I AM CHOSEN, ROYAL & HOLY!

“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” - 1 Peter 2:9-10 NLT

We continue from our devotion of yesterday…knowing who we are. It is very important to know who our Heavenly Father says that we are. We saw that even before we were in our mother’s womb, He knew us! Our identity is found in no other than in Christ. We are who God created us to be.

We have been chosen by God to be His very own people. We are a royal people and are a holy nation - set apart. We are royal priests. We have direct access to our Father. We do not need someone to represent us or speak on our behalf. It’s not about being prideful, but it’s because of who our Father is, He is God! He is the King that cannot and will not be dethrone. He reigns supreme and forever. When you look at the earthly royals, we are in a better position, because we are royals of the greatest Kingdom. Remember your value comes from being one of God’s children.

It does not stop there, but we are joint heirs with Christ. For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are His children, we are His heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later – Romans 8:16-18 NLT. It is a great privilege that we are God’s children. We are no longer slaves to sin or the devil. Think about it, we are joint heirs with Christ of God’s glory. You may say why talk about suffering. Remember we still live in a sinful world and are not loved by this world, but this world is not our final home. One day we will be with our Heavenly Father, with the King forever!

When the world around you wants to tell you who you are and whose you are, do not be disheartened, just remember what God says about you, what He says to you in His word. Do not see yourself from the lower point, which is this world, but see yourself from the highest point, the heavenly perspective. You are who GOD says you are!

Do You Know Who You Are?

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. “ – Psalm 139:13-14 ESV

In our world, there is an identity crisis. People just don’t know who they are. They measure their worth and value, who they truly are by the opinion of others. We should not allow culture, experience or our environment define our identity. When you give your life to Yeshua, you are a new creature, old things are passed away. The old you are gone, and you are no longer identified by the things of your past.

Well, let’s look at the Word of God and learn who God say we are.

Let’s start in the very beginning. So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them – Genesis 1:27 ESV. Always remember, God created you! God did not just create you as a lump of flesh. NO! You were created in His own image and likeness. You were not created in confusion, no gender confusion. God created man and woman.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations – Jeremiah 1:5 ESV. Who told you that you are nothing? Hear what God says, even before He formed you in the womb, even before you were born - He knew you! He consecrated you! He set you apart! He appointed you to be! No where did God say a man did it. NO! GOD Himself did it! It was not your mother or father. God created you and placed you here with purpose, with worth, with value!

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well – Psalm 139:13-14 ESV. You were uniquely designed, created, formed. There is no two of you! Even if you are a twin, you are unique! While in your mother’s womb, God was at work, creating that special you! God put thought into every part of you! God works are wonderful! That includes you!

The psalmist says, my soul knows it very well. Do you know it very well?! Do you know who God says you are? Get who God says you are, into your heart, your mind, your soul and your spirit!!!

Praise In Advance Brings Breakthrough

“The king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising Him for His holy splendor. This is what they sang: ‘Give thanks to the LORD; His faithful Love endures forever!’” - 2 Chronicles 20:21 NLT

The story of King Jehoshaphat perfectly illustrates the power of thanking God in advance, before you get the answer to your breakthrough prayer.

When faced with an attack by three enemy armies, Jehoshaphat had an unusual battle strategy: “The king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising Him for His holy splendor. This is what they sang: ‘Give thanks to the LORD; His faithful Love endures forever!’” (2 Chronicles 20:21 NLT).

Would you agree this is an unusual way to organize an army? Imagine what the opposing armies thought when they saw the army of Israel led by a bunch of harpists and trumpeters.

I’m sure the choir wondered what was going on too. But Jehoshaphat had reminded them that the battle belonged to God, and if they believed in Him, they would succeed. That’s why they were able to thank God in advance for their upcoming victory and then show Him that they believed by putting the choir before the army.

Prayer and praise are verbalized faith. When you say, “God, thank You for taking care of my bankruptcy. Thank You for taking care of my pain. Thank You for working out this conflict,” that’s thanking Him in advance.

It doesn’t take much faith to thank God after He’s done something. You show real faith by thanking Him in advance…before the breakthrough comes.

Here’s the power of thanking God before you see your breakthrough: “At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the LORD caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves and destroying one another” (2 Chronicles 20:22 NLT).

Jehoshaphat’s army didn’t lift a finger (except to play their instruments). How did they win the battle? They thanked God in advance. They believed he would take care of them and save them from their enemies. They showed their faith in their battle formation. And then they watched as God gave them their breakthrough.

When are you going to start thanking God for your breakthrough? Maybe you've wanted something all your life, but you've just been begging. Maybe you’ve tried to bargain, bribe, or pressure God to say “yes.”

God wants to bring a breakthrough in your life…and He invites you to trust and have faith in Him….and you can prove that by thanking Him in advance.