ACCEPTED AND VALIDATED BY GOD

Mark 1:11 NKJV Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to wrap your arms around, or hugged a tree, but it’s a bit hard!😊

As I was reading that chapter it occurred to me that before Jesus went into His 40 days of being tempted in the wilderness, God spoke to Him first to make sure Jesus knew beforehand that God was well pleased with Him and that He loved Him. God called Him His dearly beloved Son. What security there is in that! It was a bit like His Father was wrapping His arms around Him and giving Him the biggest hug.😊

God the Father was validating Jesus, letting Him know He was valued and appreciated and approved by His Father, not because of anything He had done, because His ministry hadn’t even started, but because He was His beloved Son.

We realise how important it is to be listening for the voice of God, to know He is validating us as well because we are ‘in’ Jesus. God the Father accepts and approves of us, He is pleased with us and loves us because He has placed us in His beloved Son and given us His righteousness, not because of anything we have done for Him.

When we know that, hear that, believe that then, when the temptations come in our own lives, we will be secure in His love, and be able to remain strong against them because we know God is backing us up. When we lose sight of that, or we haven’t spent some time in our Father’s presence to hear His love, we will probably find it harder to withstand the enemy’s attacks.

So hear God’s voice speaking to you today. When you asked Jesus into your heart you became His beloved son or daughter. He loves you, accepts you, validates you and has given you His approval because you are in Jesus.😊

Isn’t that a wonderful thought to go into every day of our coming week? I hope it has given you confidence and put a smile on your face today.😊 Amen.

Photo: Polina Petrishyna on Unsplash

GOD IN YOUR MIDST

Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV 

The Lord your God in your midst,

The Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Did you notice the first line of our verse? ‘The Lord your God in your midst.’ How reassuring that is!  Our God isn’t off on holiday, thinking about something else. He is right there with you and right here with me, in the middle of our lives, in the middle of the happy moments, or the mess or the upset. He knows all about us! Doesn’t that make you glad? We’re known and loved by Almighty God. We can wrap that thought around us like a blanket regardless of whatever is happening in our world!😊 

Next time you feel alone get this verse out and say it aloud to yourself, feel it soak into your spirit and allow the Lord to minister His great love to your heart. You’re never alone, never without His help, never without hope.

And notice God doesn’t sing sad songs, He is singing rejoicing songs and He’s singing them over those who are trusting in Jesus as their Saviour. He’s glad you belong to Him and He knows when you’re in turmoil, when somebody or something has cut up your peace, but listen to what He says. “I will quiet you with My love.” How wonderful that thought is! His love is perfect and it casts out all fear.😊

Whatever else is going on, let Him quiet you with His love, remember He is right now in your midst, that He is the  Mighty One and He’s saving you on a daily basis, that He is actually rejoicing and singing over you.😊

Just stop and let His words sink in, and give Him all our praise and thanks today. In Jesus name. Amen.

Photo by Bradley Prentice on Unsplash