As I was thinking through how to write this devotional, the same word kept ringing though my mind: Belonging. 

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I think the desire to belong somewhere, to have a place of familiarity and comfort never really fades. We want to succeed, to be presentable, to have the best of things, to be known, to be loved, to be everything and more. All of this can be compiled into the hope we have to belong somewhere, the desire to be part of something bigger than ourselves. And praise be to the Creator of the World that we are. 

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Psalm 100 reminds us that our belonging isn’t something we have to earn or build. It’s freely given to us. “It is he who made us and we are his.”

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We are children of the Lord— born to love and serve one another and build up God’s Kingdom. You HAVE a home. Make no mistake, God made you for a unique and purposeful calling, one only you have the ability to fulfill. You were not created by accident. You were not overlooked or randomly placed in this world. God intentionally made you, fully aware of who you would be, what you would carry, and how he would use your life for his purposes. The Lord looked at this world and decided it needed one of YOU. He intricately wove you into his design to love and be loved. You are part of a bigger calling and a far bigger family. We can move through life confidently, standing firm in the foundation that is the Lord. He wants nothing more than to be in a relationship with you and provide for you. None of it is out of obligation, but out of love. He delights in our worship, service, and love. 

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What an amazing blessing! There is nothing that can remove you from his love.  He will never leave you or forsake you, and he is always waiting for you. It is such a gift to belong fully, securely, and permanently to the Lord. No matter where you’ve been or how far you feel, he is always waiting, always welcoming, and always faithful. 

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When that truth sinks in, praise becomes natural. Joy becomes possible. Serving becomes glad instead of heavy.

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If we truly believe we are his people - the sheep of his pasture - then we know that we are cared for. Protected. Led. Provided for. A shepherd does not abandon his sheep. And our God does not abandon his children.

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You have a home. You have a purpose. You belong.

Belonging isn’t just a comfortable idea. It’s a truth that changes the way we live, worship, and serve. When we truly believe that we are his, it reshapes our posture before God and others. Take a moment to honestly reflect on what this truth looks like in your daily life:

• Do you tend to approach God with joy or with striving? Why?

• What would change in your worship if you fully believed that you belonged to him? 

• Are there areas of your life where you’re still trying to earn what God has freely given?

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Father, thank you that I am yours. Thank you for creating me with a purpose and claiming me as your own. Forgive me for the times I strive for belonging instead of resting in it. Teach me to praise you and live joyously from a place of security and grace. Let my worship be confident because I know that I am loved by you. Help me to serve you and others openly, not out of pressure, but out of gratitude. I belong to you, and that is reason enough to sing. Amen.