Tag: Personal Worth and Value

Small fern with glowing blue and yellow roots in dark forest soil
A Date With Destiny

4/26 From Darkness to Light: A Seed’s Journey

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Small fern with glowing blue and yellow roots in dark forest soil

Mark 4:26

Then Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is like a man who plants seed in the ground.”

From this birthday verse, you are reminded that all seeds are planted, anchored, and supported in dark, rich, soil which is filled with nutrients and hydration. Lush green leaves, hearty vegetables, fragrant blooms, and delicious fruits are sustained by a crucial process which occurs just below the surface, out of view. What looks like ordinary dirt, becomes a food and flower factory, once the tiny seeds split open and take root.

Functioning in the image of your Creator, you spend your time planting seeds of hope and promise into the world around you.

Many of the seeds you sow are done in secret and remain hidden. You are not boastful or arrogant about your charitable contributions or personal sacrifices. You attend to the needs of your family and community without recognition or fanfare.

Sometimes you may feel as if your efforts are unappreciated or even unwanted.  There are times you are tempted to believe that you are wasting time and energy because you can’t see the fruits of your labor.

Thankfully, you have the Word of God and His wonderful creation to remind you that a seed hidden in the darkness is a harvest waiting to happen.

As trees mature and produce seeds, their tiny promises of life are dropped into the surrounding soil where they remain unseen during the germination phase. In the dark, a seed breaks open and new life is begun. There is a waiting time before the shoot appears. There is another waiting time before the harvest comes.

In the same way, your good works and loving efforts may often be hidden in the dark for a time, but this doesn’t mean they will remain unfruitful.

When the time is right, God will bring your results into the light, much like the tiny plant which emerges from the dark soil. Your random acts of kindness and quiet loving gestures will not remain hidden in the darkness. The results will become visible, and each tiny sprout will deliver the promise of a bountiful harvest.

You may not always receive human recognition or praise for the contributions you make. Sometimes your good intentions may even be misunderstood. God knows what is in your heart and He promises that someday you will enjoy a beautiful harvest which far exceeds your expectations.

Learn more about april 26
Person hiking on mountain trail with backpack and trekking poles during sunrise.
A Date With Destiny

4/25 Creative Collaboration: Fulfilling Your Destiny

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Person hiking on mountain trail with backpack and trekking poles during sunrise.

Proverbs 4:25

“Keep your eyes focused on what is right. Keep looking straight ahead to what is good.”

You do not consider your life to be your own. You know that your life is set on a specific course designed by God. Your existence holds significant implications for future generations and you do not take this responsibility lightly.

This knowledge doesn’t indicate an attitude of presumption or arrogance, but rather, a position of humility. You know that your role is one of duty, rather than that of comfort and self-indulgence.

You know that without God’s gift of guidance, you would be wandering through life unsure of your purpose. Without knowing your purpose, you would be subject to life on the proverbial hamster wheel, struggling to find meaning for your existence.

You are grateful for the destiny you have been given and you know that there is nothing you lack in order to fulfill it.

Contentment comes easy to you, because God has enabled you to see through the deception of greed and envy to find the true meaning of life.

God has provided you with clarity of mind and purpose. Your work is an expression of your gifts and talents. You do not compete for other positions or titles.

You are content with what you have and enjoy working toward something greater than personal happiness.

Your deepest satisfaction comes when you confer with God in creative collaboration. You function best when you are working to improve the world you live in. You find that this is what generates your passion and creative expression.

Your willingness to follow God’s plan and timing is evident in the paths you take, and those you don’t.

God has given you a creative mind which empowers you with enthusiasm and fervor. You dedicate your days of human existence working for the greater good.

Learn more about april 25
Brown leather sandals on a dirt path with dry grass and trees
A Date With Destiny

4/24 Understanding Holiness: Beyond the Common Misconceptions

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Ephesians 4:24

“You were taught to become a new person. That new person is made to be like God – made to be truly good and holy.”

The word holy has often been misinterpreted as someone who is grim, dutiful, and devout; one who maintains a high standard of pious behavior and has little patience for those who don’t.

However, in many scriptural passages, the word holy is defined as that which is uncommon or extraordinary.

