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I Am A Child Of God

An Affirmation for those living with Chronic Illness & Pain

by Angela Hall Dobbins

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then the Bible says you are a child of God! And, as a child of the Most High God and Creator of the Universe, you have an inheritance! You are a joint heir with Christ and you will join Him one day in Your Father's Kingdom. Isn't that awesome!

Yet, not only are you a joint heir with Christ, chosen to receive a heavenly inheritance, you have an earthly inheritance, as well. Jesus said, "...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10b

No matter what circumstances surround you today, God has promised that He will never leave or forsake you. As His child, He looks at you through the endearing eyes of a loving Father, always there with arms wide open to comfort you in every situation. In 2 Corinthians 1:3,4, we read, "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."

Chronic illness may have changed the way you live your life on a day-to-day basis. Grant it, it has surely required you to learn to pace yourself, set limits, even discontinue some activities, and to rearrange your lifestyle. But it can never prevent you from being the person God created you to be! That's because God, as your ever loving Heavenly Father, in His wisdom, has a plan for your life. And He is working that plan to your advantage and for the good for all eternity!

Romans 8:28 tells us, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

God has given you a promise and, no matter what circumstances you face in this life, He will never go back on that promise! Your life is important and special! And He has an important purpose for you! You are His Child, unique and adored, and He wants to shine His light through you today, right where you're planted!

Some of God's richest blessings are bestowed through adversity. When we give, especially out of our own need, God has a way of blessing us immeasurably. So, no matter what limiting circumstances surround you, remember that God is still on His throne and that He is in control! You are His Child, whom He loves! He has gifted you with certain talents and abilities with which to share His love with others. And He has placed before you, even in the midst of chronic illness, opportunities to fulfill the very purpose for which you were created!

Romans 8:14-17 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

Let's pray together:

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your loving provisions in our lives. We thank You for Your love and care and for understanding our feelings and our needs. Lord, help us to remember that You are in control, no matter what our circumstances and that chronic illness can never define "who we are" in You nor prevent us from being all You created us to be. Help me to realize and to remember that, while I may not be able to do all the things I would like to, nor even to go at the pace I would like to, still You have a purpose and a plan for my life. And that plan applies every day, no matter how I may be feeling, physically. Help me not to waste a moment of this precious life You have given me, but rather to use it for Your glory and to spread Your love. Help me to seek You daily and to take advantage of opportunities to use the talents and abilities You have given me to share Your love with others and to tell them about the awesome grace You have extended to us through Your son, Jesus Christ. Lord, we thank You that You hear and answer our prayers. We ask these things in the precious name of Jesus. Amen and Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to write to me so that I may continue to pray in agreement with you and to offer you encouragement. If you have questions or other prayer requests, please do not hesitate to contact me. I'm here to listen and I care. :)

May God bless you abundantly today and guide you to becoming all He created you to be!

Love in Christ,

Angela