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Biblical Self-Love by Guest Writer Barbara Latta

Friends, we live in a world where self-love is perpetuated in various forms of media. We may feel pressured to live up to other people’s expectations or accomplishments as the world around us attempts to define us.

Social media, entertainment, and peer pressure can determine our view of life if we allow these attitudes to penetrate our minds. 

If we use the measuring stick of comparison.

Voices such as “I’m not good enough,” “I don’t measure up,” or “I never do anything right” have often tormented my thoughts. 

But The Lord revealed to me through His Word that when we view other people through the rose-colored glasses of perfection while examining ourselves through a microscope that magnifies every fault, we are not behaving wisely. 

“We do not have the audacity to put ourselves in the same class or compare ourselves with some who [supply testimonials to] commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they lack wisdom and behave like fools” (2 Co 10:12 AMP).

Beloved friends, when we focus on self to the point of comparing our lives with another person, we are saying we want to become like they are. 

The world’s method of personal improvement conveys selfishness, because the goal is to make oneself better so others will approve. 

God wants us to respect ourselves, but we should use His guidelines and not societal and cultural attitudes. When we learn to regard ourselves biblically, we also receive the ability to accept others in an unselfish way. 

The Almighty doesn’t compare us to other people. So why should we? Why would we place life’s value on another fallen soul’s standards when we have our heavenly Father’s perfect eyes that see us through the lens of the blood of Jesus? 

We are each unique and created with a plan from our Creator. When we live in an unworthy mindset, we do not regard the power of the sacrifice of Christ.

Jesus gave us an inheritance. The gifts He put inside us are for us to use to expand His kingdom and do His works. But we can’t do this if our thoughts are on defeat and unworthiness.

We also don’t want to allow our past to define us. Our Lord tells us He has restored the years the locust has eaten (Jl 2:25). That old life is gone, and our present life and future are bright and victorious through Christ. 

“By living in God, love has been brought to its full expression in us so that we may fearlessly face the day of judgment, because all that Jesus now is, so are we in this world” (1 Jn 4:17). 

In this world, we are as He says we are. 

The reflection of a mirror shows us what we need to know about our appearance. We find out if our hair is combed or if our clothes are straight. 

Likewise, The Bible shows us God’s viewpoint. We can look through His mirror, which is His Word. This living letter reflects who we are in Christ when we have been born again. 

We are not who the world says we are. We are not who a confused mind tells us we are. We are not our past. We are who our Father says we are. We love the person He made us to be by agreeing with what His Word says.

So, here are five points to consider:

God sees us as righteous: “For God made the only one who did not know sin to become sin for us, so that we who did not know righteousness might become the righteousness of God through our union with him” (2 Co 5:21TPT).

God sees us as holy: “For He delivered us and saved us and called us with a holy calling [a calling that leads to a consecrated life—a life set apart—a life of purpose]” (2 Ti 1:9a AMP).

God sees us as His children: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 Jn 3:1 NKJV).

God sees us as pure: “All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure” (1 Jn 3:3 NKJV).

God sees us as heirs: “So as a gift of his love, and since we are faultless—innocent before his face—we can now become heirs of all things, all because of an overflowing hope of eternal life” (Ti 3:7 TPT). 

Precious sisters, when the King of the universe elevates us to queenly status, what other opinion matters? The One who was willing to sacrifice Himself for us tells us that we are more valuable to Him than anything else (Mt 10:31).

He adores us so much He made us to be like Him. 

When our Father looks at us, He sees the perfect Spirit of Christ Who dwells in our hearts, not our soulish or physical flaws. 

When we diminish the desire to be like another person and replace that attitude with the longing to be like Christ, we will live in biblical self-love.

Barbara Latta is a true southerner and is transplanted from Arkansas to Georgia. She writes a monthly column in her local newspaper, contributes to devotional websites and has stories in several anthologies. She is the author of God’s Maps, Stories of Inspiration and Direction for Motorcycle Riders. She enjoys traveling with her Harley-riding prince on his motorcycle, taking in the creativity of nature. Drinking coffee on the patio while the sun comes up is her favorite time of day. Barbara shares about walking in grace and thriving in hope on her blog, Navigating Life’s Curves. She cherishes her role in life as a wife, a mom to two grown sons, and Mimi to one granddaughter.

