“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart...” - Jer 1:5 (NIV)
There is a famous civil rights case in the US, Brown vs Brown (1954), where a little black girl was given black and white toys to choose from. In spite of her skin color she preferred and chose the white toy. After all she had grown up in an environment where her skin color was put down in favor of those with white skin. In brief, she felt less human compared to other races and didn’t like herself much.
It’s quite common to find those who do not just feel inferior to other races, genders or nationalities but also hate themselves for that matter. This is often because how the world views them. It has thrown at them images that lift up others unlike them while putting down anything of theirs. As such they tend to suffer from low self-esteem.
The word of God reminds us that as children of God we were created in His image (Genesis 1:27, NIV). And not only that, because, “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
In brief, there could never be a lie more than one who hates himself because he feels unloved. We are all special in the eyes of God who has designed a perfect will for each one of us.
Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, today I pray in the mighty name of Jesus of Nazareth, that I never lose sight of that fact that I am loved and special as I was created in your image!
Related upcoming events
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28/04/2024 - 29/04/2024 All day"The Lord is my shepherd!" (Psalm 23:1)
Psalm 23 of David is perhaps one of the best prayers ever written, with nuggets and inspirations, of benefit to us since and
ever before. “The LORD is my shepherd, “David begins.” I lack nothing” (vv 1). What is it that you lack? In his life David had started out as a shepherd, and he knew very well, that a shepherd’s job is to watch over his sheep, feed and water them, and since the Lord is our shepherd, we his sheep shall lack nothing.Verse 2 -3 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” This exactly what a good shepherd does; he takes his sheep to the best fodder, ensuring that his sheep are well fed and rested. When the sheep are restless the good shepherd is troubled. Our God desires and is pleased when we are at peace.
Sometimes we may all find ourselves going through a storm. In Verse 4- 5, David says, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” The Christian life is not without difficulties, but here David points us to God as our comforter and deliverer. We always have the staff of prayer to lean on.
In Verse 5, he writes, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” In his tumultuous life, David had to battle with many enemies, ranging from King Saul, to foreigners and members of his own family. He knew a lot about betrayal. And, we too, may face enemies no less, from those that oppose us in our workplace for their ambition’s sake, to those who are not pleased because of the Gospel we preach. Yet here, just as David, we are assured that victory is on our side- this is why our cup overflows.
“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (vv 6). The one who walks with God has a fresh smile ever, for God is with him. The blessings of God are with him wherever he goes.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham,
maker of heaven and earth, as David prayed in Psalm 23, may I not be troubled, for you are my shepherd ever watching over me and your goodness goes ahead of me!
