The Book of Acts: Turn Your World Upside DownSample

Today’s Devotional:

Have you ever felt like you didn’t measure up? When my oldest son was younger, nothing made his blood boil more than being told he wasn’t tall enough for a ride at an amusement park.

“41 inches. Sorry buddy, that’s too bad. For this ride, you have to be 42 inches. Not quite tall enough. Maybe next year. Please step aside.”

When my son heard those words, his face turned red, his brow furrowed, and his bottom lip stuck out like a saucer. He hated being told to step aside because he was too short. One time, he even wore hiking boots to Disneyland to seem taller.

I can relate to my son’s hatred of that feeling—not enough. For many years, I let the enemy convince me that I didn’t measure up—I didn’t have enough, couldn’t do enough, and wasn’t enough. Somehow, I bought into the lie that there was an invisible line I could never reach and that I needed to step aside.

In Acts chapter 3, a man lame from birth begged Peter and John for money. Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Peter and John could have focused on what they didn’t have—silver and gold. They could have allowed their “not enoughness” to stop them from giving anything to the man in need. But instead, they allowed Jesus to be enough. And because they offered this man the presence of Jesus, he not only was healed, but he shared his story of transformation with everyone in the region.

Many of us don’t offer the world the richness of Jesus because the enemy has us too focused on what we lack. We think we don’t have enough time, enough charisma, enough money, or enough talent. When we haven’t allowed God to define our worth, the invisible line of approval, qualification, and validation will always seem just out of reach.

Ask yourself, who is holding the pen that marks the invisible line of enoughness? The day I realized the pen was in the wrong hands was the day I was liberated. I realized that I am enough because Jesus in me is enough, and I have enough because Jesus is enough. And when I focus on God’s abundance and limitless power instead of my lack, it is a reminder that the presence of Jesus is the greatest gift I can offer to those around me.

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Today’s devotional was written by Melissa Miller.

Questions to Consider:

• Are you focused on your lack or God’s limitless power?
• Have you allowed someone or something else to measure your identity and worth other than God?

Prayer:

God, thank you for your limitless power. Thank you that your presence is a gift to me and a gift to those around me. Help me to find my identity in you and to rest in the fact that you are enough. In Jesus’ name, amen.