This video-devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

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Sweet Redemption

Jesus, our God-given trumpet of redemption, frees us from chains and helps us see our worth as His treasure (Lk 1:69, 1 Co 1:30).

Purchased with “tears of blood” (1 Co 6:20 TPT).

What He did for us believers was not a ransom payment to the evil one but, instead, was a sacrificial love offering to Father God (Tyndale Bible Dictionary). 

The Son met Father’s standard and fulfilled His purpose to our benefit.

There was no payment to the devil of our souls for our souls.

In this light of truth, our attitude can model Christ’s.

We can submit our lives as a love offering to God and pay the devil no mind, no peace, no joy or anything else. 

We can choose to not feed (pay) evil offense.

We can choose to walk out God’s gracious blessings of redemption in our lives.

We can choose to build His Kingdom above the enemy as we stand whole with our complete trust in our Lord.

As we live sacrificially unto Him, we can remember that sacrifice does not leave us empty. Rather, it opens us up to receive greater blessings (Ps 103).

Hebrews 10:35 NLT says, “So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!”

So, as we acknowledge God’s truth as our gold standard, the freer we’ll become and the more valuable we’ll see ourselves, which will enable us to experience more of His redemptive inheritance (Ep 1:14).

Let’s choose to see ourselves and others through our Lord’s purposed redemption.

Matthew 6:22 TPT reminds us that “The eyes of your spirit allow revelation-light to enter into your being. If your heart is unclouded, the light floods in!”

God knows that we become what we behold (envision). And that what we think, we will prove out (Pr 23:7 KJV).

I believe our Lord is redeeming our vision, causing us to see as He does, so we can focus entirely on Him to fulfill destiny with Him as He sees fit. 

I believe He is working to even resurrect and redeem some things that we may have thought were gone forever by first syncing our vision with His to see His glorious possibilities. 

I believe God is giving His forgiven ones a new life lens through which to see even some former things made new as we look to Him—”all because of the cascading riches of his grace” (Ep 1:7 TPT).

This is where He will bring us into a renewed fit with those former things made new, as we have grown to know Him. So, as He has made us more spiritually fit, He has made us more receiving of His benefits. 

During devoted time with Him, our Lord has been revealing this kind of “sweet redemption” for a fitting season. There is a richness to it, a multiplicity and honor in His reformation of those former things. 

I believe this is just the beginning and that we will see Him bring it to pass over time in this decade as we walk closely with Him. 

1 Peter 1:18 AMPC says, “You must know (recognize) that you were redeemed (ransomed) from the useless (fruitless) way of living inherited by tradition from [your] forefathers…”

Ephesians 5:15-16 TPT say, “So be very careful how you live, not being like those with no understanding, but live honorably with true wisdom, for we are living in evil times. Take full advantage of every day as you spend your life for his purposes.”

So, friends, we only need to invite Him to open our eyes to see His way, yield our hearts to understand and follow Him as He reveals His plan. 

I believe the closer we get to the point of convergence, the narrower our concentration needs to be to hit the mark as His sharp arrow that meets His purpose.

Jesus paid a high price of His blood to restore us: To redeem us from the sin bondage of selfishness. From “enemy oppressors” and the “power of death” as His believers and followers “pursue obedient service, faithful ministry, and personal holiness” (The Hayford Bible Handbook).

So, let’s honor Him and build His Kingdom by choosing His life through us.

Let’s awaken to be champions of the victorious, overcoming life through which our Lord reforms, repairs and restores.

Let’s let this year be a time of sweet redemption as we accept and follow Jesus into greater wholeness (Is 63:4).

Pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord, 

Thank You for Your redemption of my life. I confess and renounce having done life my way, and I choose Your way today. I invite You to lead me more into Your marvelous light. I choose to trust You to bring the betterment that’s needed in myself, my loved ones, my relationships and my assignments as I yield and yoke up with You. Enable me to receive all that you have for me in this season. Thank You for steering my vision.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

This video-devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

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Follow Me

Jesus said, “Follow Me” (Matt 4:19, 21; Matt 9:9; Mk 2:14; Jn 1:43).

