123-It's easy to say the words, but it's still true. You are loved by God.

Have you ever had those times when you felt alone, unappreciated, and unloved?

You’re trying to live your life to the best of your ability, but there are challenges that keep piling up. You pray. You study your Bible. Maybe you go to church. 

You try to do what’s right. You try to be loving and helpful to others. 

But you just wonder sometimes if it’s all worth it. Does your life even add up to anything? 

Does God really care about you and actually hear your prayers? Does your life even matter?

I have certainly had times like that in my life.

Once, many years ago, when I was really down on myself I found a passage in the book of Daniel, chapters 9 & 10, that was really helpful and brought me hope.

Daniel is praying and fasting. In fact, he is repenting for his personal sins as well as the sins of the Children of Israel. They had worshiped idols and disobeyed God over many years. And now they were in captivity in Babylon. 

Right when Daniel was repenting, the angel Gabriel appeared to reassure Daniel that God loves him.

And just in case Daniel might have doubted God had heard his prayers, the angel tells Daniel that from the very first day he had prayed to get his heart right with God, God had heard his prayers.

I found that very reassuring. I suddenly felt that from the very first time I had ever prayed, God knew what was in my heart and that He heard my prayers. I felt seen and known. I felt loved.

This is true for you too!

God sees you. He hears your prayers. You are dearly loved by God.

What can we learn from Daniels’s situation? Have you ever felt like you were in captivity to a problem, either because of your own or someone else’s disobedience to God? 

That is the time to pray and repent. Every time I read chapters 9 and 10 of Daniel, I marvel that Daniel does not just repent for his own sins. He repents for all the sins of all the Children of Israel. 

How often have you or I done that? Honestly, I usually have enough to repent just of my own mistakes. Why should I repent for things I didn’t do?

Text me your questions or comments.

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James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.

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