Has anyone ever told you, or implied,\u00a0that you didn\u2019t \u201cdeserve\u201d something good? If someone has, you probably can remember it.\u00a0 I certainly can.\u00a0 We all can remember those moments because the idea of whether we deserve things (or not) gets to the heart of our insecurities.\u00a0\u00a0We\u00a0worry about whether we are worthy. \u00a0Are we worthy of having a good life?\u00a0 Are we worthy of things like happiness, security or great relationships?<\/p>\n
Sadly, the world reinforces this mistaken idea. How many times do parents say to their children, \u201cYou don\u2019t deserve<\/em> that toy.\u201d\u00a0 Or at work you might hear a colleague say that someone didn\u2019t deserve<\/em> to get promoted.<\/p>\n Let me let you in on a little secret: No one deserves what they have based on their own merits.\u00a0 Bill Gates doesn\u2019t deserve his wealth.\u00a0 Beyonc\u00e9 doesn\u2019t deserve her fame.\u00a0 President Obama doesn\u2019t deserve his position.\u00a0 None of those people are perfect.\u00a0 They all have flaws, and they all sin like the rest of us.<\/p>\n Many people fail to live the beautiful life that they were meant to live because they feel like they don\u2019t deserve it. For example, a young woman may not wait to find a wonderful spouse because someone told her that she wasn\u2019t pretty.\u00a0 So she settles for the first man who wants to marry her, even if he treats her poorly.\u00a0 Or a young man many be very talented, but along the way someone told him that he wasn\u2019t good enough.\u00a0 So he settles for a job that pays the bills, and gives up on his dreams.\u00a0 Both those people have allowed the world to convince them that they aren\u2019t worthy or deserving of what they desire in life.<\/p>\n Some of us believe that our past sins make us unworthy of having a good present. We forget (or don\u2019t really believe) that Jesus died specifically to wipe away those sins.\u00a0 We don\u2019t realize that if we merely ask for God\u2019s forgiveness with a contrite heart, our slate will be wiped clean.\u00a0 We don\u2019t realize that we are worthy of a good life simply by being a child of God<\/em>.<\/p>\n In Matthew 7:7-8, Jesus says,<\/p>\n \u201cAsk, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. \u00a0<\/sup>For everyone<\/em> who asks receives, and everyone<\/em> who searches finds, and for everyone<\/em> who knocks, the door will be opened.\u201d [emphasis added]<\/p>\n Notice that Jesus doesn\u2019t say, \u201cOnly if you are perfect will you receive good things.\u201d He doesn\u2019t say, \u201cOnly those without sin will find.\u201d\u00a0 Instead he says everyone<\/em> who asks will receive, and everyone <\/em>who searches will find.\u00a0 We don\u2019t have to be perfect in order to receive God\u2019s blessings.\u00a0 God knows that none of us is perfect.\u00a0 We simply have to be faithful and ask.<\/p>\n In this coming year, stop settling for a life that is less than what you desire. Don\u2019t listen to parents, friends or family members who tell you that you don\u2019t deserve the very best.\u00a0 God, your Heavenly Father, wants you to have a beautiful, meaningful life here on earth.\u00a0 In God\u2019s eyes, you are more than worthy.\u00a0 And His is the only opinion that matters.<\/p>\n In 2016, focus on fulfilling God\u2019s plan for your life. Ask God to help you use your unique talents for the benefit of others.\u00a0 Spend your time loving the people who are good to you.\u00a0 Enjoy all the blessings that God has given you and wishes to give you.\u00a0 Be a blessing to others.\u00a0 You deserve to have an amazing year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Has anyone ever told you, or implied,\u00a0that you didn\u2019t \u201cdeserve\u201d something good? If someone has, you probably can remember it.\u00a0 I certainly can.\u00a0 We all can remember those moments because the idea of whether we deserve things (or not) gets to the heart of our insecurities.\u00a0\u00a0We\u00a0worry about whether we are worthy. \u00a0Are we worthy of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":593,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n