It’s how He called His disciples, and it’s how He calls us into a life-flow of covenant blessing.

Jesus knows His believers as His sheep, who hear His voice and willingly accept His invitation (Jn 10:27).

2 Peter 1:3-4 TPT remind us that “Everything we could ever need for life and godliness has already been deposited in us by his divine power. For all this was lavished upon us through the rich experience of knowing him who has called us by name and invited us to come to him through a glorious manifestation of his goodness.”

Paul, Silas and Timothy constantly prayed for the believing church in 2 Thessalonians 1:11 saying, “that our God will empower you to live worthy of all that he has invited you to experience” and “that by his power all the pleasures of goodness and all works inspired by faith would fill you completely.”

As believers, we understand that covenant blessings are linked with the knowledge of and obedience to God’s goodness and glory.

Followers discover that Jesus is the Source of living water that never ends (Jn 4:13). 

We can trust that the same water that flows underground, like a spring in our secret places and during wilderness times, will continue to flow without end in the new places of blessing our Lord is leading us into (De 11:11). 

This is the same living water that flows to connect dots of understanding from one scripture to another, and the same living water that flows out of our bellies as we express His Words of faith, believing for what is to come, according to His plan (Jn 7:38).

In Luke 7:35 TPT, Jesus says, “…I say to you, the wisdom of God will be proven true by the expressions of godliness in everyone who follows me.”

He describes His true followers as those who build wisely, saying in Luke 6:47-48 TPT,  “Let me describe the one who truly follows me and does what I say. He is like a man who chooses the right place to build a house and then lays a deep and secure foundation. When the storms and floods rage against that house, it continues to stand strong and unshaken through the tempest, for it has been wisely built on the right foundation.”

Believers understand that following Jesus’ spiritual laws produces maximum growth and fruit production throughout our lives, leading to a cumulative effect of a good end and lasting legacy.

Therefore, it is critical to yield to God’s will, make wise decisions and faithfully persevere from beginning to end. It is in this commitment to go where He leads and do the work at hand that we experience our best life on earth.

And rewards in Heaven (He 11:6).

This is where we experience His “marvelous grace” and a glorious life (2 Th 1:12).

This is limitless living.

Even operating in mighty miracles as His power flowing through us. 

In John 14:12 TPT, Jesus says, “I tell you this timeless truth: The person who follows me in faith, believing in me, will do the same mighty miracles that I do—even greater miracles than these because I go to be with my Father!”

So, friends, are we willing to believe God at His Word and put action to our faith for what He has called and assigned us to do?

Are we wisely following Jesus, even in the seemingly small things now, knowing those small choices will lead to a big impact over time?

At the end of our lives on earth, will we end up with a good cumulative effect of our choices that will affect others, whose lives are closely connected with ours? 

Since we will be judged by God’s truth, let’s choose beauty over ugly (1 Th 5:15, 22, Jn 12:48).

Let’s choose to follow Jesus on the righteous path of true and everlasting life filled with a constant supply of holy joy that God longs for us to share with Him (1 Th 5:16).

Let’s choose the lavish legacy of Ephesians 1:3 TPT, which says, “Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm has already been lavished upon us as a love gift from our wonderful heavenly Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus—all because he sees us wrapped into Christ. This is why we celebrate him with all our hearts!”

So, friends, pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your plan for my life (1 Th 5:18). I repent of following others above You. Help my unbelief. I invite You to get my life more on track with You as my sole Source of life. I invite You to uproot weeds of my soul that try to limit You as Love. “Lord, don’t allow me to make a mess of my life, for I cling to your commands and follow them as closely as I can” (Ps 119:31 TPT). Help me to trust You and take courage, knowing that You have Your very best for me as Your daughter, Your heir as You prove me worthy. “Place your hands of strength and favor upon me, for I’ve made my choice to follow your ways” (Ps 119:173 TPT). Help me to have a good journey and ending of my life on earth, as I commit to follow You all the way into eternity (Jn 13:36).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name.

Amen. 

This video-devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

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Remaining Faithful – Part 2

God is abundant in His “stability and faithfulness” (La 3:23).

