Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. (Zeph. 3:14–15)
Satan is determined to destroy joy in our lives. Seeing myself as God sees me is sometimes a struggle. At times, I see myself too much as a sinner, unqualified and simply unlovable. I strive to overcome these feelings by working more hours, never saying no, and occasionally failing to set appropriate boundaries around my time and energy. The one thing that defeats this satanic attack is time alone with God in Bible study and prayer. Jesus is real. He loves me—and tells me that I am valuable in in his eyes.
Christ bore the punishment for the sins of all humanity. Every person is valuable to God. All of God’s people, from those who were faithful to him under the old covenant to those who trust in Jesus under the new, will rejoice together at Christ’s Second Coming. Christ prayed for us all the night of his betrayal. Since God has done so much for me and for you, we have no reason to be down on ourselves. Jesus even sent the Holy Spirit to transform believers so they become everything he created them to be.
Remember 1 John 4:4, “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” So, rejoice with all your heart, and let people know that God is the faithful lover of your soul.
Look at yourself through God’s eyes.
Dale Witowski is a lay pastor, sanctuary steward, missions’ director, and Sunday school teacher at Horseheads Community Wesleyan Church (NY). She is also an artist and a poet.
© 2023 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
