Jesus says you're worth it.

Many of you may remember that I have joined up with a wonderful online community of gospel seeking women called #shereadstruth. We are in the middle of the 3rd study since this all began & my cup is overflowing with the grace & love of the Lord. I just wanted to share a little bit about something that extra blessed me this week.

DAY 7: John 17: The High Priestly Prayer

I discovered a gem. An absolute gem in the Bible. 

Jesus.prayed.for.me. 

What is more beautiful than the Savior of the world taking the time to lift us up to his Father???? 

"[...] that they might have [Jesus] joy fulfilled in themselves."

Did you get that? He wants me to have HIS joy.

“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
(John 17 ESV)

I just find this passage a beautiful expression of the Love of Jesus. As I read it again and again, I can picture in my mind a man- a real man- on his face before God pouring out his heart. Sometimes, in a sense, I forget that Jesus was a man. He was human with emotions & trials & a true heart for his people.

By this,

I am humbled. 

I am excited. 

I am filled with JOY!

How many times have you questioned whether Jesus could possibly love you? How many times have you assured yourself that you are not worthy to walk in righteousness? You question whether he hears or even cares.

 Let me assure you... those are lies.

Jesus loves you soooo much! Consider how you determine the worth of things hear on earth. What is any worldly possession worth? The price someone will pay for it, correct? You wouldn't pay $1million for property you know to only be $60,000 worth of property. What should that tell you about your worth to our God & Savior???? Jesus gave up everything for you! He didn't just die on a cross. He, in perfect deity, came to earth, lived a perfect faultless life as a human & was murdered for me. For  you. He took all the sin of the world on his shoulders. For me. For you. So, yeah, Jesus is pretty much convinced we are worth it so much so that he even talked with His Father about you.

Jesus Christ prayed for this girl!

Maybe this isn't so profound to everyone else but for me, it was eye opening & has increased my faith.