Psalm 57:10 TPT tells us, “Your love is so extravagant it reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness so astonishing it stretches to the sky!”

He is unwavering in His truth.

And with God, we can be, too.

Proverbs 14:14 TPT assures us that those who remain in His truth receive “a sweet reward.”

Faithfulness means to be full of faith—truth, confidence, trust and belief.

Some synonyms are loyalty, steadfastness and resoluteness (Webster’s).

As God faithfully delivers us into pinnacles of promise, let’s commit to express faithfulness to Him as willing obedience without limitation.

Psalm 119:133 TPT says, “Prepare before me a path filled with your promises, and don’t allow even one sin to have dominion over me.”

We are able to go the distance because He is able (Lk 24:38). 

Because He is in us.

Surrendering to Him and syncing with Him are paramount, even as we wait for His next steps.

Psalm 72:6-7 TPT say, “Your favor will fall like rain upon our surrendered lives, like showers reviving the earth. In the days of his reign the righteous will spring forth with the abundance of peace and prosperity forevermore.”

So, as we faithfully work God’s plan in this way, we will experience His peace and new life, even as we grow, which is His confirmation to us that He is in it with us and will faithfully help us (Lk 24:37).

As we follow Him all the way to outward fulfillment. 

Isaiah 41:10 TPT offers us God’s strategy, saying, “Do not yield to fear, for I am always near. Never turn your gaze from me, for I am your faithful God. I will infuse you with my strength and help you in every situation. I will hold you firmly with my victorious right hand.”

We can also remember Psalm 112:7 TPT, which says, “They will not live in fear or dread of what may come, for their hearts are firm, ever secure in their faith.”

So, as we go forward, and feel fear in new territory, these are good verses to faithfully repeat back to God in prayer.

God is so faithful that we can put our entire confidence in Him for every moment. Even during times of contending, He will enable us to rule in the midst of our enemies (Ps 110:2 TPT). 

Psalm 20:4 TPT reminds us by saying, “May God give you every desire of your heart and carry out your every plan as you go to battle.”

Luke 12:12 TPT says, “Simply be confident and allow the Spirit of Wisdom access to your heart, and he will reveal in that very moment what you are to say to them.”

This level of truth comes from knowing Holy Spirit, following Him and agreeing with Him intimately. 

So, in our promised land, we can be confident that, although the enemy seeks to outwit us to ultimately defeat us, God offers His wisdom lavishly, as we submit to and follow Him (Lk 21:14-15). 

This obedience to divine wisdom will extend our lives as we enjoy God’s promises, knowing that He, as Holy Spirit living in us, is our only sustainable inner fulfillment and our constant Source outwardly. 

In other words, remaining faithful to Him facilitates abundant life in its many expressions of fruit, including spiritual and material.

So, remaining faithful to Him is everything. 

Jesus’ Words to His disciples in Luke 24:49 TPT assure us of this by saying, “And I will send the fulfillment of the Father’s promise to you. So stay here in the city until the mighty power of heaven falls upon you and wraps around you.”

Our Lord will be with us, and up ahead of us waiting for us, as we become more like Him and head farther into destiny.

I like how the Tyndale Bible Dictionary puts it: “Faithfulness, then, must not be viewed as an isolated act. Rather, it is an attitude that should characterize the entire life of those who say they have faith in God.” 

Psalm 81:13-14, 16 TPT say, “O that my people would once and for all listen to me and walk faithfully in my footsteps, following my ways. Then and only then will I conquer your every foe and tell every one of them, ‘You must go!’ But I will feed you with my spiritual bread. You will feast and be satisfied with me, feeding on my revelation-truth like honey dripping from the cliffs of the high place.”

So, friends, pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord, 

Thank You for Your grace and faithfulness. Deliver us from every ungodly attitude and behavior that tries to hinder our victory through Your great sacrifice for us. We trust You to bring us up higher. Thank You for revealing Your victory strategies to us that help us remain faithful to You in Your Promised Land, as we continue on in the race You have set before us. 

In Jesus’ Mighty Name, 

Amen.

