“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world. That is, in Christ, he chose us before the world was made so that we would be his holy people—people without blame before him. Because of his love, God had already decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. That was what he wanted and what pleased him, and it brings praise to God because of his wonderful grace. God gave that grace to us freely, in Christ, the One he loves. In Christ we are set free by the blood of his death, and so we have forgiveness of sins. How rich is God’s grace, which he has given to us so fully and freely. God, with full wisdom and understanding, let us know his secret purpose. This was what God wanted, and he planned to do it through Christ. His goal was to carry out his plan, when the right time came, that all things in heaven and on earth would be joined together in Christ as the head.” [Ephesians 1:3-10]

“and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” [Philippians 4:7]

Since the Earth was created, since humans started inhabiting the Earth, there has been sin, darkness, pain, failure, and a whole mess of other things. Humans are afraid to repeat history, but it happens. We stumble, we sin, we hurt. We are ashamed. We look to others for a way out. We look to objects for a quick-fix. We can’t bare to live with that shame and we’ll do anything to make it go away. We keep at certain things because the fix soon fades and we need more to make it last longer. We grow restless and weary. We get so desperate. We end up hurting even more in such process. There’s this song that I feel correlates to what I’m saying…

“It began long ago, when darkness, through its deceit captured the hearts of the sons and daughters of light. We looked for light but we found only darkness. We searched for bright skies but walked in gloom. We fumbled like the blind along the wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. We were destined to fall, even in the brightest days. We stumbled as if it were dark. Among the living, we were like the dead. We looked for justice, but it never came. We looked for rescue but it was far from us. So He, Himself, stepped in to save us with his strong arm and justice to sustain Him. He put on righteousness as armor, salvation His helmet. He clothed Himself with the robe of vengeance and wrapped Himself in a cloak of divine passion. He slipped out of his royal garments, left eternity to enter time, divinity to wrap himself in humanity. The sea of glass, for the ocean of separation. He left peace, and for the first time felt pain. Because the very hands that held the stars were now sentenced to wear my scars. It was love that purchased this traitor’s heart. It’s what the prophets spoke about when they envisioned light living in men once again. For this reason, I am legend, predestined for greatness, built for the final hour. I was born for this with weapons in hand, armor in place. I now march to the beat of a different drum. I will break through battle lines that have been drawn by discouragement and despair. What more is left to be said? Time has met its end. It’s now or never. Collision with me, myself, and I. You see my mission today is clear: to wake the dead. So let freedom’s song rage. You’re not abandoned. You’re not alone. Last day warriors arise from yesterday’s ash and raise your fist with us. We are the army that is charging upon the land. Defeat is no longer and option! It is victory. We stand, we rise, we give our lives” (Destroy//Worth Dying For).

The verses in Ephesians fit well with these lyrics. God had (and still has) a plan. He sent Christ down as a Light to save us from this darkness. He chose us (and chooses us) despite our shortcomings. He accepted us (and accepts us) the way we were. God adopted me as his own. I have failed Him countless times. Over and over again, I stumble. But I am loved. I am royalty. I am a daughter of the King, of the Most High. I am destined for greatness. I shouldn’t let my past or current shortcomings dictate my future. My future is bright. There shouldn’t be any doubt or fear. I should have nothing but peace because Peace Himself came down to rescue me from my misery.

“When the storm is raging all around me, You are the peace calms my troubled sea” (Beautiful Lord//Leeland). Not only does God bring peace to all that is around us, but He brings peace to what is within us. My life may feel like a mess because I don’t know my God. My God is greater than any difficulty. I feel weak because I don’t know the strength of my God. I feel a certain negativity because I don’t know a certain positive characteristic of my God. If I don’t have God living in me, I don’t have anything. I will keep running around looking for quick-fixes when God can fix it Himself forever. The way He fixes issues is everlasting and wonderful. It brings total satisfaction. All you’ll want is more of God. Only He can quench whatever it is you thirst for. He is more than enough for us. We are enough for Him.

Lord, thank You for choosing me, accepting me, and adopting me as Your own. I am Your daughter. You define me in the best way possible. I am so amazed by how much You love me. There are people out there that feel worthless, abandoned, lonely, hopeless. There are people that have been shown the love of a real parent. The love of the Father. Lord, reveal Yourself to them. Show them light out of their darkness so that they may praise You. May Your Kingdom expand. May I continue to show You are in my life. And if I don’t properly do it, may I learn to. I pray You give peace the those that are restless and hurting. They’re so desperate to know You. Thank You for the immense amount of peace You have given me. I would not be able to get through this rough path on my own. I need You. I am in desperate need of You. I need You to reveal Yourself even more. I want to spread Your peace, Your love, Your mercy to those around me in need. Thank You for sending Your Son to rescue me. Rescue the world. You promise to never let us go. You promise You’ll never give up on us. You never break Your promises. Thank You for being the God that You are. I love You.