You have been declared holy by the Creator of the Universe. God has proclaimed that your existence is extraordinary, and your life is far from common.

There is significance in everything that you do.  There is nothing ordinary or common about you.

You are holy. You are wisdom. You are free to talk openly with your Creator. Your life in Christ is a spring of living water, making ripple effects on the world around you.

Every place your feet touch becomes sacred ground, because you carry the Creator of Life within you. The significant impact you make during your years on earth will pale in comparison to the lasting effect imprinted on the planet because you once walked here.

learn more about april 24

Open book, ceramic mug, and glasses on a wooden table during a misty sunrise.
Tetelestai Recovery

The Complexity of Faith: Why Some Feel Abandoned by God’s Promises

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Open book, ceramic mug, and glasses on a wooden table during a misty sunrise.

We sometimes wonder, “If God’s word is true, why are there people living without hope? Why wouldn’t His promise apply to everyone across the board?”

The answer is deeply complex. The reason God’s promises are not fulfilled is because His words rely on someone laying claim to them. These fantastic promises of God are often hard to believe for ourselves. Sure, we believe God is good, but we also know that we aren’t. We believe He does great things for good people, but it seems a bit presumptuous to expect the same blessings as someone who was busy doing great things for God while we were selfishly making a mess of our lives. We know the Bible talks about penalties for bad behavior, so it seems that if we believe in the blessings, we must also fear the curses.

That may have been a valid statement before the cross. But we live under Grace, not Law. Jesus broke the power of the curse, so we can all live in the blessing if we choose to believe it. We need not fear the curse or the consequences of our own mistakes. Those issues have been resolved. We are in a continual state of cleansing, like standing beneath a waterfall. Even a sin committed one second ago, is already washed away in the living water. We live exclusively in the blessings and enjoy firm standing on the promises. Curses do not cling to us. Blessings chase us down…

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A despondent man sits before a large, luminous forest painting in a dark room.
Tetelestai Recovery

Letting Go of Perfectionism: A Spiritual Journey

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Although introspection is important to growth, it is not the main purpose of our spiritual awakening. We are moving into a new position of authority in Christ. We are leveling up. We are no longer human beings having a spiritual awakening. We are awakened spiritual beings affecting the realm of human existence.

Admittedly, human nature can often get in the way, so we frequently ask the Holy Spirit to show us where we need to improve. We ask for help in making the necessary changes. We believe we receive that help and start thanking God for the results even before we see them. We use the words of Christ, “It is finished!” (Tetelestai) to call an end to our obsession over shortcomings and our continual dialogue of negative self-talk.

Empowered by the Spirit of God, and emboldened by the words of Christ, we let go of the things that trip us up. We release our grip on perfectionism. We dismiss that internal committee in our heads who sit in judgement of our every motive, thought, behavior, or attitude. We stop auditioning for the lead role and find our proper place in the supporting cast. With the spotlight on Jesus and what He is doing, we take our eyes off ourselves and are relieved of self-consciousness.

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A Date With Destiny

The Power of Forgiveness: Finding Strength in Mercy

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“I tell you the truth. All sins that people do can be forgiven.” Mark 3:28

Forgiveness is an attribute which comes easily for you. You have been blessed by both giving and receiving forgiveness. You understand the forgiveness of God because you have received it abundantly.

While you may sometimes fail to make the right choice, your decision to accept God’s forgiveness for the wrong ones, is always the right choice.

You are grateful for the opportunities to offer forgiveness to others.

While it is human nature to be concerned about the risks of being merciful, you believe there is a much greater risk to the human soul when one opts to become merciless.

You are grateful for the mercy of God which provides healing and restoration. Not only does He show mercy to the offender, but He also offers forgiveness for the wrong and cancelation of the debt.

Like your Creator, you do not keep score. The mercy and forgiveness you learned from Him, enables you to wipe the slate clean and give everyone a fresh start.

Your appreciation for the forgiveness you have received is best displayed by your willingness to offer it to others.

You are a merciful person and for that reason, as Jesus reported in the Sermon on the Mount, you are blessed and will receive mercy.

It has been said that the word blessed, could be best defined by the phrase, empowered to succeed.

You are successful because you show mercy and because mercy is shown to you.