This video-devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

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Remaining Faithful – Part 1

Recently, our Lord brought to mind a visual from my past to remind me of His timeless fruit of faithfulness. And it is this:

Twenty years ago, God moved me onto an island, where I would live for four years. During this time of consecration, He showed me a daily visual, which was an hourglass-shaped pond out back of my home. 

I lived in very close proximity to the western expanse of this pond, which was a metaphor in itself, as it hinted of my future.

As I drew back the curtain from my sliding glass door each day, most times I would spot turtles that had climbed onto the base (foundation) of a fountain that was anchored in the center of this western expanse.

Sometimes, the turtles seemed like permanent fixtures, as I would watch them day after day. At times, they would irritate me, because they didn’t seem to move much at all.

If that wasn’t enough, a blue heron would often fly in and stand on his spindly legs at the western-edge of the pond. This heron would remain for what seemed a long time, waiting for a koi fish to swim his way. 

Clearly, he had amazing vision and was able to see gold in the water.

Finally, after getting my attention one day, I realized our Lord was beginning to do a deeper work of patience in me through all of this. He was teaching me about faithfulness in the stillness of the wait, not only for this time in my life, but also for what He was about to send me into after my island experience.

God also showed me that, although these remarkable pond animals could be slow, they were strong and victorious because of their faithfulness to do the right thing at the right time.

They faithfully showed up.

They were faithfully patient.

They were faithfully purposed.

And they received the rewards for which they came. 

God used this pond to teach me that, as He leads us from our wide place through an uncomfortable narrow place and then out into a new expanse, we are to remain faithful to follow Him in all three places, even in the details of His time and His ways. 

To receive manifest victory.

This path requires daily trust and obedience to divine strategy.

It requires daily intimacy with God, hearing His voice and seeing His perspective.

It requires patience with ourselves and others. 

At that time in my life, I was working as a flight attendant, flying up to ten destinations a day, while meeting writer deadlines for multiple high-profile publications, as well as my own newsletter. 

God had made me lightning fast in this schedule!

Efficient, like a fine-tuned machine.

But He had more.

He was doing a new thing, and it began by maturing me in some new areas—taking my soul deeper in Him to take me higher and farther with Him.

To do a deep work for His greater glory.

God enabled me to understand that, as we remain faithful in the transformation, we can stand faithful in the transportation to greater blessings.

God will take us to new places as we allow Him to transform us. 

And there’s no way to get around the patience and intimacy factors—to our benefit.

Our faithful submission to God is easier in the deep unknown when we love Him.

Our healthy sense of self-worth is directly linked with our faithfulness to follow Him.

It’s where we experience His fullness of faith, which is the very definition of faithfulness that leads to a fountain of abundant life.

Romans 1:17 TPT tells us that “This gospel unveils a continual revelation of God’s righteousness—a perfect righteousness given to us when we believe. And it moves us from receiving life through faith, to the power of living by faith. This is what the Scripture means when it says: ‘We are right with God through life-giving faith!'”

This faithfulness involves a commitment to living out God’s truth without wavering while being dependent upon Him.

It involves full surrender. 

And ascending higher with God.

Therefore, in order to reach pinnacles of promise, we must commit to express faithfulness unto our Lord as willing obedience without limitation.

So, friends, where has your patience been tested lately?

Therein lies the area of divine calling and breakthrough, which you will receive if you will not buy into enemy lies, trust God and remain faithful to His revealed Words of truth.

If you do this, He will lead you from one expanse through a narrow path, by making a miraculous high-way for you, to then enter into His new expanse for you.

If you are in need of a breakthrough to complete God’s next step for you, then pray with me, if you will…

Dear Lord, 

Thank You for Your gift and strategy of faithfulness and that, by Your Spirit, I can remain faithful to You. Thank You that You have already made provision for me in my path, every step of the way. Help me to choose faith to believe You for greater things—to be confident in You and receive all You have for me. Reveal Your next step for me in Your new places for me. I pray against delay. And I trust You to bring me into fruition, as I faithfully obey You at Your Word. Thank You for Your faithful witness. Thank You for validating our journey together with signs, wonders and “all kinds of powerful miracles” (He 2:4 TPT).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

Friends, join me next week for Part 2 of Remaining Faithful.

This video-devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.