I am so blessed, Lord God, to know that in You I live and move and have my very being. Therefore, I am Your offspring and as cherished by You as a mother’s newborn babe. You chose me and, as a result, I should leave my care and well-being in Your capable hands. If I ever doubted Your unequivocal love, I only need to reflect on Your passion to understand the depth of Your affection for me. Like a loving parent, You have put my well-being above Your own … showing me there is no greater love that can be shown than to lay down one’s life for another. You watch over me like a doting parent … treating me with loving tenderness … and, seeing me as a gift to be treasured more than gold. Every talent and ability I possess was carefully implanted into me by You when I was born. Along with those talents came a mission for what to do with the gift of life that You’ve given to me.
Your continued involvement in my life shows me how much You care about me. You have placed in me the belief that good can and will fill my life as I take up my cross to follow You. You have been a caring Shepherd guiding me to places of refreshing and rest when life becomes tedious and tiring. When I am engulfed by darkness, the light of Your love and truth come to guide me and show me the way forward. When I cry out to You in sorrow and desperation, You come quickly to calm me and reassure me that everything will be alright. When I want something right now, you teach me to wait patiently … when I have a need, You’ve taught me to ask for it in prayer … when I hunger for more of You, You lead me to Your Word … and, when I am confounded and confused, You show me how to overcome. From this immutable evidence of Your love, it should become evident that I am treasured and cherished.
Because I am “special” in Your sight, You are ready to supply my needs and help me find meaning and purpose for my life. You have constructed a hedge around me to protect me from the attacks of the evil one and the forces that threaten my peace and well-being. Your desire is for me to acknowledge You in all my ways and cooperate with You in bettering my life. Because of Your love, You are compelled to correct me when I do wrong … and I must not resist or pull back from Your discipline. As Your child, I must see myself as valued … prized … and a treasure worth protecting. In the same way that You want me to appreciate all You do for me, I know that You are proud of me when I show love toward You and my neighbor. I rejoice over the fact that You are gentle with me, like a mother caring for her young infant. That is why I feel loved and cherished in Your hands. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
John 15:13 Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for a friend.