All my life I have believed the wrong things about myself.
I have believed that I am not acceptable because of what I look like or what I weigh. I have believed that I am not valuable because of the talents and gifts that I lack. I have believed that I am not lovable simply because of who I am not.
I’ve been going through Beth Moore’s study on Daniel. If I may make a recommendation today, this is a study you need to do. I know – what can you possibly learn from a guy who escaped a lion’s den, turned down eating from the king’s table, interpreted dreams, and deciphered some crazy writing on a wall, not to mention all those prophecies concerning the end of the world? Seriously, this girl is more about romance and fairy tale endings than action and adventure.
And yet this study has hit me harder than any other I have done to date.
It was in the pages of Daniel that I confronted my pride and self-absorption head on. And it was in the pages of Daniel that I was finally able to see for the first time how God sees me.
How He sees all of us.
For a visual head over to 2 Timothy 2:20-21. Or better yet, take inventory of your kitchen. Paul tells us that in our homes there are various articles of various materials used for various reasons. Some are made with finer things and are used for noble purposes. Think of your Grandma’s china that you dig out for special celebrations. And then there are the things that are made out of common material and used for less noble purposes. In my case, I have an old metal container I use for collecting weeds that has seen better days. I found it in the shed at my old house, abandoned by a previous home owner. It is cracked and broken in places and not good for anything other than collecting refuse.
You and I are like those vessels. Most of us are just ordinary people here to serve what the world would suppose a common purpose. We may even have been abandoned or left behind by someone who had no more use for us. Or maybe we have a few too many cracks and breaks in us for others to see any value in who we are and what we do.
Here’s the good part – it doesn’t matter what we are made of, or what sort of things we have held.
God has determined that through His Son, Jesus, we are made holy. Verse 21 of 2 Timothy 2 says that “if a man cleanses himself from the latter (ignoble things), he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”
And in Ephesians 1:4: “Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.” (MSG, emphasis mine)
Did you catch that?
You and I are made holy. You and I are set apart and anointed. You and I are no longer considered ordinary vessels.
God has told us that if we would just shed the things of the world that entangle us and turn our hearts to Him, that he will anoint us and consecrate us, set us apart and make us holy.
Like Him.
Maybe you are like me and have believed the wrong things about yourself for far too long. Today, I encourage you to see yourself as God sees you.
You, beloved daughter of the King, are made holy.
You are accepted because He is holy.
Loved because He is holy.
Forgiven because He is holy.
Made holy because He is holy.
by Andrea, Under Grace & Over Coffee
Leave a Comment
Jen Martinson says
I really needed to read this at this very moment, thank you.
Carrie says
Well written. I, too, battle these things. I have infinite worth in Jesus Christ, and yet I still look at myself as a worthless vessel. It’s just another tool of satan to hold us back. With Jesus’ help, I want to plug my ears to the lies and believe the truth I find in Jesus Christ.
Adoption Mama says
I am reading Ed Welch’s bood, When People Are Big and God is Small, which deals with this timely post. It is an excellent read.
Mel's World with Melissa Mashburn says
You’ve spoken words today my friend that have truly blessed my soul. Thank you for sharing your heart so freely, thank you for being so transparent, and thank you for following the prompting to write those words!
xoxo, Mel
amykiane says
It’s so hard sometimes to remember to look at ourselves how God sees us with all the ‘noise’ the world throws at us. Thank you for sharing these thoughts. Such a needed reminder for my spirit today.
Carolyn says
I am constantly amazed how God uses the internet to reach me right where I am. I am so thankful that I have been led here and to Andrea’s blog! I have been going through the same sort of thing. I have also had some major epiphanies myself.
I hope that my journey can help someone as you all are helping me!!!
Carolyn says
That link didn’t attach. Still getting the hang of all this…Try again.
http://grownupme-growingup.blogspot.com/?spref=fb
Deb Owen says
This has been a tremendously huge shift in my own life. For far too long, I let others define me. I let what other people said I was good for (or not) determine who I was. That was also, though, accompanied by a view of God that was wrong. (Along with a complete inability to grasp the concept of grace.)
And while I’m far from where I used to be, there are still times…..still certain areas…..where it hasn’t seemed to ‘take’ yet. 😉
This is an awesome reminder. Thanks for the great post!
Love!
deb
Ellen says
This is a great, needed post! Thank you so much for taking the time to write it.
Jill says
Andrea, thank you for your words. They so greatly touched my heart! What a wonderful reminder…that we are accepted, loved, forgiven, and holy daughters of the King. Hallulujah!
Critty says
This is so beautiful my friend. And my heart needed to hear it so much.
We are vessels some are cracked and ordinary…some are unique but all serve a purpose. To be filled….loved. accepted. forgiven. holy.
Jen Ferguson says
The Daniel study truly changed my life. Perhaps the most profound lesson that He taught me during that time was how I use things of this world to fill voids in my heart that only He can fill.
I loved what He taught you through His word. You are precious!
Karen Swim says
Thank you so much for opening your heart and sharing the revelations that the Lord ministered to you during this study. It is sometimes hard to fully embrace the truth of those words – We are holy because He is holy. It is unfathomable to the human mind and yet it is exactly that which humbles and causes me to daily give thanks for His holiness and His love.
Miel Abeille says
I could have written the first paragraph myself! I don’t regularly read (in)courage, but divine intervention must have inspired me to read this today. Thank you.
Laurie Wallin says
I started that study a few years ago, did half, and put it down for some reason. Hearing what a few of you shared here has made me get it out and dust it off again. Looking forward to digging in! I’ll let you know how it goes!
Nancy M. says
I can so relate with that sense of feeling ordinary, not-special, unwanted, and not-valued. I have looked to others, for so long, to define and validate me. Just very recently have I allowed myself to let the truth that God sees me as precious and worthy sink in. It`s such a simple fact that is so difficult to surrender too. Today, I choose to let it be true for me that I am the daughter of the King of Kings.I commit to shedding the things of this world that so easily entangle and to turn my heart to my Father; trusting that he will anoint, consecrate, set me apart as holy. Like Him.
Andrea says
I am just grinning from ear to ear over all of you ladies!! That we can begin to grasp our true worth in our Father’s eyes is an answer to prayer. Thank you so much for sharing where you are all at in your own journeys – I am praying for you!
Barbie says
Thank you! This really spoke to my heart. I am going to check out that Daniel study.
MINA PUSAK says
THANK YOU, ITS JUST WHAT I NEEDED TO READ AND TO HEAR.MY DAUGHTER ALWAYS SENDS ME THESE JUST WHEN IT IS VERY MUCH NEEDED.I ALSO DUSTED OFF MY BIBLE ONCE AGAIN AND AM TRYING TO NOT LISTEN TO LIES FROM SATAN.
GOD BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU AGAIN,FOR LIFTING MY HEART AND SPIRIT.
MINA PUSAK
Mimi says
So often, it’s just too hard to believe. Will have to check out this study. Thanks for your candidness.