Day 15
How Do I See Myself?
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. [Ephesians 1:18–19a]
A friend of mine got this card:
God created rivers,
God created lakes,
God created you, Bob,
Everyone makes mistakes.
It’s funny, but the truth is, many of us feel like that! In fact, right now you might feel like a mistake, a loser, someone with no future hope. As Larry Crabb says, “Those who have never struggled with self-hatred cannot know how crippling a problem it can be — or how stubborn.” Every minor flub or major mistake reinforces my belief: “I am bad.”
But don’t let defeat define you. Let God’s love define you.
In today’s verses from Ephesians chapter 1, Paul prays that “the eyes of your heart” may see the hope to which God has called you. Part of that is understanding your identity in Christ. Throughout this chapter and the next, Paul outlines the things that are true about followers of Jesus:
I am blessed [Ephesians 1:3]
I am chosen [1:4]
I am holy and blameless in His sight [1:4]
I am adopted into His family [1:5]
I am forgiven and redeemed [1:7]
I am empowered [1:19]
I am destined for a great inheritance [1:11–14]
I am a masterpiece designed for great deeds [2:10]
As an exercise, read these truths out loud each day this week. When the eyes of your heart see who you are in Christ and what you are promised in Him, your sense of anticipation — your future hope — will bloom! That’s our emphasis this week!
You are not defined by your defeats. You are defined by what God says about you!
Question to Consider
Do I feel uncomfortable affirming something the Bible says is true of me? Why?
Prayer
Lord, thank You for lavishing Your blessings on me and guaranteeing my inheritance.