Whether or not you do everything perfectly, is not what determines your success.

It is your gift of mercy which creates a firm foundation for successful relationships.  It is also the defining force of your Christian walk.

For only those who give and receive mercy will ever truly know the heart of God. 

A Date With Destiny

Living as a Citizen of Heaven: Embrace Your Dual Reality

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1 Peter 3:22…”Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God. All the angels and powers accept his authority.”

You are becoming more and more enlightened about who Jesus is, where He came from, and where He is now, preparing a place for you.

While it is true that your physical body is aging, your mind is being renewed every day. Each step of the way, the Holy Spirit is taking you to new heights of enlightenment.

Fueled by living water springing up from within you, your spirit rushes like a river, creating the power and energy needed to carry your physical form into each next heavenly assignment.

Partnered with the Spirit of God, supernatural energy is infusing you with a heavenly mindset.  As you focus your attention on heavenly pursuits, you are simultaneously improving the natural world in which you reside. 

In this way, you are living in two realms at once. You are a citizen of heaven, and an ambassador of Christ. Your heart is set on things above, and your days are filled with bringing heaven to earth.

Maintaining a heavenly focus creates melody in your mind and harmony in your heart. This music of heaven shifts your gaze away from your human struggles and toward the throne room of heaven.

Experiencing the power of Christ in this dual reality, His Kingdom is as real to you as the world in which you live.

Learn more about march 22

A Date With Destiny

3/21 Finding Freedom in God’s Grace: Letting Go of Guilt

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1 John 3:21…”Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.”

You lead a carefree life because you release your mistakes and weaknesses into the safe grace of God.

When regret or guilt trouble you, they immediately become the next topic of conversation with God. You talk with your Heavenly Father throughout the day about the issues which plague your thoughts. As you share your memories with God, you find a sense of release. Your thoughts are turned toward His forgiveness and mercy, rather than your own failures and remorse.

You receive clemency from Christ, which wipes the slate clean. You understand this is not a once-in-a-life-time free pass, but it is a gift of grace, providing you with a fresh start whenever you need one, throughout your entire life.

When you talk things out with God, regrets are resolved, and guilt is eliminated.

Knowing that Christ has liberated you from any past mistakes, you are overwhelmed with gratitude rather than guilt.

learn more about march 21
A Date With Destiny

The Stability of Living in Christ’s Love

lastwordrecovery 
 Ephesians 3:19..."Christ’s love is greater than any person can ever know. But I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with the fullness of God."

You know the love of Christ in ways that are difficult for some people to comprehend. Your trust in His love creates a bond of confidence between you and your Lord.

While you may have difficulty trusting other people, there is no doubt in your mind that God can be trusted to guide and protect you, no matter what.

You understand that pure love is not an emotion.  It is a commitment. You see the way God’s love has supported you during some of the most difficult and wayward times of your life. You realize that this love is not fickle. He does not withdraw His love to manipulate or punish.

You enjoy living in the love of Christ and you seek to demonstrate that love to others.

This life of love is not an emotional roller-coaster of feelings, but rather, it is a higher level of stability.

The presence of Christ’s love in your life creates an atmosphere in which you are difficult to offend, easy to approach, and quick to forgive.

learn more about March 19

A Date With Destiny

Dispelling Myths: The True Character of God

lastwordrecovery

Luke 3:18…John continued to preach the Good News, saying many other things to encourage the people.

God has chosen to display His true character of mercy and love through you to those who have misunderstood Him to be harsh and cruel.

You were chosen to bring something very special to your world.  

Many people claiming to speak for God, have indicated that He is angry and hard to please. This has become an obstacle to their need to ask for His help.

You are correcting this erroneous perception by showing the true character of God, as displayed in Jesus’ life.

You are chosen to talk of the loyalty of God, proven by His repetitive message throughout the Scriptures, “I will never leave you or turn on you.”

Your deep sense of loyalty has helped you understand the heart of God. In this world of insecurity and unrest, the humans who inhabit it are running scared from a God who frightens and repulses them.

Their misperceptions of God have left them without help and without hope. Your message of good news will soften people’s perceptions of God and remove their fear of asking for His help.

God has chosen you to spread the good news of healing and wholeness to His broken world.

Learn more about march 18