Take a minute if you need to.
List it all out. All your accolades, all your failures.
Maybe you’re not Paul. Maybe you don’t have the opportunity to boast in all the amazing things you’ve done. I sure don’t. But we all have our little things that we want to be known for, patted on the back for, acknowledged of us. Even if it’s just the fact that we managed to get the dishes done.
Whatever it is – successes or failures, take a minute to feel the weight of them.
Then let’s lay them at the feet of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
The sufferings, the trials, the successes, the failures, the amazings, the blessings, the huge wins. Lay ‘em all down. Because they pale in comparison to Him. To His Love.
And this is great news, sister.
Don’t be discouraged for a minute that you’re not worthy or that all your work won’t be noticed or that no one will ever see you. He has seen you before the beginning of time. He has adopted you before the wins and the fails, before the good and the bad. He has called you daughter.
Help us Father, to look past today and the present to see how amazing our identity is just being your daughter. That we may know Him, the power of His resurrection, that we may share in his sufferings and in His glorious resurrection to spend eternity worshipping Him.
That’s all we want.
{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
I was so overwhelmed by this! My father left us before I was a year old and although my stepfather tried his best he was not a loving father. Now I have a Father who loves me unconditionally! I happily lay my accomplishments and failures at his feet for he loved me enough to give the supreme sacrifice so that I could have life everlasting!
So, just as in movies with kings and their palaces. I am the princess? Dressed in royal robes, bathed in elegant soaps and respected just because of who my dad is. That’s deep and a girls dream really. I need to embrace my place in God’s eyes and allow that knowledge to sit heavy on my heart.
Thank you
This devotional made me cry. So revelvent for me right now. Hit the spot. Thankyou Daddy God!
HALLEJUAH!!!!!
Needed this word and God’s reminder!! Read this passage when I truly needed it. Thank you God!!
Wow! This was powerful. No matter my wins or failures I am stil Gods beloved daughter! What came up for me while reading this was that EVERYTHING I DO, in my work and personally should be to glorify God! That puts a whole new spin on things!!!!
Several times I have felt like I'm a failure as a woman, as a wife, as a mother. These scriptures and "Lay it all down" has reminded me of who I am in Christ, how precious and how talented I am. So…. Nothing else to say, just that I am who He has made me to be and in Him I exist. Thank you, Jesus!
Ah yes, trials & tribulations! Sometimes I look back & actually thank Him for those as THOSE were the times I finally woke up & realized my need for Him AGAIN! We are a stubborn tribe,are we not? YET He still LOVES us! Those were the times when I dove into my Bible seeking Him…praying like I never prayed! Perhaps that is why these T & T's came along? Or bc we are in a dying world? Love She Reads Truth!
The Lord is soooooooooo good. Anything I have accomplished has been through His grace. ….and my low points have been at times when I was not as close to Him as I should be. My most difficult trials, have been the times that I have grown in faith the most and felt His grace. I went through breast cancer 9 years ago practically floating on a cloud of pure joy because of the closeness I felt to HIm.
For a certainty, I know I can do nothing without God. About 14 years ago, my husband suffered a massive stroke which left him totally dependent on my daughter and I. My husband was a good man, husband, father, and friend. My prayer to God daily was, “Father, I can not do this without you. You are my strength.” I am happy to say that God brought us through 11 years and I can tell you also that there were many struggles along the way, but praise God, He supplied ALL our needs! When family, friends and associates ask, “How did you make it?” My daughter and I are quick to say, “Nothing but the Grace of God!” Thank you Lord; for You have been faithful.
Hope,i am right there with you. I was challenged at Christmas to give something back to Christ. I decided I am giving back control in all areas. It is really hard for me. But whenever i find myself taking back control, imam refusing to allow that and laying it back down. This passage was a great reminder of who I am in him. I am a very task oriented person, a doer, but nothing I do can compare to his love for me. How humbling, and this is what makes Christ God alone and my words few. Praise him!
