“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” -Galatians 2:20

Your past does not define you!

Many of our identities are rooted in our families, are rooted in things we used to do, are rooted in our old careers that we regret, or are rooted in whatever is in our past. We think, “I am my divorce,” “I am my affair,” “I am my old drug addiction,” “I am the me that was in prison,” “I am the black sheep, “I’m never going to be valued,” “I’m never going to be worthy of someone who really cares about me.”

Look — all of those things are lies. If you follow Jesus Christ, he will train you to see the truth — that you are loved, that you are valued, that you belong, and that God is forming in you a new kind of person. You’re a heavenly person that, no matter what happened to you, you’re not what you do, and you’re not what was done to you. You do not need to be ashamed. The cross is enough.

If you hear anything I say, hear this: You are worthy of love and belonging.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, my soul is soothed to hear that, no matter what my past transgressions, because of your sacrifice and forgiveness, I am worthy of love and belonging. Forgive me, Lord, and thank you. Amen.

REFLECTION: How do you feel knowing you are worthy in God’s eyes