Hidden: A Devotional for Teen GirlsНамуна

Day 5 – Your True DNA

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. - Psalm 139:13-14 NIV

Devotional

I once heard this story about a baby who was born to a family of amazing acrobats. As the family traveled to a town, the baby fell off their wagon and was lost. Thankfully, the baby was found by a farmer and his wife. They tried to search for the baby's parents but were unsuccessful. So, they raised the child, gave him a home, and taught him to work. The only problem was that they raised him like a farmer when he was born to be an acrobat. No matter the home environment this child grew up in, the parents who raised him, or the mistakes he made while growing up, this child was still an acrobat. His DNA and birthright defined him - nothing and no one else.

The same is true about you, friend. God knit and formed you and me. When you were being formed, there was a part of God that was planted inside of you. So, no matter the environment you're in or the parents raising you or the mistakes you've made, you are an acrobat. Ok, maybe not literally, but in you are abilities straight from God. You might have the ability to engineer a device that cleans water around the world. You might have the ability to cure a crippling disease. You might have the ability to create a brand new genre of music. The examples are infinite because God is infinite. As you and I follow Jesus, we allow Him to show us who we really are and what amazing things are really inside of us.

Say this out loud: "God defines me. Only my Creator can tell me who I am."

Listen, there is so much more to life than college degrees or becoming famous. Jesus is transforming you, speaking to you, and filling you with the Holy Spirit so you can become the very person He had in mind when He thought you up. We don't need carbon copies of what you see others doing. This world needs you to become YOU. While it is nice to have a satisfying career, a steady income, and even a family, I'm convinced that Jesus came for us to have abundant life - not just those things. Life and life abundantly is found in you becoming the true you.

Journal Question
- Take some time to think about some of the dreams you've always had in your heart. Try to think back to the dreams you had even as a young child - before anyone told you that it wasn't a good idea.

- Think about the skills that have always come naturally for you. Have you always been a great singer? Artist? Leader? Math genius? Now, ask the Lord what part of Him he put inside of you. Is there anything He wants you to focus on and not ignore - even if it doesn't make sense to others?