Laying it all down can be hard at times. My issue is I always try to pick it back up and do it myself and God always has to remind me there is no way I can do this by myself I need Him…He never really says u can’ t do this without Me but He does reveal to me that all things are possiable through. How would we learn if He just out right says “it’s better if you just ask Me”. HE wants us to grow and rely on Him. It’s hard at times but everytime I give it to God it’s always a better out come…
I admit sometimes I want the pats on the back and the praise, I want some one to see the good I’ve done, I alson want to keep the flaws hidden and my mistakes locked away. Oh but the God I serve took the most zealous Christian hater and brought him to salvation, how much. More will he love me,or you. I’m so thankful for forgiveness and grace Paul shows me that even though we may meet the requirements of the world and get that praise without Christ it’s filth.
I want Christ, I’m thankful for his love for me in my wins and losses. I’m thankful to serve a God who lets me lay everything down and know Him and be loved by Him!
The power of knowing that I’m the daughter of the Almighty God has had a great effect on my life as a whole. I know that even with my faults that His love is eternal and for that I am grateful
Thank you for all you feedback it really helps to set everything in order and gives a new meaning to God's word as each of you share from your heart. I love that my identity is as a daughter of God in Christ my savour. That was what drew me to Christ. I came from a family where nothing I did was right and to know that God loves me no matter what is so comforing and affirming. I am so glad to be part of this community of beautiful daughters of our Father. Bless you all as you continue on your journey with Him.
After reading this I was reminded that I don’t have to dwell on my imperfections or wrong doings…I can simply ask for forgiveness and guidance and lay those problems at feet of the Lord . For no problem is greater than he!!!
The issue of significance is currently a struggle for me. I work in a place where recognition is almost paramount. Being quiet n being the sort whom people don’t remember is very difficult. I’m learning to put my identity in God instead of man and to consider what I might have gained in the world a loss for the surpassing greatness of being called His daughter. Bit by bit, step by step. Some day, I’ll get there by His grace!
I love the idea and the reality that I can lay it ALL down with Him and He still loves me beyond EVERYTHING that I lay down. And that He's still there supporting me, encouraging me, getting me ready for what's to come. I truly love Him and appreciate His presence for that detail of many details of my Lord and Savior. Jesus tells me often to let things go and I, often feel compelled to analyze and ask for more clarification as to what He so ever means… And simply put, He means for me, for us, to just lay it down and then walk away or maybe for some, like me, RUN!
Wow, I have to admit that this is hard for me. All my life I’ve felt like I had to keep measuring up. The oldest, the first born, the only girl, the first to go to college, an incest survivor, an adult survovor of violence, and the list could go on.
This morning I felt a sense of peace come over me. God loves me… I am a daughter loved unconditionally. Its hard to image that someone could luv me and not want something back…
Woo hoo about today devotoional God’s been speaking these things to my heart already this is confirmation. He see me he love’s me and I valuable to him. And so are you my sister’s. Joyce Meyer often says God’s concerned about our who and not our do. That set me free I miss the mark daily with self imposed I need to do
and the demands of family. But God loves us for us. This gives us reason to rejoice hallelujah \°/. He love’s us oh how he love’s us
Aubrey u r soooo right. Praying “by any means possible” opens us up to a whole lot of things. But u r also right in that it is worth it all.We gain so much more than we give. It is just hard for us to see that because we are so self centered snd selfish. I am prayimg right along side of you, sister!
I know for me I am learning how to lay all of my cares and anxieties at the feet of The Lord. It hasn’t been easy especially since I am so used to trying to do everything on my own but with each passing day it does become a little easier. When I get worried, I pray and I am reminded of all that is going right. I recommend that you guys try it too.
One of my all time favorite bands, The Benjamin Gate, wrote a song called "Lay It Down." Perfect with this verse!
http://www.lyricstime.com/benjamin-gate-lay-it-do…
I recommend listening as well. It's a bit hard-rock ish but you'd be surprised how many people like it.
