Marybeth Whalen
“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9a (NIV)
Do you ever long to hear God say, “I choose you”? Maybe you have read that He has a plan for everyone’s life or you have heard a pastor say that He loves you. But in your heart of hearts, you wonder: Am I special? Does God see me?
There are stories from the Bible that illustrate how God calls ordinary people out of their ordinary lives. It is clear from the Scriptures that in each case He was watching them long before He invaded their lives with His holy presence.
God chose Noah simply because He lived a righteous life. Genesis 6:8 tells us, “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”
God chose David simply because He saw His heart. Psalm 78:70-73 tells us, “He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people, Jacob, of Israel, his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.”
God chose Mary simply because He knew she would do what He asked. Luke 1:30 tells us, “But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.’”
None of these people held lofty positions or had received worldly acclaim. They were “nobodies”—nothing special—and yet God saw each of them as they went about their daily lives, doing the most mundane of tasks. He saw their character, their right choices, and their hearts. And He said in response, “You’re the one.”
In Mark 5:21-34, Jesus is walking with a crowd of people, all pressing in on Him, hungry for His attention, His healing, His words. The Bible tells us that the crowd “pressed around him” (Verse 24). I imagine people were clutching and grabbing at Him, desperate for even a small piece of Him. Only one woman, however, pressed in such a way that it caused Him to stop and turn to her. Her touch was different from all the rest. This woman didn’t just touch Him with her hands, but with her heart of faith. He felt the difference as His power went out of Him (verse 30), and He in effect said in response to her: You’re the one. This woman was a “nobody,” with nothing to offer the God of the Universe. Yet, He found her worthy of His time and attention. He chose her.
God wants to find those people whose hearts are desperate for Him. He wants to heal, strengthen, and equip these people. He isn’t looking for the worthy, the intelligent, or the beautiful people. He is looking for the ordinary ones who are simply open to His invading presence in their lives. If He is calling you right now, don’t convince yourself that He isn’t. God sees you, just as you are, and He knows the ones He calls.
Dear Lord, Please remind me today that You do notice me and that I am worthy in Your sight. Strengthen me to do whatever it is You have prepared in advance for me to do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do you know Him?
Beautiful in God's Eyes, The Treasure of the Proverbs 31 Woman by Elizabeth George
Who Holds the Key to Your Heart? by Lysa TerKeurst
Application Steps:
What verses speak to you specifically today? Write them down somewhere where you will see them often. Cling to the promise that God does see you, and that He can use you.
Reflections:
Do you doubt your worth in God’s eyes?
What has this devotion reminded you of regarding your worth?
Do you doubt that He could ever use you? How can you take captive that thought and turn your thinking around today?
Power Verses:
I Chronicles 28:9, “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.” (NIV)
Romans 8:27, “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.” (NIV)
Jeremiah 17:10, “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.” (NIV)
“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9a (NIV)
Do you ever long to hear God say, “I choose you”? Maybe you have read that He has a plan for everyone’s life or you have heard a pastor say that He loves you. But in your heart of hearts, you wonder: Am I special? Does God see me?
There are stories from the Bible that illustrate how God calls ordinary people out of their ordinary lives. It is clear from the Scriptures that in each case He was watching them long before He invaded their lives with His holy presence.
God chose Noah simply because He lived a righteous life. Genesis 6:8 tells us, “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”
God chose David simply because He saw His heart. Psalm 78:70-73 tells us, “He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people, Jacob, of Israel, his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.”
God chose Mary simply because He knew she would do what He asked. Luke 1:30 tells us, “But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.’”
None of these people held lofty positions or had received worldly acclaim. They were “nobodies”—nothing special—and yet God saw each of them as they went about their daily lives, doing the most mundane of tasks. He saw their character, their right choices, and their hearts. And He said in response, “You’re the one.”
In Mark 5:21-34, Jesus is walking with a crowd of people, all pressing in on Him, hungry for His attention, His healing, His words. The Bible tells us that the crowd “pressed around him” (Verse 24). I imagine people were clutching and grabbing at Him, desperate for even a small piece of Him. Only one woman, however, pressed in such a way that it caused Him to stop and turn to her. Her touch was different from all the rest. This woman didn’t just touch Him with her hands, but with her heart of faith. He felt the difference as His power went out of Him (verse 30), and He in effect said in response to her: You’re the one. This woman was a “nobody,” with nothing to offer the God of the Universe. Yet, He found her worthy of His time and attention. He chose her.
God wants to find those people whose hearts are desperate for Him. He wants to heal, strengthen, and equip these people. He isn’t looking for the worthy, the intelligent, or the beautiful people. He is looking for the ordinary ones who are simply open to His invading presence in their lives. If He is calling you right now, don’t convince yourself that He isn’t. God sees you, just as you are, and He knows the ones He calls.
Dear Lord, Please remind me today that You do notice me and that I am worthy in Your sight. Strengthen me to do whatever it is You have prepared in advance for me to do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do you know Him?
Beautiful in God's Eyes, The Treasure of the Proverbs 31 Woman by Elizabeth George
Who Holds the Key to Your Heart? by Lysa TerKeurst
Application Steps:
What verses speak to you specifically today? Write them down somewhere where you will see them often. Cling to the promise that God does see you, and that He can use you.
Reflections:
Do you doubt your worth in God’s eyes?
What has this devotion reminded you of regarding your worth?
Do you doubt that He could ever use you? How can you take captive that thought and turn your thinking around today?
Power Verses:
I Chronicles 28:9, “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.” (NIV)
Romans 8:27, “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.” (NIV)
Jeremiah 17:10, “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.” (NIV)
Labels: Spiritual Growth
3 Comments:
Thanks...needed to read this...
I needed this today too. Thank you. Blessings! :)
Noah, David, Mary, the woman in the crowd, they were all humble before the Lord, God always uses those who are humble throughout the Bible. It is good to be reminded of the "befores" when we find ourselves aspiring to be the "afters". 1 Peter 5 talks about being humble so he may lift us up.
This is so what God is working in me right now.
Blessings
Post a Comment
Home