Author: Lori Casto

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. Psalm 139:1-4

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, (nothing) will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39

 As I try to wrap my head around how much God loves me, I’m reminded about how well God knows me and still loves me. He thinks so highly of you and I even while knowing our thoughts and every word we are about to say. It’s easier for friends to love us because they see our best. They see the us that has put on our clothes and make up. God sees us before we brush our teeth or comb our hair. God loves us when we act unlovable. God loves us unconditionally.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9.

“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Luke 12:7

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10

 I’ve been thinking more about my dad’s worn-out brown leather wallet. He always carried our school pictures in it. I would often look at the picture he kept of me and tell him how much I disliked it. I remember looking at the pictures of myself and seeing every flaw. One year, my hair was so short I looked like a little boy. I desperately wanted my dad to throw away the picture, but he insisted he loved looking at it. No matter how much I tried to persuade him, he kept that picture in His wallet.

My perception of how I looked in those pictures was not at all what my dad saw. When my dad looked at my pictures, he saw “little John.” He saw me through the eyes of any parent who loves their son or daughter. He saw a mini version of himself. He saw the talents, gifts, and abilities He tried so hard to get me to see.

As much as I know my dad loved me, my heavenly Father loves me even more. He loves me so much He gave His son to die for me and take on the sins of the world. In fact, much like I was created with many of my earthly father’s characteristics and image, I was created in the image of my heavenly Father as well.

God created us each with our unique talents, gifts, and abilities “so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”

Who do you see when you look in the mirror? You are “God’s masterpiece.” You are a “royal priesthood.” You are specially made to proclaim His praise. He knows the number of hairs on your head.

It’s so important to realize who we are in Christ. Don’t be afraid. Let Him be your confidence.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9.

 “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” – Luke 12:7

Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it?  I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19

My dad had a brown leather wallet he wore in his back pocket. His pants had a perfect indent where the wallet lived. When I was a child, I don’t remember him having any other wallet. It contained important cards, money, special receipts, and our school pictures. Every now and then he would have to clean out his wallet, as cards would expire and receipts were no longer needed. He seemed to do it when the wallet got too full to close.

As the years went by, the wallet began to wear out. I recall the progression. It started out as faded areas of the leather. After many years, the faded leather thinned and caused a tiny hole to form. As the hole got bigger, I often suggested he get a new wallet. However, he wasn’t interested in a new wallet. He had grown to love his wallet, and it had served him well. Time went on and finally, the hole became so big that the cards would no longer stay in the wallet. Out of necessity, he finally had to buy a new wallet.

The only time dad was willing to look at a brand-new wallet was when he had exhausted use out of the wallet he used day in, day out, for maybe 20 or more years. The new wallet was on a shelf, in a store the whole time, just waiting to be purchased. It was never going to be sought out or bought until he put down the old, worn, torn wallet.

Do you have a “wallet” you simply won’t let go of? You’re used to the routine. You’ve been doing it the same way for years and it’s comfortable. Maybe in our own lives, we get used to routine. We don’t really like change. We pray and pray for God to work in our situation. We want God to do a new thing. We are waiting and waiting, then we get frustrated because we haven’t seen God work.

Maybe God is waiting on us? Maybe He wants us to let go of the old before he can do something new. Maybe He wants us to “put down the old, worn, torn wallet.” Maybe he wants us to put down or let go of past hurts. Maybe He wants us to put down or let go of broken relationships. Maybe He wants us to let go of or put down what could have been. Maybe he wants us to change our routine or the way we think. What does God want you to let go of so He can do a new thing? The only way He can do something new is when “we don’t consider the things of old or remember former things.” Sometimes He can’t work because we are hanging on for dear life to the old thing.

What is God asking you to let go of so He can do a new thing? How will you Devote2day?

Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8