December 23

​So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures”. James 1:16-18 (MSG)

For many people, there can be aspects of who we are that we want to keep hidden—how we look, what we think, how we feel; areas we have judged ourselves in, based on negative things others have said, true or not. Most often not.

Yet hear afresh, beloved of God, this astonishing news—God Who knows you inside and out, past, present, and all that is to come, is not wanting to hide away any divinely loved part of you! He is not hiding who you are or what you have done, for unconditional, pure, and true love redeems and restores. It never shames. 

Remember, you are the crowning touch of all of His creation. You are clothed in His righteousness—because Jesus has made you right, covering you in His unending grace. This same grace fills in all the missing pieces and makes all the broken bits whole. Rather than hide you away, He is loving, accepting, understanding, celebrating who you are, and showing you off! 

Dear heart, God is not going to change His mind about any of this, for you are the apple of His eye. He is always speaking life, His life, over you, and He always will.

Listen to the sound of His celebration song today—He is singing the most glorious love songs just for you! Oh, treasure of His heart, His face is not turned away from you, rather it is turned towards you in celebration and song!

He sees you how He made you to be. With great confidence, please know, you are the crown of His creation, the work of His hands, and He absolutely loves what He has made, and marvels in the beauty He sees! 

Prayer:

I confess Lord, that I have often spoken words of judgement over myself, being much more aware of what I am not, than of who You made me to be.

I accept today, Abba Father, that I am your beloved child, chosen and cherished, made in Your image and likeness, and that as hard as it is at times for me to believe—You like what You see!

Help me to see myself in the light of Your love. To continue to grow and to change as needed, to be more on course with all You desire for me—to be made whole, and in Christ, to be free!

I receive the gifts that You are sending this day, precious Lord. I accept Your light and Your love, and by Your grace, I fully embrace and accept me!

Gracious and Loving God, Faithful and True, I worship and I honour You.