Page 109 - Grace150 Devotional

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
Mark 9:24
It’s easy for me to subconsciously compare myself to others, becoming wishful
or even discouraged when I appear less than the other person:
• Mary sings so well she’s always invited to sing at the Christmas concert.
• John knows how to fix everything and saves his family from home repair bills.
• Susan is a tech whiz and can solve every computer problem.
• Joe and Stephanie are such great parents, their kids are so well-behaved and
want to enter the ministry.
Several years ago I attended a missions conference where I heard about miraculous
ways God had moved in the lives of missionaries. But one missionary said words
I have never forgotten: “I have a super extraordinary wonderful God…and you
have him too.”
You see, God loves me whether or not I perform spiritually or any other way. Yes,
we are called to pursue righteousness and to best use our talents. But even if I
am average and mediocre by all worldly standards, God still looks upon me with
warmth and affection. I matter to God because He gave what was most valuable
to Him—His Son—for my behalf…even if my faith is tiny and seems more often
absent than present.

Lord help us to live, not as others see us or even as we see ourselves, but as You
see us, valuable and loved no matter what.
– Kevin Tom

devotions for the journey DAY 102