For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. —John 3:16
MY FRIEND, GOD wants you to live each day knowing that you are His beloved child, in whom He is well pleased. That is your daily nourishment from Him—to know, believe and confess that you are His beloved and that you are well-pleasing to Him all the time.
Live each day feeding on God’s love, grace, perfect acceptance of and unmerited favor toward you.
So live each day feeding on God’s love, grace, perfect acceptance of and unmerited favor toward you. When you do so, you are reminding yourself that you are His beloved no matter what happens to you. When you are constantly full of the consciousness of His favor on your life, nothing can get you down. You will have such a confidence of God’s goodness toward you that even when the devil starts throwing lemons at you, you know that God will turn those lemons into refreshing lemonade for you! You begin to have a confident expectation of good even when circumstances in the natural don’t look so great. That is walking by faith in Jesus’ goodness, and not by sight. You are no longer looking at your challenges. You are looking at Jesus’ face shining upon you and imparting grace into your situation. When you are confident that you are God’s beloved, not only will you overcome the devil’s temptations, you will dare to ask Him to bless you even in the little things.
Many years ago, Wendy and I went to a restaurant for dinner when she was pregnant with Jessica. As we were about to order our food, a man seated not too far away from us took out a pack of cigarettes and prepared to take a smoke. I really didn’t want Wendy to take in any of that secondhand cigarette smoke, but there was no nonsmoking section in that restaurant. So guess what I did? I prayed! Under my breath, I told the Lord, “Lord, I know that I am Your beloved. Please stop that man from smoking in this restaurant.” That was all I said—a quick and simple prayer. Guess what happened? That man tried to light his cigarette, but he just could not get his lighter to work! He persisted and kept trying, but no matter what he did, the lighter simply would not work. After some time, he shoved his cigarettes back in his shirt pocket in frustration. Praise Jesus! Even in the little things, God hears and answers the prayers of His beloved.
Nothing is too big or too small for your Daddy God. If it matters to you, it matters to Him. When you know that you are His beloved, you can walk in constant expectation of His unmerited favor in every situation! Some years ago, I was taking a cab in New York and I took the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with the driver. Her response was quite typical. She said flippantly, “God loves everybody, man!” It is absolutely true that God loves everybody, but to experience His love firsthand in your life, you have to personalize His love for you. Jesus died for you and do you know that even if you were the only person on earth, God would still have sent His Son to die on the cross for you? That is how precious YOU are to Him!
You need to personalize John 3:16 by declaring, “For God so loved _______________ (insert your name), He sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross for _______________ (insert your name).” Be like the disciple John, who personalized the Lord’s love for him by calling himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” The sun shines on every blade of grass in a field. But if you put a magnifying glass over one particular blade of grass, it will center the heat from the sun over that blade, and that blade of grass will burn. That is what you must do with God’s love. Put a magnifying glass over your life and imagine God’s love being focused and concentrated on YOU! When you personalize God’s love for YOU, when you live each day knowing that God loves YOU, you will be blazing with a supernatural ability to overcome every challenge in life!
Today’s Prayer
Father, I thank You that I am Your beloved child, precious in Your sight. Because You are God, You can so love the whole world and still love me with a personal love. Your goodness toward me enables me to soar above the storms of life. Even when the devil throws lemons at me, You will turn those lemons into refreshing lemonade for me! Today, I see You smiling on me as I stand under the spotlight of Your unconditional love and unmerited favor. I call this day blessed and full of right happenings for me!
Today’s Thought
I can ask God for big or small things. If it matters to me, it matters to Him because I am His beloved!
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Prince, Joseph. 100 Days Of Favor, Daily Readings From Unmerited Favor.