You Are Truly Cherished - Your Nightly Prayer - July 10th

You Are Truly Cherished
by Keri Eichberger

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" - 1 John 3:1

SOMETHING TO PONDER 

The conviction hit me like a ton of bricks. Apparently, I have an issue with idolatry. I had never really heard my common struggle labeled this way, but when I listened to Kelly Minter share her symptoms in her bible study teaching, I felt pegged. Kelly was confessing her earlier in life tendency to be highly influenced by the affirmations, or lack thereof, from others. Recalling how if someone voiced or displayed some sort of objection to her, she would plummet into a pit of emotional hurt. And on the flipside, if someone vocally praised her, joyfully agreed with her good choices, or expressed an outward affirmation of approval and acceptance, she would be filled with smiles, rest in a sense of value, and find increased contentment. At least for a little while. Until the fleeting feelings faded as they always do. 

Idolatry. These behaviors model the display of idolizing the approval of people. Finding worth in human opinions and perspectives. And oh my goodness, hearing her share, I just wanted to pull a blanket over my head and hide. Because I have been living this out too. Not as much as I did before I began to understand my identity in Christ. But nonetheless, I still find myself at times seeking my sense of value from the people around me.      

Are your emotions rocked up when others approve or agree with you? Or knocked down when you see disapproving eyes, are ignored, or feel disliked? Maybe you tend to repeatedly give in to people-pleasing like I do.

After getting pretty honest with myself, I’ve come to believe that the root of all this is the need for reassurance that I am truly loved. And whether or not you struggle with people being your mood and mindset predictors, deep down, we all want to know that we are cherished and cared for. The problem is, like Kelly and I, many of us keep looking to people to feel this love. But others are consumed with distractions, their own set of expectations, and differing understandings that mold how they think and what they feel. So we can never confidently count on them for comfort and acclaim. Nor can we predict what responses they’ll have toward us at a given moment or in a given season. Looking to people, idolizing human perspectives, is never a reliable source of our identity. 

God, and only God, can provide our rock-solid worth. An unshakeable love and acceptance that stands firm against the opinions of others. And the beautiful thing is, the more we get to know God, and the truth that he loves us more than we can imagine, we are less moved by what others say and think. We may appreciate being appreciated, but we no longer need it. We may not like it when others don’t seem to like us, but we are not broken by it. God, our good, good Father, has claimed us as his beloved sons and daughters, eternal heirs to the throne. Royalty in his eyes. And nothing can change that. No person, no thoughts of you, and no words spoken to or about you can alter your secure identity in Christ. Unconditionally and eternally…  You are truly cherished. 

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Heavenly Father,
Your love is greater than I can fathom, and I am so blessed to be Your beloved child. I confess that I let the world's fleeting perspectives determine my mood too often, but help me return my eyes to your unconditional acceptance and care. Help me better understand how loved and cherished I truly am by you. I praise you for your perfect love. In Your Faithful Name, I pray,
Amen. 

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON 

1. Is your mood highly swayed by the swaying opinions of others?

2. How might your comfort and confidence be leveled out if you could strictly seek all your value and worth from God's perfect love and unconditional acceptance?   

3. Take a minute to release to God the potential perspectives of others, and praise him for how much he truly cherishes and loves you.

Keri Eichberger is a Jesus-loving Kentucky girl. She is married to her best friend, Mike, and has a full house of five kids. After years of writing for an online audience, Keri became ordained through Southeast Christian Church, giving her life to full-time ministry. She is the author of Win Over Worry: Conquer What Shakes You and Soar With the One Who Overcomes, and has a passion for sharing faith-filled encouragement through devotional writing. Connect with Keri at KeriEichberger.com or Instagram.

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