Day 18: I don't add value.

This negative core belief often stems from invalidation of your thoughts and ideas, perhaps fueled by recurring insecurities or feelings of inadequacy. It's easy to feel overshadowed by siblings or peers or to see yourself as the black sheep of your family.

Consider David, overlooked in favor of his older brothers yet ultimately crowned king; Joseph, enslaved before rising to second-in-command; Rahab, once a prostitute; and Paul, a persecutor of Christians turned believer. Despite our messy pasts, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities, no one, not even you, can be disqualified from being used by God.

1 Corinthians 1:26-28 (TPT) says, 'Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don’t see many of “the brightest and the best” among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these “nobodies” to expose the hollow pretensions of the “somebodies”? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. . .”'

When we operate in our own strength and chase after endeavors, we miss out on all that God has for you.

Hebrews 13:20-21 says, “Now may the God of peace . . .equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever”.

The Greek word for equip is καταρτίσαι (katartisai). It means to complete, equip, train; to prepare, and ordain. When God equips, He builds you up, strengthens you, gives you specific strategies and tools, anoints you, opens up doors and gives you access. There is so much that happens when you partner with God. Partnership with God means that you are in alignment with His word and His will. We often forget and believe we have to do it all on our own. We don’t. We need to move forward in partnership with Jesus. It is the Holy Spirit within you that draws out all your valuable gifts. You add value because of the work He is doing inside of you.

Dear God, thank you for equipping us for your will. Forgive us for trying to go at it alone and help us to partner with you. As we move forward, may we recognize that it is through your power and strength within us that we can accomplish all you have purposed. Amen