Longing to be noticed, affirmed and loved is something that many of us may relate to throughout our lives. Whether we desperately want attention from a parent, to be accepted by our peers or to be loved in our relationships with others, we seek to be known and seen for who we are.

The real longing of our heart can only be fully met and satisfied in knowing Jesus and resting in the truth that we are known by Him. He sees us and understands us and the circumstances in life that we find ourselves in more than we do.

Below are two stories of women in the Bible which illustrate this, followed by six comforting truths about knowing that God sees us today.

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Is holiness an impossible command to try and emulate in our life? Do we know what a holy life looks like? To be holy is crucial to living the Christian life, and without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). When there is loss of understanding of the holiness of God, it will result in unholiness within the church. We need to know who God really is and who we are in relation to Him.

It has been said that no one likes a bragger. Even if the boasts are sugar-coated in subtlety and sweetness, it can still leave a bitter taste in the mouth. It can seem like a tricky and delicate balance to let others know about our success without coming across as boastful. We seek an identity for ourselves and look to the things or people that give us confidence and validate us.

The need to be liked by others, the desire for affirmation and the longing to prove ourselves runs deep within us all. This flows out from our heart and influences what we say, what we think and how we act, for out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). 

When we do or have something we are pleased about or think deserves recognition, we may be tempted to speak proudly about it. The Bible is clear that we should boast in the Lord if we are going to boast at all (2 Corinthians 10:17). How can we keep our heart in check to ensure that we are not seeking glory for ourselves?

We need to start from the cross of Christ. We are all inclined to glorify ourselves as that is the sin of the human heart. Yet, there is hope in Christ for us to live for Him and to glorify Him alone. Below are some suggestions for practical application on boasting for God’s glory, rather than in ourselves. 

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Our world is filled with brokenness. Relationships breaking down, failing systems of government, violence and war, sickness and disease and so much more are indicators that things in this world are not the way they are supposed to be. There is a longing to make sense of our world and to make it right.

When everything looks like it could fail, is there anything or anyone that can give us that sense of security and make our broken world right? The answer can be found in God’s unfailing love.

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For some believers, it may be hard to be obedient when we are aware of our weaknesses or find it a challenge to obey God in a culture that finds Him irrelevant, non-existent or false. Is obedience to Him even possible when there is so much strife and disobedience in the world? And will we miss out on the best of life if we follow Jesus?

Turning on the news or flicking through social media, it’s easy to get absorbed in what is happening in the world right now. We get caught up in the most pressing issues of the day. Maybe we don’t need the news for that; perhaps it’s our individual lives that have us completely transfixed on the here and now with all of its competing demands. Our daily life keeps us moving from one thing to the next. 

For followers of Christ, there is a view that we need that which reaches beyond the immediate concerns of today. That view is eternity. It comes with hope and warning – and we need to heed both. Let’s take off the lens of our present circumstances for a moment and look with a steadfast gaze towards eternity.

Here are seven reasons why we need to keep that eternal perspective in view:

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Who was Elisabeth Elliot? Throughout her life she was a missionary, wife, and mother, but above all she was a courageous follower of Christ. By looking back at her life, we can draw encouragement in our own faith walk.

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come? (Ephesians 1:18-21).

What is God’s power and what does it look like? Can it be seen and felt by humans? Is God’s power at work today and can it be found in the humdrum of everyday life?

In Hebrew, “God Almighty” is written El Shaddai which speaks of His ultimate power over all. His power can be seen in creation, in the transformation of sinners into the Kingdom of God, at the triumphant cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ and in so many other ways.

Yet, how can we experience His power in our own lives? Here are a few suggestions to help us to know God’s power today, even on the really boring days.

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Wisdom is needed for raising the next generation. Motherhood does not come with a manual, but mothers can find help, encouragement and wisdom through the Bible, prayer and the experiences of those who have gone before them. There are many examples of mothers in the Bible and throughout history from whom we can gain wisdom for their faith and trust in God. They were all human, none were perfect, yet all of them knew the Lord and that can help encourage mothers today.

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Our world has been broken by sin and is marred by suffering and pain. Whether it's a stubbed toe or a global catastrophe, we will all experience pain in some form. So what is a believer to do when they feel weighed down by the pain in the world? As with all problems, we can turn to the Word of God. Jesus, while fully God, was also fully man. He experienced the same suffering and pain that we do, and is our example to look towards when things look bleak. 

There is a difference between faith and blind faith. Blind faith is having a belief that is not rooted in true understanding. The Christian faith is evidence-based faith founded on truth and reality.

“Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” Westminster Shorter Catechism

What does it mean to glorify God? It means to give God the glory that He is due and honor Him through praising and worshipping Him alone. What does this look like today? Here are 8 suggestions for what it means to glorify God right where we are every day:

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