Phillipians 3: 7-9 is POWERFUL! I totally agree with the verses..everything is a loss in comparison to knowing the Lord.
that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
* that by any means possible* I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10, 11 ESV)
By any means possible… Just chew on that for a few minutes… A few hours… A few days… Do we really mean that? Are we willing to attain the spiritual resurrection of our souls from death by ANY means, any path, any heartache, any trial or any suffering? Make sure you know what you are saying when you pray this… Because God finds us infinitely worth any pain necessary to bring us to Him… Love like that is not found elsewhere, but it’s going to cost you… Your life for His will. But oh the blessings and joy that comes! The peace that soaks our souls when we know we have given all to gain Christ has no price tag… I long to taste that knowledge… Lord help me daily to earnestly seek your face above all else…
Thank you for sharing this, I don't know what I would do without his unending love and grace!
This speaks to me today! I am always looking for praise and appreciation from my husband for all of the things I do that he doesn't notice. But, it is such a good reminder that all I need to know is that I am appreciated as a daughter of Christ and that's more praise and affirmation than I'll ever need. And, I didn't earn this or work hard for it – it's a gift from God, a free gift, full of grace!
HUGE reminder for me that I need to find my identity in Him. While reading the devotional I could just hear Him whispering to me that he loves me – makes me want to be more like Him and to know Him better!
I absolutely love verses 10 and 11. They directly spoke to me in the way that they are how I feel! I do want to know Christ. I want to know his power. I want to be like him and share in his sufferings. Such powerful words!
I am just beginning my journey of faith and I find such comfort everyday in my time spent with Him. I am beginning to see myself through His eyes. My struggles are His way of guiding me to my path and life of rejoicing in Him!
Erin, that's awesome that you are just beginning your journey of faith!
While reading this one I had an overwhelming feeling of a comforting hug by big giant arms. I am so grateful that I am able to have this faith and understanding and be building my relationship with God. I feel like it is a huge gift that has been given to me and am sometimes still in awe.
"I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him…"
As I read these passages, I find myself longing more and more to be like Paul and to have the type of faith that He had. I want to get to such a point in my desire and love for God that truly nothing else matters. That all my belongings could get tossed in the dumpster and if this meant I could know Him even the teeny-tiniest bit more, than it would all be worth it…that I wouldn't care. So what if the STUFF isn't there, if it means I can have a deeper glimpse, passion or understanding of HIm.
This is such a great reminder that all that we do, who we are, and what we do (or don't) accomplish pales when we consider being part of the family of God. What a wonderful gift when we feel overwhelmed by human circumstances.
And praying for any of you ladies on the path of hurricane Sandy! Stay safe!
vs 8 doesn't leave any wiggle room… As we consider everything a loss for the sake of Christ, we must then consider His surpassing worth. The Lord is convicting me in many ways right now (that always happens when I really need to change!) that counting all things as loss would include my own friendships and reputation. I'm often so unwilling to proclaim Christ for fear that I'll have to "suffer the loss of all things". Thinking this way stops me long before I consider "that I may gain Christ and be found in Him." It is my desire to grow in boldness and confidence as I proclaim to those closest to me the reality of Christ. Pray for me, that I'll gladly count all the repercussions a loss and will instead gain Christ and "share his sufferings" in such a miniscule way.
I can’t go beyond verse 1, rejoice in The Lord, it is a safeguard for you. How quickly I see the situations and the tough times and loose my joy in Him. Him who erases all my failings. No matter how many times I read or hear it, again I say rejoice in The Lord. Rejoicing in the greatness and great things He has and continues to do is a safeguard for my heart, mind and soul when the desert times come.
Again, thank you sisters in Christ.
A "safeguard" is such a comforting thought. When life is overwhelming, it's a comfort to know we can seek Him and rejoice in who He is. In our seeking, we can find His peace and comfort and strength. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Mrsmamag. I want to keep rejoicing in His greatness and all He has done in my life and will continue to do.
It’s a good feeling knowing that no matter what we go through God is on our side. After reading “Lay It All Down” I felt extremely empowered just by knowing and believing I am loved just the way I am. Regardless of anything I know through God’s grace I am still His child. I know and believe that His power and Glory will bring me, us women to a place of peace and contentment in our lives. Because He has given us the opportunity to go to Him and “Lay It All Down”, we shall have rest in knowing that through Him we are VICTORIOUS!