A devotion by Kay Marshall Strom
Kay Marshall Strom, popular author, woman of God. Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to speak to our readers, here at The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.#8482; This issue's devotion time for families revolves around God as our father...but not just a father—a daddy.
I personally so enjoyed the devotion you did for the NIV Devotional Bible for Women, in Ephesians. It reminded me that we are not just "Children of God," but actually His precious loved ones. He loves us as His own, and cares for us intimately. Here is your devotion, below:
If you are a believer who has trusted in Jesus Christ, you cannot truly see yourself as God sees you unless you first understand your position with Christ. Do you realize how wonderful that position is? Do you comprehend the astounding things that are true of you? Here is a list just to get you started. If you are a child of God, you:
- are blessed with every spiritual blessing
- were chosen before the foundation of the world
- are holy and without blame before God
- were predestined to be adopted by God
- have been made accepted by God
- are redeemed through Christ's blood
- have been forgiven for your sins
There's more. The relationship you have with your Father God is truly intimate and special. You can call him "Abba, Father." Abba is equivalent to our word for daddy. That means you can come before God and call him Daddy!
Because of God's sovereign and gracious act in providing for your salvation by adopting you, there is a blessed climate of intimate love and trust between you. How infinitely precious and worthwhile you must be to him!
Ephesians 1:5, Jeremiah 31:9, Matthew 6, 1 John 3:1.
TOS: Kay, What inspired you to write that particular devotion?
KAY: I was working on a book with and for adopted families and was struck by the wonderful references to our status as adoptive children in God's family. Just imagine, we have the right to call the God of the Universe "Daddy" because He pursued us with unconditional, undeserved love!
TOS: You mention our "position with Christ"...I wonder how many children of God don't really understand just how awesome that position is. What has scripture shown you, about God's love for you, personally?
KAY: I don't think any of us can really begin to comprehend the awesomeness of that position. I turn again and again to my favorite chapter of the Bible, Romans 8. Hey, when God Himself is for us; who can be against us? No one and nothing! Not here on earth, not in heaven above, and certainly not in the depths of hell! No, in everything, we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us so!
TOS: Now that one may understand the depths of God's love, obviously, the next step is to deepen their relationship with the Lord. Can you tell our readers how they can begin this?
KAY: One of the big mistakes we Christians seem to make is to think the Christian walk is about us and our happiness. It isn't. It's about glorifying God and bringing honor to him. Deepen your relationship by shifting your focus back where it should be. Spend more time reading His word. Meditate in silence. Pray, but don't be too quick to jump right in with your list of personal requests. Rather, praise and glorify your Heavenly Father. Thank Him for His blessings and His love. Ask Him for His guidance in your life. Then present your petitions to Him in Jesus' name, asking that His will be done in your life and around the world.
TOS: The Old Schoolhouse Magazine™ has printed your devotion, in full, within this article. It is our hope that our readers will examine it closely, and then read the first chapter of Ephesians, Romans 8, and perhaps do a study on God's love. If our readers would like more information about your writings, where can they begin looking?
KAY: My Website address is http://www.kaystrom.com. The complete site is not yet up and running, but please stop by and say hello!
TOS: Do you have any specials you would like to offer, if our readers call in and mention they read this article?
KAY: With the purchase of any two books, I will include a free autographed copy of John Newton: The Angry Sailor. This is a preteen biography of a slave ship captain who survived kidnappings, mutiny, storms, death plots, murderous uprisings—well, you'll see—yet was so transformed that he later penned the beloved hymn "Amazing Grace." With the purchase of any five books or more, I will also pay the postage.
Thank you so much, Kay Marshall Strom, for your words of wisdom. I know this will bless many who are feeling low on God's love right now. They can be assured, God loves them so much...intimately! I hope ALL of our readers will take steps to deepen the relationship with their Daddy in Heaven (Abba, Father), who would love nothing more. May the Lord bless you, Kay.
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