear rises like a lump in your throat, say, “No! I am a child of God! His Word says that He will accomplish everything that concerns me (Psalm 138:8), He will never leave me or forsake me!” (Hebrews 13:5)
- When you face a mountain [an inheritance of opportunity that’s way over your head], look at it square in the face and say, “I am a child of God! I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength! With my God I can scale ANY wall (Psalm 18:29). It’s not by my strength, not by my power, but by HIS SPIRIT says the Lord!” (Zechariah 4:5-7)
And then GO in all His might and DO IT!
Daily application of His Word will change everything in your life. Speaking His truth out loud will increase your faith more than anything else, especially when you are standing in the midst of life’s challenges! When you give Him your burdens, He will exchange them for PEACE… because He is a good, good Father who is deeply concerned for His children.
Say it with me today, “I Am a child of God. I will not forget His benefits” (Psalm 103:1-5).
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
The "I Am" Series. Based on Scripture, written by Jennifer Roybal. When we pull these truths out of the drawer and put them to action in our daily lives, we are not easily defeated!
Broken & Sown 