A Prayer When You’ve Forgotten Your Worth - Your Daily Prayer - June 29

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A Prayer When You’ve Forgotten Your Worth
By Kelly Balarie

Bible Reading:
“No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” – John 10:18 NIV

Listen or Read Below:

I stuffed it inside me. They won’t want to hear.
I tucked it away. It’s better to overlook offense.
I let them talk to me harshly. It’s better to be kind.

I allowed them to do something I didn’t feel comfortable with… I figured I should be compliant and lowly. Do not say anything.

To serve them is to love them, right? To love them is to come under them, no matter what, correct?

“Jesus didn’t give a defense,” is a comment many people make as to why we should just take it.  Grin and bear it. Deal with it. Endure it.

But did Jesus always stay quiet? Did the cross prove that Jesus was a doormat to the world? A stomping ground for everyone else’s issues?

Certainly, we know there were various times that Jesus chose not to give a defense; however, there were times that Jesus, the sacrificial lamb of the world, spoke up.

Jesus, the greatest lover of all time, did not always come under, do nothing, or take it. 

Jesus corrected the Pharisees (Matt. 12:1-8), He stood up for Himself when criticized (John 8:48-49), and He questioned those who wrongfully treated Him (John 18:19-23). Jesus, the son of God, with great worth, did not always do nothing or say nothing. That’s just not the truth. At times, Jesus spoke up to critics and condemners.

I’ll admit, sometimes it is easier to let people walk all over me than it is to stand up for myself. It feels like I am earning holy extra credit by doing so. It can even be a point of self-righteousness.

However, this doesn’t mean that it is always the right way – or God’s way. Sometimes, the right thing to do is to say a brave thing like, “You hurt me.” Or, to speak up to attacking words by saying, “I will be able to talk to you again when you can speak respectfully to me.” Perhaps, to ask a person doing wrong, “Why are you doing this?”

To be holy doesn’t mean to be weak and voiceless.
Jesus was not weak, nor was He voiceless. Jesus acted on the world by laying down His life for us: “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father” (John 10:18 NIV).

Jesus, the Son of God, who is tremendously worthy, was not at the will of men; He was operating according to the will of God, with full power to lay down and to take up His life. 

Jesus was powerful. We are powerful, too. And we can speak up or decide not to, according to God’s leading and direction. 

Jesus was not arrogant for saying that He laid down His life of His own accord; He was truthful. We can say, “I choose to do this, but not that.” We can say, “I choose to go here, or not there.”

We can do this without feeling guilty or shame-filled. Why? Because God entrusts us with decision-making. Sometimes we may say no to something, so we aren’t tormented by it for days later. That’s wisdom.

Why put ourselves in a scenario that causes us later to judge, critique, condemn, or hate ourselves? It is not bad to say no; it can be very wise. 

Friend, I encourage you – you are valuable and worthy of being able to say no. You are not bad or wrong to do this. It is okay to speak up for yourself. You are not a bad Christian for having a voice; God gave you one.

Let’s Pray:

Father,

I want to thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ. I want to thank you for the perfect example He is to me. I want to thank you for the cross. It is not an endorsement of abuse, but a picture of One, Your Son, freely laying down a life for us. It is the ultimate picture and gateway to salvation. We thank you for it. Teach us, Father, when to speak up and when to stay silent. Show us, Father God, when to act and when to be still. Give us discernment in our knowing and going.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Discuss today’s devotional with others in the Your Daily Prayer thread on the Crosswalk Forum.

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Kelly uplifts believers with boosts of faith; be encouraged weekly by getting Kelly’s blog posts by email. Kelly, a cheerleader of faith, is a blogger, national speaker, and author of Take Every Thought Captive, Rest Now, Battle Ready, and Fear Fighting. Kelly loves seeing the power of prayer in action. She loves seeing the expression on women’s faces when they realize – their God is faithful! Kelly’s work has been featured on The Today Show, CBN’s 700 Club, Relevant and Today’s Christian Woman. 

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