Belong

Seeking belonging. Desiring to be seen. Wanting nothing more than to fit in the scene. Longing to feel purposefully placed. I think we can all look back at moments in our lives where we felt misplaced or like we didn't belong. Sometimes this can be a sign that it's time to move on. But I also think that this comes when we begin seeking belonging on earth, rather than in the One who created it. That longing to belong won't be satisfied until you realize that the One who called you is the One you belong to. You belong. You belong to the King of kings, Lord of lords. You belong to the Kingdom of Heaven, the Father of many. You belong to Him and until you realize that, this world will only continue to leave you empty. Fullness and belonging don't ever come from the world, unless they first come from God. Belonging only comes from the One who placed you where you belong first. You always belong. And He doesn't misplace you. Where you are is where He wants you for the moment. It may feel wrong to you, but it's part of His plan and you're there right now for a reason. Being misplaced is not an error God makes. You are purposefully placed, daily.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

1 John 2:15-16

Love the Father first and most. The world is not our home and maybe that's why we feel like we don't belong... because we don't. Here will always feel just short of home. But again, we weren't misplaced. We were called and sent on mission and will be called home soon. You are purposefully placed. Everywhere you go. Purposefully placed. I know that I feel misplaced at times, like I'm not where I belong, but it's all lies. And if the devil can get me to think about it long enough, he'll convince me that I was forgotten about, that I need to seek belonging from things and people of the world, that I need to begin to make the world my home. Lies from the devil turn into temptations, which then turns into a spiral of sin, making the world look more and more like "where I belong." Making the world look more and more like an eternal home, instead of a temporary tent. Lies from the devil make the world seem like it will accept us, even though all it wants to do is change us. He wants us to think sin is healthy, even though all it'll do is kill us. That God is against us, even though all He is, is for us. When we believe lies from the devil, we are left empty, because we gave in to the one who replaces our true identity with fake ones.

They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Romans 1:25

Praise the Creator, rather than the things that were created. The artist gets the praise for his art, the writer the praise for his book, so then the Creator shall get the praise that is due to Him.