Weekly Devotional: Forgetting to Say NO – Choosing the Lord God’s Truth Over False Identity
Scripture Focus: Number 13 & 14th chapters.
Dear Church of God,
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! As we step into this new year, it’s natural to look for new promises, fresh beginnings, and ways to leave the pain and hurt of the past behind. But if we turn to the story in Numbers 13 & 14, we find a powerful lesson that can guide us into this year with clarity and courage.
The Lord God promised the Israelites the land of Canaan, but He did not send them according to their strength. He sent them according to what they could become if they trusted Him fully. Ten of the spies explored the land but returned with the wrong report. Not because the land lacked blessings, but because their minds and hearts were not aligned with the Lord God’s perspective. They let fear define their reality instead of holding on to the Lord God’s truth.
Here’s the thing: sometimes, we forget to say no to the wrong questions in our own lives. “Can I really do this?” or “Am I really enough?”—these are the questions that trap us in fear. Like the ten spies, we focus on our limitations instead of the Lord God’s promises. We have allowed ourselves to be shaped by false identities due to fear, the labels we have received, lies of the world, and the limitations placed on us by the enemy.
But there is hope. Jesus Christ invites us to discover the real us. He calls us out of fear, doubt, and false identity, into the freedom of who we truly are in Him. Instead of asking whether the Lord God’s promises are possible, we need to ask: Why is my mind not aligned with His truth? And then surrender to His renewing work.
Joshua and Caleb saw the same giants and walled cities as the other spies, but they chose to believe the Lord God’s Word over appearances. Their confidence was not in their strength but in the One who had already promised victory. When we align our minds with the Lord God’s truth, we are no longer defined by fear but by faith, and no longer shaped by lies but by the reality of Jesus Christ in us.
So, the question for this new year is: Will we agree with the false report of our fears, or will we step boldly into the identity Jesus Christ calls us to—our true selves, fully alive in Him? We forgot to say no to our limitations, forgetting that the promise came from the Creator of heaven and earth. Through Jesus Christ, we are purchased, redeemed, and entitled to inherit everything for the glory of the Lord God.
Let this year be the year we start saying no to fear, doubt, and limitation—and yes to the richness of the Lord God. See yourself as He sees you.
Daily Reflection
Today, remember that the Lord God’s promises are bigger than your fears or limitations. Like the ten spies in Numbers 13 & 14, it is easy to let doubt and false identities shape how we see ourselves. But Jesus Christ calls you to step out of fear and discover your true self in Him. Joshua and Caleb chose to believe the Lord God’s Word over appearances, trusting His promises rather than their own strength. This new year, say no to fear, doubt, and limitation, and say yes to the fullness of life Jesus Christ has for you. Live not by what you feel or what the world says, but by the truth and promises of the Lord God.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we come before You with grateful hearts. We thank You for Your mercy, grace, and for preserving us from all kinds of dangers in the past year. We are truly thankful for Your providence and care. Thank You for comforting us with Your love and for giving us the Holy Spirit to guide us in every need, so we may see Your glory and rejoice in the salvation You have provided. Lord, we pray for deliverance from the evil habit of believing the lies of this world and forgetting the blessings You have given in our lives. Strengthen us, Lord, and grant us Your grace, convict us, and bring awareness and lead us closer to You. May this prayer be acceptable in Your sight. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
This Week’s Takeaway
Trust the Lord God’s promises instead of letting fear or false identities define you. Jesus Christ calls you to step into your true self, fully alive in Him. Say no to doubt and limitation, and yes to the life and victory He has already promised.
Announcements:
- If you are seeking support in your discipleship journey, we warmly invite you to join our weekly discipleship sessions held every Saturday at 6am (IST).
Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81144235750pwd=RG4veEdLQkJNS1NxYW1ZWmNnb3EvQT09 (Meeting ID: 811 4423 5750. Passcode: 12345).
- If you wish to receive personal counselling, kindly use this link to make an appointment. https://scheduler.zoom.us/rev-immanuel-paul/appointment
- We welcome you to join our WhatsApp group to receive updates and Communication about our ministries and meetings. https://chat.whatsapp.com/EokMFGuZdgb23Sg8BsHzas
-
If you are interested in continuing to receive our future devotional articles, we kindly request your assistance in updating our database with your name and email ID.
For this purpose, we have prepared a short questionnaire for you to complete. Once the form is filled out and submitted, you will be enrolled in a six-month subscription plan. You may select your preferred language(s)—Tamil, English, and/or Telugu—in which you would like to receive the publications. You may choose one or multiple languages. We will renew this process every 6 months.
The link to the questionnaire will be shared with you shortly via email and will also be available on our website (https://hearmatthew1128.org/). Please note that future devotional articles will be sent only to those who complete the form and subscribe through this process.
We look forward to walking with you in faith and fellowship.
Click here to Download as PDF ->English