A Prayer to Remember Our Identity and Worth Is in Christ Alone
By: Laura Bailey
Bible Reading:
“Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.” - Joshua 2:1 (NIV)
Listen or Read Below:
As I lay down for the night, my mind began to race with all the things I’d fail to accomplish for the day. I woke up late, and with the busyness of the day, I didn’t complete my Bible reading. At my friend’s birthday celebration, I gobbled down an extra helping of cake, so there went my no-sugar diet. And I lost my temper with my girls, which isn't off to a good start for being a more peaceful mom.
Every night I go to bed with the promise of tomorrow. Tomorrow, I will wake up on time, stick to the diet, and tame my temper. But, yet, tomorrow comes, and I find myself in the same position at the end of the day. I know that my identity is not tied to what I can check off my to-do list, maintaining a certain weight, or even the number of Bible verses I memorize in a day. Still, missing the mark day after day left me feeling weary and worthless. I began to allow the lies playing in my thoughts to become truths, “God is disappointed in you. You are a failure. If you really loved the Lord, you would get up earlier, you would do better.”
The story of Rahab in Scripture is one of my favorites. That entire account - hiding spies, walls falling - is pretty exciting. However, God wanted us to know specifically about Rahab’s past as well as her role in this momentous event. Twice, the New Testament refers to her as “Rahab the Prostitute” (James 2:25 and Hebrews 11:31). It would have been easy for Rahab to hide behind her reputation, to make excuses for not being qualified to help Joshua’s men. No doubt she often despaired, perhaps believing that she was trapped in a sinful lifestyle, that God could never love or use someone like her. But Rahab did not allow Satan’s lies to paralyze her; through her faith and courage, she enlisted in God's plan to destroy Jericho and saved not only her life but also that of her family. Lest we forget another significant fact about Rahab, “the prostitute,” through her line descended both David and Jesus. God's work. His story. Always.
Constantly feeling worthless sucks us into the dismal abyss of despair and discouragement. Walking in light and rejoicing in Truth takes daily commitment, more than a thirty-minute weekly sermon, a calendar verse, or a quick prayer at lunch. There is real, ongoing spiritual warfare all around us, which is the primary reason we cease to press on to fulfill the desires God has placed in our hearts. To thwart the enemy, we must actively pray, read, memorize, and recite the Word of God and apply it to our lives.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, if you wake up or go to bed feeling like a major underachiever, even though you earnestly desire and plan otherwise, then rest assured that I, for one, understand and pray daily for you. But not only you, I also pray for the Church, the Body of Believers in Christ worldwide. You are loved. You have purpose. Place your identity and self-worth in the One who empowers you and me to do the impossible - in Christ alone.
Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, we are so undeserving of Your grace and mercy, but we are beyond grateful that You extend both to us daily. Lord, please help us to fully embrace the truth that our worth is not based on what we do, but on who we belong to. Our identity is in Christ alone, His work on the cross. Please help us remember this truth daily as we fight against the enemy's lies.
Lord, when we are under spiritual attack, guide us with Your Truth. Help us to silence the noise, and tune our hearts to hear Your voice, hiding Your Word in our hearts so that we may not sin against You. Thank you for the story of Rahab. May it remind me that it is always about You, Your story, and how You work in Your children. May I give all the praise and honor to You.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
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