We are each telling ourselves a story about our own worth. Usually, it is a negative story that we are not good enough, that we are not smart enough, not skinny enough, not strong enough, not accomplished enough, etc. Or we tell ourselves we have made too many mistakes, messed up too much, that we are hopeless. We are telling ourselves a story about our worth and value.

Our heavenly Father tells a different story about us. He calls us sons and daughters. He calls us Beloved! He declares us redeemed. He says we have worth because He made us. He says our value is in being us, His child. He says nothing can separate us from His love. God says He is working all things together for our good. God says His timing is perfect. God wants to have an intimate relationship with us.

In Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen, he says we can claim like Jesus that we are the Beloved of God on whom His favor rest.

Do you believe you are God’s Beloved?

Do you believe God’s favor rest on you?

We have our version of our story and God has His version – whose version are you going to TRUST?

Do you trust God’s version of your story?

Or.

Do you cling to your version of your story?

We choose the story we tell. We choose the story we believe.

The story we tell ourselves deeply shapes how we live in the world. What we believe shapes how we show up in the world.

Are you going to accept God’s version of your story and live from there?

We must choose to RECEIVE His free gift. We must claim it as our own.

We do not have to do something, or enough things, to earn it. It is ours for the taking no string attached. We think our performance is gaining us something, but it is not. God’s goodness is free. We accept His goodness and grace. We receive His goodness and grace then offer it to ourselves and others.

We have not done something so bad, no mistake or “failure,” keeps us from God’s love. He is waiting with open arms for our return. God’s forgiveness is free. We accept His forgiveness and grace. We receive His forgiveness and grace then offer it to ourselves and others.

We ground ourselves in God’s Truth. We think on His Truth. We take our thoughts captive when our brain offers us something other than God’s Truth. When our brain offers us our old story, or unhelpful, negative thoughts, we gently and kindly redirect our thinking to God’s Truth.

We practice believing in His Truth until we know we are His. We practice believing in His Truth until we know we are loved, no matter what. We know God’s love for us then we offer that love to others. We speak God’s Truth over other people’s lives. We help them to realize who they are too. A child of God! Loved by The King!

Let’s leave, let go of, throw away, our old stories. Let’s claim our new identity in Christ. And live as our true selves loved, accepted, enough, and free!

TRUST what your heavenly Father says about you! Tell yourself His story about you!