Day 1

Read: 

Jeremiah 29:4-5

Dig Deeper:

Love can be a fun and exciting thing, but it can also be a bit disorienting. Ever heard of whirlwind romance? Or how about the phrase, “He swept me off my feet.” Or maybe you’ve heard someone say that they’re “falling in love.” These common phrases paint a picture of a thrilling, but also cataclysmic experience. I’d like to propose to you a different picture–a more boots on the ground type of romance. Now, don’t get me wrong, dating and relationships can (and should) still be fun and even require some risk, but if we don’t enter things with a little more grounding, then we can easily head towards a big crash, an unnecessary type of pain that I’d love for us to avoid.

Before we can start finding the one, we need to make sure that we’re ready to be the one for somebody else. The fact is, God has placed specific and wonderful qualities inside of each man and each woman. He has made you on purpose for a purpose! But sometimes those qualities need a little cultivation. 

How well do you know yourself? Do you know what gifts and skills God has given you? Do you know your likes and dislikes? More than that, do you know what wakes you up in the morning and what brings you peace at night?

One of the most common pitfalls for relationships centers around personal identity issues. A longing in every person’s heart is to be fully seen and still accepted–this is also a beautiful description of what a God-honoring relationship should look like. But, it will be difficult to express who you are if you yourself don’t know. We often go to many places to discover who we are, but the fact is, the only one who can truly tell us who we are is our creator. God’s Word is filled with truths about your identity. If you’re not sure where to look, begin here:

God says you are:

-his (1 Peter 2:9)

-made in his image (Genesis 1:27)

-a child of God with all rights and privileges of a son or daughter (John 1:12)

-wonderful (Psalm 139:14)

-competent & capable (2 Corinthians 3:4-5)

And those verses are just the beginning! Scripture is FULL of truths about who you are–who God designed you to be.

Now, begin to cultivate those truths that God has placed in you. If the Word of God says that you are capable, then begin to live as if you are. Work hard and walk with confidence. As you begin to live like a person made in the image of God, you’ll begin to look like the type of person that someone would like to date, and you’ll be taking the first steps toward success in your relationships.

Declaration: Say this next statement out loud as a declaration of what you have learned today.

I am who God says I am. I will choose to live out the qualities that He has placed deep inside of me.

Pray:

God, help me to remember who I am, your child, made in your image. Teach me more about who you have made me to be. Help me to be prepared to have healthy, successful relationships that honor you. Amen.