My sweet Daddy, Eston Willis, was born on July 30, 1919, and went home to be with Jesus in 1989. He loved us so much, I remember his warm hugs, his big smile, and his passionate love for Jesus Christ and His Word. He taught me so much about the precious promises found in God’s Word. These Truths from God’s Word encourage me, and I pray they will be an encouragement to you, too! As I pray God’s Word, fear, doubt, and discouragement leave and His peace renews my heart and mind. As I experience His peace, I recognize when I have been held captive by controlling thoughts. As I stand in agreement with God, saying the same thing God says about my specific thoughts, I see the lies I have believed as wallpaper in my mind.
I ask God to help me tear down the lies wallpapering my mind and re-wallpaper my mind with the Truth of God’s Word, to starve the flesh and feed the Spirit. I ask God to help me see situations in my life the way He sees them. The more I see the way God sees, I become saturated with the favor of God, seeing His view of me through the blood of Christ, I become favor-minded, re-wallpapering my mind with Truth.
You are who God says you are…
In Christ,
you are...
BLESSED with every spiritual blessing,
ACCEPTED in the Beloved Son of God,
ADOPTED as
a child of the King,
CHOSEN before
the foundation of the world,
REDEEMED by
His Blood,
FORGIVEN by
His Grace,
LOVED with
an everlasting love, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
When you
feel betrayed, God says: You are BLESSED
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us
in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Ephesians
1:3)
When you feel ignored, God says: You are ACCEPTED
"According to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of
His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. (Ephesians
1:5-6)
When you feel abandoned, God says: You are ADOPTED
“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption
as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.
(Ephesians
1:4-5)
When you feel inadequate, God says: You are CHOSEN
“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before Him in love.” (Ephesians
1:4)
When you feel rejected, God says: You are REDEEMED
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in
accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us.” (Ephesians
1:7-8)
When you feel condemned, God says: You are FORGIVEN
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in
accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us.” (Ephesians
1:7-8)
When you feel forgotten, God says: You are LOVED
“Just as He
chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and
without blame before Him in love.” (Ephesians
1:4) “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I
have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with
unfailing kindness.” (Jeremiah
31:3) “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are
the everlasting arms.” (Deuteronomy
33:27) “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion
on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See,
I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” (Isa. 49:15-16)
When you
feel insecure, God says: You are SECURE
“Let the
beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and
the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders” (Deut. 33:12).
When you
feel worthless, God says: You are CALLED
“But you are a
chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own
possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of
darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Pet. 2:9)
When you
feel unloved, God says: You are PRECIOUS and I LOVE YOU
“You are
precious and honored in my sight, and . . . I love you” (Isa. 43:4). "For
God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes
in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
When you
feel unable or unstable, God says: You are ABLE
“The Lord God
is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet
like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to
walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering,
or responsibility]!” (Hab. 3:19).
When you
feel it’s impossible, God says: ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE
"Jesus
replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God” (Luke 18:27)
When you
feel exhausted, God says: I WILL GIVE YOU REST
“Are you tired?
Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll
recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work
with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay
anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to
live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
When you
feel you can’t go on, God says: MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT
"But He
said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you
[sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully];
for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show
themselves most effective in [your] weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
When you
feel you don’t know what to do, God says: I WILL DIRECT YOUR STEPS
"Lean on,
trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not
rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize and
acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths."
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
When you
feel you can’t go on, God says: YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS
"For I can
do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)
When you
feel it’s not worth it, God says: IT WILL BE WORTH IT
"We know
that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God
and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:28)
When you
feel you can’t forgive yourself, God says: I FORGIVE YOU
"If we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
When you
feel you can’t manage, God says: I WILL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS
"God will
liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in
glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)
When you
feel worried and frustrated, God says: CAST YOUR CARE ON ME
"Casting
the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your
concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and
cares about you watchfully.”(1 Peter 5:7)
When you
don’t know what to do, God says: I WILL GIVE YOU WISDOM
"If any of
you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without
finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5)
When you
feel all alone, God says: I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU
"Be strong
and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified, for the Lord your God goes with
you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deut.31:6)
Lord
Jesus, Thank You for this encouraging Truth from Your Word, that in
Christ, we are who You say we are. Thank You for the free gift of salvation,
that we are justified on the basis of Your finished work on the Cross. Thank
You that, right now, we are under the completely sufficient imputed
righteousness of Christ. Because we have placed our trust in the finished work
of Jesus Christ, we are redeemed by Your precious blood. The threat of failure,
judgment, and condemnation has been removed. Knowing that God’s love for us and
approval of us will never be determined by our performance is the most
encouraging promise to which we cling—what great things You have done! We love
You, Lord. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Look Up—meditate
on Ephesians
1 …pray to see what it reveals about the character of God.
Look In—as
you meditate on Ephesians
1 …pray to see how you might apply it to your life. Be propelled to
ask galvanizing questions about your discoveries: "Because God
is_________, I will_____________."
Look Out—as you meditate on Ephesians 1…pray
to see how you might apply it to your relationships with others. Let the nature
of God impact on every relationship, for your good, and for His glory.
