“When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba, Father!’ So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.” Galatians 4:4-7 (CSB)

I love that adoption is the heart of the gospel — and not because I’m adopted.

Well, maybe a little because I’m adopted.

But the truth is God could have used any metaphor to explain how we become a part of His family. Yet He used this intimate metaphor of adoption to show us that He actually chose us to be His children because He loves us — and that is where our identity lies.

“When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba, Father!’ So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir” (Galatians 4:4-7).

We are meant to live securely in His love, knowing we are His loved children.

But the reality is we often outsource the source of our security by making others our authority, by placing their opinions of us above God’s truth about us. If we do this long enough, it can lead us off the course of God’s purposes and on a personal quest to seek our value, worth and belonging from those who can’t give it to us.

In all of life, the most insecure position to be in is the one in which we have something to prove or something to lose. So anytime and every time we seek to find our security in anyone or anything other than God, we will be plagued with insecurity. Can you think of anyone in your history who has this place of power over you? Who are you still looking back at, desperately longing for them to validate you?

Maybe you’re looking back at …

A father who was never satisfied.
A mother who you couldn’t do enough to please.
A teacher who said you’d never amount to anything.
An ex-spouse who said no one could ever love you.
The middle-school or high-school mean girls who shamed you for your body.

Or maybe you’re looking back at what you consider to be your worst mistake, the one by which you’re still defining yourself.

Instead of glancing back to learn, grow, develop and repent, we’ve grown accustomed to constantly looking back, and that looking back has gotten us stuck and fixated on the past. We’ve allowed whatever is back there to define us, limit us, label us and trap us. But the same Jesus who saved us wants to set us free (John 8:36).

If you are a follower of Christ, I assure you that you are fully loved, no matter what anyone else has ever said to you or about you, no matter what anyone has ever done to you, no matter what mistakes or failures you’ve experienced. You are His adopted, beloved, chosen child.

He’s loved you since before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) … and He will not stop.

Heavenly Father, please help me to keep the eyes of my heart looking to You for my identity, security and future. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

For more on the ways we can stop looking back and start moving forward, pick up a copy of Christine Caine’s latest book, Don’t Look Back: Getting Unstuck and Moving Forward with Passion and Purpose. You can find it everywhere books are sold or at dontlookbackbook.com.

ENGAGE

For more from Christine Caine, including her daily inspiration delivered to your inbox, visit ChristineCaine.com. You can listen to her podcast, Equip & Empower With Christine Caine; watch her TV program on TBN, Equip & Empower; or visit her YouTube channel. Find her on Facebook and Instagram @ChristineCaine.

Enter to WIN your very own copy of Don’t Look Back by Christine Caine. To celebrate this book, Christine’s publisher will give away 5 copies! Enter to win by leaving a comment here. {We’ll randomly select 5 winners and then notify each one in the comments section by Monday, June 5, 2023.}

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (CSB).

What’s one thing you can do today to renew in your heart and mind that your security is in God?

What’s one step you can take today to keep moving forward?

© 2023 by Christine Caine. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries thanks Nelson Books for their sponsorship of today’s devotion.

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