having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.¹

We all like to feel like we belong…to a family or a group of friends, at work or school, even at church. It is that feeling of being a part of something whole where your vote counts and your opinion matters. God wants this for us too. In fact, His ultimate desire is that we become a part of HIS family! He has given us free-will to explore things we think we may enjoy, but always keeps His arms open for when things don’t work out like we hoped and we need a safe space to return. The beauty of this freedom in Christ, however, is that the more time we spend with our Heavenly Father the more we don’t want to be apart from Him! And to make this family dynamic even more special â€" He chose YOU to be a part of His family, YOU were predestined to belong to Him! Through His Son, Jesus, and the acceptance of His sacrifice for us, God has allowed us a place, not just for today, but for all eternity!

Suggested prayer: Dear Holy Father, Thank you for choosing me to be a part of Your family and Your eternal plan. I confess my sin to You and ask that You forgive my faults. Cleanse my heart and fill it with the desire to be more like YOU! Thank you for giving me a place to belong. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.