From Control to Intimacy: Accept Yourself
Living Free Every Day®
A ministry of LivingFree.org
Today's Scripture
"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10 NLT
Thoughts for Today
You are a masterpiece!
God created you. You are special to him. So special he sent his only son, Jesus, to die on the cross for your sins. When you receive Christ as Lord and Savior, you are created anew. You are God's masterpiece - not because of anything you have done, but because of what Jesus did. He accepts you. He loves you. And he has a great plan for your life.
As we see how Jesus accepts us, we will begin to accept ourselves. As we accept ourselves, we will feel more comfortable allowing others to see us as we are. We will begin to share our struggles without trying to pretend perfection or control. We will accept the imperfections of others more easily and pray for God to heal them as he has healed us.
Consider this …
Have you received Jesus as your Savior? The Bible tells us we have all sinned. God is a holy God, and no sin can be in his presence. If we want a personal relationship with him, if we want to spend eternity in heaven with him, our sin must be forgiven. God provided the way. He sent his son, Jesus, to earth to die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. Your sin and mine. This forgiveness is a gift - but you need to reach out and accept his gift. You can do that by praying something like this . . . (The words don't matter. The desire of your heart does.)
God, I know that I have done wrong many times . . . that I have sinned. I believe Jesus is your son and that he died on the cross for my sins. I receive his gift of forgiveness and want to follow him.
If you have accepted Jesus, the Bible tells us you are clothed in his righteousness. That's how God sees you now!
God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV
Prayer
Father, thank you for loving me. Thank you for making me your child. Help me to accept myself - not because of anything I have or haven't done, but because of what Jesus did for me.
In Jesus' name …
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©Living Free 2020. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day® devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN, www.LivingFree.org. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending an e-mail to [email protected]
