By Andrea Merrell
For it was always in his perfect plan to adopt us
as his
delightful children,
through our union with Jesus, the Anointed One,
so that his tremendous love that cascades over us would glorify his grace—for
the same love he has for his Beloved One, Jesus, he has for us. And this
unfolding plan brings him great pleasure!
Ephesians 1:5-6 TPT
I’ve loved the Lord as far back as I can remember,
but for a large portion of my life I doubted His love for me. In my own mind, I simply wasn’t good enough and didn’t deserve the blessings and
promises laid out in His Word. Those were for everyone else … not me.
I was a spiritual orphan. Born again but standing
on the outside looking in. Whenever bad things
happened, I was sure it was somehow my fault or God was displeased with me. I
was the glass-half-empty gal with low expectations.
As pastor and author Chad Norris says in his book Mama
Jane’s Secret, “Spiritual orphans are always dominated by what they can
see, taste, touch, feel, and hear.” In other words, we are ruled by our senses
and emotions rather than our faith.
Norris goes on to say, “Those at the King’s table
trust His Word no matter what the natural says, because the Word matters more
than what we can see, taste, touch, feel, or hear.”
My transformation came when the revelation of God’s
love—for me—literally exploded on the inside. My true identity became a
reality. No longer a spiritual orphan, I recognized myself as a loved and
cherished child of God. Every blessing and promise in His Book belong to me.
All I have to do is believe and receive.
If
you doubt your standing in God’s kingdom and feel you don’t measure up, there’s
good news for you. He is standing with arms wide open waiting for you, His
child in whom He takes great delight.
Run into His arms. You are no longer a spiritual orphan.
Run into His arms. You are no longer a spiritual orphan.
