2/9/2024
Be Who You Are
God is After the Heart
As we open our hearts to his loving pursuit today, I pray that God would do a mighty work of freedom in our hearts.
Introduction
In today’s devotional, we’re going to look at the opportunity God gives us every day to simply be who we are. His pursuit of our hearts frees us as we experience his unconditional, all-encompassing love. So as we open our hearts to his loving pursuit today, I pray that God would do a mighty work of freedom in our hearts.
Scripture
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.”
Psalm 139:13 ESV
Devotional
God will never ask you to be anyone other than who you are. He’s not asking you to be just like other believers. He’s not asking you to copy those around you that seem to be well-liked or accepted. So often we view God as a parent who spends all his efforts trying to fix us on the outside that we might keep up appearances. But it couldn’t be more the opposite. God doesn’t spend time trying to cover up who we are. Rather, he devotes himself to uncovering who we truly are—who he made us to be.
Psalm 139:13 says, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” God formed you wonderfully and uniquely. He gave you a personality and calling all your own. He sees past all the exteriors we create to try and fit in. He sees through all our efforts to cover up what makes us unique and different. He sees us for who we really are. And he is calling us to cast down our facades and live out of the revelation that we are already, right now, fully loved and accepted by our Creator.
Discovering your identity begins with a journey with God to your heart. If you’re wondering who you truly are, you need not look past yourself, but rather, with the Holy Spirit, take an honest look at yourself. Don’t shy away from your insecurities. Don’t shy away from that which makes you different. Allow God to reveal how he sees you. Allow him to reveal to you the true desires of your heart. And allow him to lay a secure foundation for you built on his unconditional love that you might live vulnerably and honestly.
Allow God to fill you with the courage to be yourself today. Stop trying to change yourself to fit in to the expectations of others. And live with your identity and value securely founded in the love of your heavenly Father.
Spend some time in guided prayer looking at your heart with the Holy Spirit. Allow him to reveal how he sees you. Ask him how he has formed you and made you unique. And allow him to empower you to be yourself today. May your time in guided prayer be filled with freedom and courage as you cease striving to be someone that you’re not.
Prayer
1. Meditate on God’s call for you to be who you are. Allow Scripture to fill you with a desire to live honestly.
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13
“As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.” Proverbs 27:19
2. In what ways are you striving to be someone you’re not? How are you seeking to keep up appearances rather than live honestly?
3. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal how he sees you. Ask him to fill you with courage to cast down any facades and be who you truly are.
Worship
Go
Matthew 6:21 says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” If you choose to place value and identity on what God says about you, then your heart will find freedom that transcends the ways and cares of the world. Treasure what God says about you. Store up his words and truth over you. Let them be your source of hope and life. May your heart be with your loving, kind heavenly Father as you seek to find freedom to live as you truly are today.
Extended Reading: Matthew 6 or watch The Bible Project’s video on Matthew 1-13.
May your heart be with your loving, kind heavenly Father as you seek to find freedom to live as you truly are today.
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