Prayers that remind us of our identity and worth are found only in Christ.
Posted by: Laura Bailey
Bible reading:
“Then Joshua the son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go and look around the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab, and stayed there. ” – Joshua 2:1 (NIV)
Listen or read below:
As I lay down at night, my mind started to get busy with all the things I hadn’t accomplished that day. I woke up late and couldn’t finish reading the Bible because of the busy schedule of the day. I ended up eating an extra piece of cake at a friend’s birthday celebration, so I stopped going on a low-carbohydrate diet. And I ended up throwing tantrums with my daughters, which wasn’t a good start to becoming a more peaceful mother.
Every night I go to sleep with the promise of tomorrow. Tomorrow I will wake up on time, follow my diet and control my anger. But still tomorrow comes and at the end of the day I find myself in the same position. I know that my identity is not tied to checking off a to-do list, maintaining a certain weight, or even the number of Bible verses I memorize per day. Yet, missing my goals every day left me feeling exhausted and worthless. “God is disappointed in you. You are a failure. If you truly loved the Lord, you could have woken up earlier and done better.” I began to allow the lies running through my thoughts to become truth.
The story of Rahab in the Bible is one of my favorites. The whole description is pretty exciting, including hiding spies and walls collapsing. But God wanted us to know specifically about Rahab’s past and her role in this momentous event. Twice in the New Testament she is called “Rahab the harlot” (James 2:25, Hebrews 11:31). It would have been easy for Rahab to hide behind her reputation and excuse herself for not being qualified to help Joshua’s men. She must have often despaired, believing that she was trapped in a sinful lifestyle and that God could not love or use people like her. But Rahab did not allow Satan’s lies to paralyze her. Through her faith and courage, she participated in God’s plan to destroy Jericho, saving not only her life but the lives of her family. Let us not forget another important fact about Rahab the “harlot.” Her family line is descendants of David and Jesus. It’s God’s work. his story. everytime.
Constantly feeling unworthy pulls us into a dreary abyss of despair and disappointment. Walking in the light and rejoicing in the truth requires daily devotion, at least 30 minutes of preaching each week, a calendar passage, or a simple prayer at lunch. There is a real and ongoing spiritual battle all around us and this is the main reason why we stop striving to achieve the desires God has placed in our hearts. To thwart the enemy, we must actively pray, read and memorize God’s Word, and apply it to our lives.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, if you wake up and go to bed feeling like you are a major underachiever, even though you really hope and plan otherwise, rest assured that I understand you and am praying for you every day. However, I pray not only for you, but also for the church, which is the gathering of believers in Christ around the world. you are loved you have a purpose. Place your identity and self-worth only in the One who gives you and me the power to do the impossible: Christ.
Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father, we are undeserving of your grace and mercy, but we are so grateful that you give us both each day. Lord, help us to embrace the truth that our worth is not determined by what we do, but by who we belong to. Our identity lies in Christ alone, in His work on the cross. Help us remember this truth every day as we fight the enemy’s lies.
Lord, guide us with your truth when we are under spiritual attack. Hide Your Word in our hearts, silence the noise, and tune our hearts to hear Your voice, so that we do not sin against You. Thank you for sharing your story Rahab. May you be reminded that it is always about you, your story, and how you work in your children. May I give you all praise and honor.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
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Photo credit: ©Unsplash/elisa-ph
Laura Bailey is an author and Bible teacher who encourages women to understand what they believe, why it matters, and how to apply Biblical truth to their lives. Her recent book, Embracing Eternity in the Here and Now, explores how the timeless truths of Ecclesiastes can help us live more peaceful, purposeful, and abundant lives today.
She lives in upstate South Carolina with her husband and three girls and is the director of women’s ministry at her church. Her passion is teaching women the Bible and empowering them to live with an eternal perspective. Invite Laura to speak at your next event or learn more: www.LauraRBailey.com Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.
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As we begin a new year, I want to help you slow down and listen to God’s invitation in your life. This episode kicks off the One Word 2026 series. This is a simple, prayerful way to reflect on where you have been and discern how God is calling you to grow in the year ahead.
I will introduce the mind that chooses spiritual “words” not as a goal to achieve, but as an attitude to receive. We’ll explore two of the six words I offer this month, “confidence” and “diligence,” and see how the Bible urges us to grow by trusting in God’s faithfulness over time rather than relying on our own strength.
This episode is part of the How to Study the Bible podcast. This show brings Bible reading to life and helps you understand even the most difficult parts of the Bible. If this episode helped you know and love God more, subscribe to the How to Study the Bible podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode.
