While God has a plan to write the story of His redemption in you so His love can pour through you, satan, has a scheme. From the moment you were born, and I venture to say even while you were unborn, the enemy’s scheme is directed toward hindering you from finding God’s plan — His dream for your life. And for many, especially women, its our self-esteem he aims to assault. I’ve struggled with shame because of my past — a deep abiding sense of defectiveness — until I learned of grace.
As a teen, the direction I was heading could have taken me deep into a life of drugs, drinking, prison, sickness and even death. The life I lived without God was a destructive one. I didn’t care about the choices I made. Void of purpose for living, I didn’t care where they brought me. And a teenage pregnancy could have taken me further down the road. Especially because I had an appointment for an abortion. You can read that part of my story here.
When Jesus rescued me, He bowed low to meet me where I was. He accepted all I had to offer — the broken pieces of my life — a life that I took a hammer to myself. I had no self-worth. I came battered and bruised and broken, and He took my broken so He could make me whole. God’s love captivated me, though I didn’t understand how He could love me without conditions. I couldn’t imagine a love so great. He accepted my ashes, and I didn’t know how He could make them beauty. He just took them — took me.
And this life I’ve surrendered to Him. This life He still holds — He still is shaping and forming, His way, as a vessel of honor prepared for the Master’s use. (2 Timothy 2:21)
Jesus promised He will never forsake us. He will never give up on us. (Heb 13:5) And we should never give up on ourselves. The work He began He promised to complete. (Phil 1:6) We do not have to fear He will leave us or fear losing His love, if the work of transformation gets too messy. We will never be perfect on this side of eternity. If we think we need to be perfect before we can be used by God — we have believed a great falsehood.
The truth is, it is God’s work to be had. “And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ, right up to the time of His return, developing that good work and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.” Phil 1:6 AMP
Shame says that because I’m flawed, I’m unacceptable;
grace says that even though I’m flawed, I am priceless.
— Mike Breaux said that, and all of the Gospel, too.
Write It Out: Today, will you pull out that note-writing place you’ve chosen? Be honest again, with God and yourself. Do you ever feel like you are not “fit for the Mater’s use?” Maybe you you have not felt qualified because ____ (fill in the blank), therefore have not dared to dream or believe God could use you.
Say It Out Loud: The truth is “my qualification, my competence, my sufficiency, and my adequacy comes from You, God.” 2 Corinthians 3:5
Choose to believe this.
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Dream Again Series:
Continue Reading: Dream Again Day 4
Read: Dream Again Day 1
Read: Dream Again Day 2