"I am not my own, for I have been made new"

John 1:12

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" 

I am a child of God. The day I put my faith in Christ, for the forgiveness of my sins, that day He looked at me and said "You are a child of Mine." Nothing I do can separate me from Him and He will never leave or abandon me. I am His and He is mine. Sometimes it baffles me to think that Jesus loves me. But He does and He is always eager to show His love to those who set themselves apart from the world and the emptiness it offers and choose to follow Him instead. He gave all of Himself and all He wants from me, and deserves, in return is the same devotion - which doesn't always come easy. 

Attempting to be IN the world but not OF the world presents difficulties, as it would for any fallen human being. The world offers "here and now" satisfaction, but the satisfaction found in Christ is eternal. Everlasting. Forever. Oh if it were but an easy task to just focus in on that and faithfully live for that promise of unending togetherness with Christ, life wouldn't be so bad after all. But I stumble, I fall, I fail, I complain, I waver from the path He's set me on when I feel it's not enough. That is painfully problematic. But God is with me still, even when I waver. There's an amazing concept to dwell on. Now, I do not intend to go through life intentionally placing myself in difficult situations just so God can come rescue me for the millionth time - that is not my purpose or intent in life.  But my purpose and desire is to live each day for His glory, because each day He's given is a gift. A true, blessed, humbling gift.

Something that is constantly resounding in my head is that He willingly died so that I might live, so why is it so hard to live for Him and Him alone? Certainly something to think about. It shouldn't be that hard but sometimes it feels like it takes everything in me to deny myself and follow Him. 

Oh, Lord, my prayer is that you would humble my painfully and irritatingly selfish heart and ambitions. I want to fix my gaze on You, and You alone, for nothing else can satisfy my life quite like You can - for from You and through You and to You are all things. Help me to hold to that truth and the promise of Your unending love for me and the joy that comes from being considered Your Child. To You be the Glory forever. Amen.