"Before the To-Do List Begins"
"Good morning!" 🕊
"Before the To-Do List Begins"
Before a single miracle was performed. Before a single disciple was called.
Before the weight of the cross was ever lifted.
A voice pierced the atmosphere at the Jordan River: "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." (Luke 3:22).
Think about that. Jesus hadn’t checked a single item off His public ministry to-do list. He hadn't healed a disease, preached a sermon, or built a megachurch.
The Father’s approval was issued in total isolation from Jesus' achievements. It was an affirmation of pure relationship, unconditional love, and absolute identity.
"Why are so many of us trying to climb a spiritual corporate ladder that doesn't even exist.?"
I know I have. I'd catch myself hustling for Holy Approval. Secretly whispering to myself: If I can just lead more people to Christ... if I can finally figure out my exact divine purpose... if I can just avoid making that mistake again... then He will love me more.
We stack our spiritual resumes, hoping God will sign off on our worth.
But the Gospel shatters the resume.
Colossians 3:3 reminds us: "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
Because you are hidden in Christ, when the Father looks at you, He doesn't see your failures, your half-hearted quiet times, or your frantic striving. He sees His Son.
And He speaks the exact same words over your soul: "You are my beloved child, in whom I am well pleased."
Your identity is entirely secure before your feet even hit the floor in the morning. You do not work for God's approval; you work from it. You aren't striving to be accepted; you are living because you already are.
Let’s stop treating grace like an earned wage. Rest deeply today in the truth that you are already wanted.
Prayer:
Father, forgive me for the days I treat Your love like a ledger to be balanced. Thank You for settling my identity before I ever try to earn it. Help me to rest in the reality that I am Your beloved child. Let my obedience today flow naturally out of a heart of gratitude, rather than a desperate attempt to prove my worth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
🎯 Your Challenge Today: Write "I am already approved" at the very top of your to-do list, and cross it off before you complete any other task.
📖 Companion Bible Verses
Ephesians 2:8-9 (Saved by grace, not works)
Matthew 11:28-30 (The easy yoke and soul rest)
Galatians 4:6 (Adopted as children, crying Abba Father)
#christianlemon8 #PreApproved #HiddenInChrist #IdentityInChrist #GraceAlone # Groupjesus
Starting my day with the affirmation "I am already approved" has transformed my spiritual walk deeply. Like many, I once believed that God’s love depended on my accomplishments—leading more people to Christ, avoiding mistakes, or fulfilling my supposed divine purpose. This mindset created constant pressure to hustle for validation, stacking what I thought were spiritual achievements like credentials. However, reflecting on the message from Luke 3:22, where God declares Jesus His beloved Son before any miracles or ministry works began, reveals a liberating truth: God's approval is rooted in relationship, not performance. This challenged me to stop climbing a spiritual corporate ladder that doesn’t exist. When I internalized that my identity is hidden with Christ, as Colossians 3:3 reminds us, I began to experience genuine rest. I realized that God sees me as His beloved child, not defined by my half-hearted prayers or striving efforts, but by Christ’s righteousness covering me. This shift changed how I approached daily tasks—no longer from a place of trying to prove my worth, but from gratitude for already being fully accepted. Implementing simple practices like writing "I am already approved" at the top of my to-do list helps me remember to live from that truth every day. It primes my heart to obey and serve joyfully, not out of desperation but because of grace. Incorporating prayers asking God to help me rest in His love — as well as meditating on verses like Ephesians 2:8-9 and Matthew 11:28-30 — deepens this peace. This approach has brought me profound soul rest, reminding me of the invitation in Matthew 11:28 to come to Jesus, weary and burdened, and find rest. It’s an ongoing journey to let grace, not works, define my spiritual life. Yet the freedom found in knowing I am already wanted and approved by God is transformative beyond words.
Amen 🙏🙏❤️❤️