Why don’t you start receiving God’s gifts? God says you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

15/05/25

Gospel Corner

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
Today’s Word

Today’s Scripture
“For the Kingdom of God belongs to men who have hearts as trusting as these little children’s. And anyone who doesn’t have their kind of faith will never get within the Kingdom’s gates.”
Luke 18:17, TLB

As a Child
if you ask children if they’d like to go buy a toy at the store, they don’t start debating whether they’re worthy enough. They don’t question whether you mean it or if you have the money to pay for it. No, children just receive the gift happily. They haven’t been contaminated with lies about how they aren’t good enough or have done too many wrong things. But as adults, when we hear about God’s gifts, we start reasoning things out. “I didn’t perform up to par. God’s not going to bless me. I struggle all the time. I don’t feel valuable.”

Why don’t you start receiving God’s gifts? God says you are fearfully and wonderfully made. He calls you a masterpiece. He knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb and approved you. He didn’t approve you based on your performance. He approved you based on the fact that you’re His child, created in His image, crowned with His favor. Now you have to receive that approval. Receive that validation. You’re not ordinary, but a child of the Most High God.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You approved me before I was formed in my mother’s womb, long before I made my first mistake. Thank You that You approve and love me despite my weaknesses and shortcomings. I declare that I am receiving Your gifts as Your child. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Let me share with you how Megan, a precious lady from Minnesota, confronted her fears by speaking the Word of God for the area of her need and saw the power of God released in her situation. I’ll let her tell you her story:

I was diagnosed with throat and neck cancer. After a series of treatments, I recovered and tests showed that there was no more cancer. However, two years later, the doctors found a mass in my throat again.

At that time, I’d begun watching Joseph Prince on television. He shared a testimony of a woman who had taken hold of 1 John 4:17—”as He is, so are we in this world”—for herself and ended up not needing to have any surgery.

So I took hold of this Scripture for myself as well. My first thought after hearing the doctor’s diagnosis was, “As Jesus is, so am I in this world. Since He does not have cancer, then neither do I.”

Fear tried to enter my thoughts over the next several days, but I believed and kept declaring 1 John 4:17 as I was being told that I might have cancer again. I was advised to have a biopsy done and was also told that a bilateral tonsillectomy, a procedure to remove the tonsils, would be needed.

As I was being prepped for surgery, I was asked if there was anything I wanted to say. I said, “Yes. When the doctor comes in to do the surgery, she will say that the surgery is not needed and there is no cancer.”

And that was exactly what happened! The tonsillectomy was canceled because the biopsy showed that I did not have cancer! When told the good news, I smiled and said, “Thank You, Jesus!”

I have your book, 100 Days of Favor, which has a page that teaches on 1 John 4:17. I keep a bookmark on that page and read it often.

I am continually being set free by the gospel of grace. Thank you, Pastor Prince!

Praise the Lord—what an awesome testimony of the power of the written Word released through our mouths! Beloved, what the Lord did for Megan, He can and will do for you too!