Devotional #4                 

You Are Accepted in the Beloved

I have always found the gifts of the Holy Spirit (as discussed by Saint Paul in Corinthians 12) to be amazing, and vital to the Christian experience. The Lord has, at one time or another granted me an opportunity to personally experience all of them. I don’t say that with pride, but with gratitude. One of my earliest experiences, which changed my life, was the day that my first pastor was given a direct ‘word of knowledge’ for me. Thankfully, our church services were recorded on tape, so I was able to later write down exactly what was said to me.

The Lord began by using it as an opportunity to instruct the church about how religious attitudes came from our sin nature (the flesh), they do not always come through the teaching of others. He went on to say that the tendencies exist within us that formulate a religious attitude. He said, it is “the tendencies to work, and the dissatisfaction with self, and the insecurities, and all those feelings.”

At that point, I heard God almost audibly throughout the remainder of this word continually say, “I have accepted you!” “I have accepted you!” The pastor instructed me, “You need to release them (the tendencies, dissatisfaction, and insecurities) to God… you need to see yourself in the light that God sees you; (I heard God say…”in My eyes)”…in God’s eyes is the way you need to see yourself (echoed the pastor): accepted, loved, forgiven, precious, with purpose (all those good and great things). He went on to say that as I accept these things and God’s love as He expressed it in different ways that I would find freedom and be a source of freedom for others.

Then my pastor prayed for me. Among other things he prayed that God would “…blanket (me) from the top of (my) head to the soles of (my) feet!” As he placed his hand on my head, I felt warmth, I felt loved, and a great peace starting from my head it filled my whole body, right down to my feet. Again, I had an inner knowledge that God was telling me “You are mine, I have accepted you!” The Lord specifically quoted to me the verse “you are accepted into the beloved.”

The pastor continued, “Lord God, the acceptance of Christ! Lord, let it embrace him like giant arms, God… arms that bring security, and arms that bring strength. O God, Lord, arms of acceptance. O God, Father, for thou hast accepted Lord God in the beloved this one. O God, Lord, thou hast embraced him wholly. As I heard those words, tears flooded my eyes. I released years of feeling that I wasn’t good enough, believing that I didn’t deserve to be loved.

The love and acceptance of God my Creator and Redeemer became a very true and profound reality to me that day. I believe that you too can experience His acceptance and wondrous love. God loves you no less. Won’t you please receive that great love that’s available for you right where you are today?    

See It for Yourself: I Corinthians 12:1-11; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Galatians 2:6; Philippians 4:7; Isaiah 49:16

Prayer Focus:         

Dear Lord,

     I receive Your love and acceptance of me this day. Fill me with Your presence that I might know Your great peace. Help me to enjoy the rights and fulfill the responsibilities allotted to me as Your child. Thank You Lord for all You’ve done for me through Christ.

In His name, I pray.

Amen

Working It Out:      

·         Receive God’s wonderful, unconditional, unearned love and acceptance.

·         Understand that once you’ve received Him, you are adopted into His family.

·         As His son/daughter you share all of the rights and responsibilities of a child of The King!