This week’s devotions are adapted from the “Take Hold Of The Faith You Long For” devotional series on YouVersion by Sharon Jaynes
2 Peter 1:3 NLT By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
You are a dearly loved, completely accepted, totally forgiven, uniquely chosen child of God. And because you have been adopted into God’s family, you are now heir to a plethora of precious promises. When you exhale your last breath on earth, you will inhale heaven for all eternity. No other promise comes close in comparison. But there’s more, so much more.
Paul wrote, “What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us” (1 Corinthians 2:12). Paul is describing blessings and promises you already have. Every single one of those verbs is in past tense. You don’t need to earn these blessings and promises. You don’t need to wait for them. You simply need to take hold of what is already yours. You’ve already got what it takes to live bold.
We are not waiting to see if we’ve passed a test and get to receive God’s promises. Here’s the truth of the matter: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3). Everything? Everything. God has given you everything you need to live the victorious, abundant, fulfilling, vibrant life in Christ. That doesn’t mean life will be easy. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). But it does mean God has given you everything you need to do and to go through whatever He has purposed for you.
God didn’t save you and then put you on the front lines and say, “Now do the best you can.” He has given you everything you need to live the life He has called you to live. He has given you the power of the Holy Spirit, the mind of Christ, and the riches of heaven.
Ask God to open your mind to comprehend all that He has given you. To let go of preconceived notions and small-minded thinking and take hold of all that He has for you.
How does it change your perspective on God’s calling to realize that you already have all you need to move forward boldly?
