Knowing Your Value Makes a Difference
Author: Bob Shafer
Today’s Scripture
"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, Who loved us and gave us everlasting consolation and encouragement and well-founded hope through [His] grace (unmerited favor), comfort and encourage your hearts and strengthen them [make them steadfast and keep them unswerving] in every good work and word" 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17, AMP).
It is the Father’s love for you that gives you the power to overcome every mistake, failure, and sin in your life. The Bible puts it this way: “Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace” (Rom. 6:14 NLT). Isn’t that beautiful? Today you are living under the freedom of God’s amazing grace—His unmerited, undeserved, and unearned favor in your life. Grace gives you freedom. Freedom from lack, from fear, from addictions, from the torment of guilt, and from every curse and every sin! The more you experience the love and grace of your heavenly Father, the more you fall in love with Him and out of love with sin.
Did you know that the enemy has no hold over people who know their Father loves them? If Adam and Eve had believed in God’s love for them, the devil would not have been successful in tempting them. Unfortunately, they chose to believe the lie that the serpent had planted by portraying God as stingy and selfish, as if He was withholding something good from them.
That’s why I want you to be anchored in the Father’s love. You will be unshakable. You will have no desire to touch certain things, go to certain places, or be associated with certain people. You will keep away from negative influences because you trust your Father’s heart for you and believe that He only wants what’s best for you. You rest, knowing that He is watching out for you to protect you and insulate you from harm.
I’ve seen that children who are secure in their father’s love are able to say no to all kinds of temptations. This is because that vacuum in their lives is already filled. They don’t have to do things to win the approval of their friends when they can find absolute security, identity, and approval in their parents’ love for them and, most of all, in their heavenly Father’s love for them.
In the same way, when we trust in our Father’s love for us, we will have the power to say no to temptations. When you have an abiding revelation of just how valuable, precious, and righteous you are in Christ, it becomes increasingly easy to say no to sin. The more righteousness-conscious you are and the more conscious of how valuable and precious you are in Christ, the more you will know that your righteous identity in Christ and sin don’t go together—and the more you will experience the power to say no to temptation.
Today’s Thought
When I’m anchored in the Father’s love, I will be unshakable.
Today’s Prayer
Father, thank You that I can live under the freedom of Your amazing grace. Thank You for the power to overcome every mistake, failure, and sin in my life. I believe that I am anchored in Your love and empowered to say no to temptation because I receive and rest in Your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
[Editor's comment: Bob Shafer is a treasured and trusted friend of mine and our family. He has visited us in our home and ministered to all of us when Stephanie was alive. Stephanie was fond of Bob and he really ministered to her. Greg likes Bob too, and Bob continues to pour blessings into Greg's life. We all need people in our lives like Bob. He is a gifted pastor, preacher, and prophet. He is anchored in the Word of God and is a soul-winner.
He and his wife reside in Kingfisher, OK. I know of two great men who lived there: Sam Walton and Bob Shafer. I have asked Bob to be a contributing writer for Hugh's News.]
Author: Bob Shafer
Today’s Scripture
"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, Who loved us and gave us everlasting consolation and encouragement and well-founded hope through [His] grace (unmerited favor), comfort and encourage your hearts and strengthen them [make them steadfast and keep them unswerving] in every good work and word" 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17, AMP).
It is the Father’s love for you that gives you the power to overcome every mistake, failure, and sin in your life. The Bible puts it this way: “Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace” (Rom. 6:14 NLT). Isn’t that beautiful? Today you are living under the freedom of God’s amazing grace—His unmerited, undeserved, and unearned favor in your life. Grace gives you freedom. Freedom from lack, from fear, from addictions, from the torment of guilt, and from every curse and every sin! The more you experience the love and grace of your heavenly Father, the more you fall in love with Him and out of love with sin.
Did you know that the enemy has no hold over people who know their Father loves them? If Adam and Eve had believed in God’s love for them, the devil would not have been successful in tempting them. Unfortunately, they chose to believe the lie that the serpent had planted by portraying God as stingy and selfish, as if He was withholding something good from them.
That’s why I want you to be anchored in the Father’s love. You will be unshakable. You will have no desire to touch certain things, go to certain places, or be associated with certain people. You will keep away from negative influences because you trust your Father’s heart for you and believe that He only wants what’s best for you. You rest, knowing that He is watching out for you to protect you and insulate you from harm.
I’ve seen that children who are secure in their father’s love are able to say no to all kinds of temptations. This is because that vacuum in their lives is already filled. They don’t have to do things to win the approval of their friends when they can find absolute security, identity, and approval in their parents’ love for them and, most of all, in their heavenly Father’s love for them.
In the same way, when we trust in our Father’s love for us, we will have the power to say no to temptations. When you have an abiding revelation of just how valuable, precious, and righteous you are in Christ, it becomes increasingly easy to say no to sin. The more righteousness-conscious you are and the more conscious of how valuable and precious you are in Christ, the more you will know that your righteous identity in Christ and sin don’t go together—and the more you will experience the power to say no to temptation.
Today’s Thought
When I’m anchored in the Father’s love, I will be unshakable.
Today’s Prayer
Father, thank You that I can live under the freedom of Your amazing grace. Thank You for the power to overcome every mistake, failure, and sin in my life. I believe that I am anchored in Your love and empowered to say no to temptation because I receive and rest in Your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
[Editor's comment: Bob Shafer is a treasured and trusted friend of mine and our family. He has visited us in our home and ministered to all of us when Stephanie was alive. Stephanie was fond of Bob and he really ministered to her. Greg likes Bob too, and Bob continues to pour blessings into Greg's life. We all need people in our lives like Bob. He is a gifted pastor, preacher, and prophet. He is anchored in the Word of God and is a soul-winner.
He and his wife reside in Kingfisher, OK. I know of two great men who lived there: Sam Walton and Bob Shafer. I have asked Bob to be a contributing writer for Hugh's News.]