Matthew 10:29-31 – “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

I love the way The Message modernized this passage:

“What’s the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right? And God cares what happens to it even more than you do. He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don’t be intimidated. You’re worth more than a million canaries.”

Even this passage seems like an understatement when you read Psalms 139:14: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; and your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” You are a work of God, therefore you are WONDERFULLY made. The Lord knows every hair on your head—he knows you that closely. Therefore, it’s safe to say you have a very high VALUE with the Lord.

Let’s be honest, though. I was like, “Why should I care that I have value with the Lord? And secondly, what does the word “value” even mean?” Here you go… “Value a :  having desirable or esteemed characteristics or qualities.” That’s when I started to see something…the Lord created me with esteemed characteristics and qualities—and He did the same with you! He formed you in your mother’s womb and He says that you, LITERALLY, are fearfully and wonderfully made.

So then, why are some of you so intimidated by what other people think of you? Why do some of you fear failure? Ladies, why do some of you choose to disrespect your bodies, even when you know it hurts you?

Why? Because you are allowing everything—other than the Lord’s view of you—to define your value. Think about it…some of you think that being the most popular girl in school will prove your value. Some of you think being the straight A student, with all AP classes and SAT prep classes on Saturday will prove your value. Some of you give everything you have to your boyfriend, hoping that his affection and attention will prove your value. Here’s the truth: the Lord already thinks your valuable. You’re worth more than a million, billion canaries. You’re worth SO MUCH to the Lord, that He sent His son Jesus to die on a cross for you. You’re so valuable to the Lord and He cherishes you so deeply, that he keeps count of every strand of hair on your head.

Please start to believe this: “I am ___________. It is the Lord who made me, therefore, I have desirable and esteemed characteristics and qualities because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Because the Lord values me, I have value.”

Finally, when Satan tempts you to despair and tempts you to find value outside of the Lord, please go to the following scriptures: Psalms 139, Philippians 4:13, John 1:12, 1 Corinthians 6:20, Ephesians 1:9 & 3:11, Ephesians 2:10

Lord, when I am tempted to find my value outside of You, be my strength. When I am tempted to worry and stress, help me trust You. When I’m not depending on You as my only source of value and self-worth, encourage me again. Let my life, my heart and my mind be pleasing in Your sight.

Humans get hungry, and not just for food but for a whole range of desires and dreams. Hunger to have hopes fulfilled and longings answered seems to be built into us.

Sometimes our hunger gets us into trouble, and we wish we could curb our appetites. But in Deuteronomy 8:2, you’ll be surprised to learn who gives us these longings. The Lord is the one who causes us to hunger. He is the one who has put within us our desires and yearnings. At first, this seems odd. Doesn’t God know that the “hungries” often get us into trouble?

God has good reasons for giving us such large appetites. He has placed within us desires and dreams in order to test us and humble us, to see what is in our heart, to see whether or not we would follow Him. He causes us to hunger so that we might learn to feed on the Bread of Heaven, to live on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

To hunger is to be human, but to hunger for God is to feed on Him. Hunger and thirst after His righteousness and feed on Him in your heart. Taste and see that the Lord is good; it is He who will fill you to satisfaction.

I am prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. I’m prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart, please take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.”