Getting Your Value And Worth From The Correct Source

The Spirit also tells us who we are. Identity is a never ceasing issue for most of us. We want so badly to think well of ourselves, to believe we are valued and important. But on our own all we have are opinions from others and from ourselves. We tell ourselves we are good ( or bad), and we spend each day searching for some evidence to prove it, only to have to do it all over again the next day. The verdict never comes in. Our egos are always on trial. But the Spirit witnesses with our spirit, telling us we are our Abba's child, in whom he is well pleased (Romans 8:16) - not because of our performance or accomplishments, our holiness or virtue, but because we are sacred beings of invaluable worth. 

How do we know this? The Spirit imparts this crucial knowledge as we dwell on the mystery now disclosed in the sacrifice of the Son. The Lamb of God willingly laid down his life for us while we were yet sinners, sinners that God desperately loved. That is what the cross means, but it is foolishness to the human mind on its own. Only by the witness of the Spirit can we grasp this incredible mystery. And when we do, it changes everything. We now know who we are: beloved children of God. Yes, still sinful, imperfect, flawed and at times downright despicable in our thoughts, words and deeds. But loved nonetheless. And forgiven forever, made holy by the Christ who dwells within us.

This is a knowledge that changes everything, the most important knowledge any human can know. But it is not to be understood as a theory; it must be grasped as a living reality. It is experiential knowledge; this knowledge must be lived. And when we grasp this knowledge, we are renewed. Our lives are transformed. If knowledge is, in fact, power, then this knowledge is the most powerful reality anyone can know- not knowledge about God, but rather knowledge of God. Thanks be to God, through Jesus and the Holy Spirit we can know it. 

Excerpt from Hidden In Christ by James Bryan Smith

Closed Doors

Have you ever had a plan for your life that fell through? You thought the door was open, but then it closes on you. Most of the time our initial response is panic or discouragement.  We ask ourselves, now what? Why is this happening? We ask other questions and make other statements.

In the midst of a closed door situation, generally, we never think maybe God is up to something good in this situation. We usually question God's goodness, or God's timing.

It's funny isn't it? Sometimes if a door hadn't been closed we wouldn't have looked for another open door. If that person hadn't broken up with you, you might have married a person who you would have ended up divorcing within five years. Instead, you are married to a wonderful person who is good for you. If you hadn't loss that job, you might be stuck in a dead end job with no future. Instead, you are at a place where you aren't just making a living, but making a life.

Please understand, I'm not saying , where God closes a door, He opens another. No, I'm wanting to emphasize the goodness of God, in that at times when we think we knew what was good for our lives , God knew what was best and led us to that place. Even tough there may have been hurt, or pain involved for us, He brought us to a place of blessing.

So, there are times we need to thank God for the closed doors in our lives. It's not easy, we usually don't look at the big picture with our lives, we usually just think of the immediate moment. But, I bet if you looked back over your life, a lot of closed doors in your life were blessings in disguise, but you just couldn't see it at the moment. God knew what was best for you, but you and I couldn't see it at the moment.

Thank God for the closed doors. Thank God for some of our prayers that went unanswered and saved us from a life of heartache. He is a good God.

Here are a few verses to reflect on:

“The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16:9‬ ‭

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:28‬ ‭

Let's remember the next time that a door closes that just maybe God is working something out for our good. Maybe He is directing our steps. He's done it in the past and He will do it again.

Troy