A table full of gifts

Recently we had another Holy Spirit Night, a worship evening in our church. The Holy Spirit Night team set up a large table, loaded with a pile of packages, lovingly wrapped in beautiful paper with bows, plus boxes of chocolate gold coins and Smarties and the whole thing was decorated with strings of lights. It looked really inviting!

Each package had a note on it with a promise that God gives us in the Bible. A different one on each package. Some examples: Love, strength, wisdom, health, confidence, protection, encouragement, provision, peace. And we encouraged the visitors to go around the table, help themselves and take promises (i.e. slips of paper, but also sweets) with them.

They were then encouraged to accept the promises wholeheartedly. Not just in their heads, but also in their hearts. It is one thing to know that God promises us all this. But we also have to take these promises seriously and understand that they are true for me personally.

What happens if I take the promises of love and value ? What changes when I take these two promises seriously, chew them, digest them, absorb them and believe them?

I am loved and valuable – this promise from God is always valid, for you too! This is not linked to a condition, but is valid. It doesn’t become more if I do a great job or treat people around me with particular love. Nor does it change if I fail, mess up, treat people badly, say or do stupid things. No, it always stays the same. I am loved and valuable. If I do bad things, there are usually consequences, but God’s love and my value remain! I believe this most of the time – but every now and then it slips away and I have to go back to God’s promises.

So how does my life actually change when I accept value and love as best I can with God’s help? I can’t speak for everyone, but I can say that a lot has changed in me:

The fear of failing diminishes, because even when I make mistakes, I am loved and valuable. The opinion of people around me is no longer quite so important, because no one can take Jesus’ love away from me. It does hurt when someone rejects, ignores or mocks me. But I know that Jesus is still there and loves me. Together with him, I can get over it. As a result, I have more relationships at eye level and feel neither superior nor inferior. I don’t always have to please everyone and can also confront others, hopefully in an respectful way. I no longer have to prove to everyone what I can do and who I am. Jesus sees me, knows me and loves me anyway. And my worth is as solid as a rock!

I want to be able to accept more and more of God’s love and the value he gives me, because my life will be all the better for it. To do this, I need to spend time with God and occupy myself with his gifts, memorize the promises from the Bible, think about them and renew my thoughts with them.

This process never ends. Like a bucket with a hole in the bottom, we always need to be replenished so that we stay full. God loves to give – in abundance! Our job is to go to him regularly, pick up whatever you need and gratefully accept his gifts.

I wish that for all of us, because I have tasted the freedom that comes from it! Love and value and so much more are only available from our awesome God! Like on a richly prepared table, he has provided everything that we lack. Through Jesus, we have access to this table and to everything he has placed on it.

This process never ends. Like a bucket with a hole in the bottom, we always need to be replenished so that we stay full. God loves to give – in abundance! Our job is to go to him regularly, pick up whatever you need and gratefully accept his gifts.

I wish that for all of us, because I have tasted the freedom that comes from it! Love and value and so much more are only available from our awesome God! Like on a richly prepared table, he has provided everything that we lack. Through Jesus, we have access to this table and to everything he has placed on it.

“Thank you, Lord and Father, for the promises you give us! I pray that you will help us to come to you and open our hearts for all that you have for us! Show us what we need right now and help to fill us with it and enjoy it gratefully!”

Make it practical: take some time to think about one of these promises that you need most right now. Think about how it will affect you when you have it. Then pray for it and thank him that you have already received “your” promise at that moment. You should keep this in your thoughts so that it really reaches you and stays with you.

Here is the (incomplete) list of promises:
Love
Strength
Wisdom
Health
Confidence
Protection
Encouragement
Provision
Peace
Courage
Freedom
Safety
Room to breathe
Rest
Faith
Justice
Hope
Acceptance
Joy
Help
Feeling of Security
Belonging
Redemption
Guidance