Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Today's reading titled Accepted and Approved was written by Leslie Coe.

As a child, Tenney felt insecure. He sought approval from his father, but he never received it. It seemed that

whatever he did, whether in school or at home, it was never good enough. Even when he entered

adulthood, the insecurity remained. He continually wondered, am I good enough? Only when Tenney received

Jesus as his savior, did he find the security and

approval he had long yearned for. He learned that God, having created him, loved and cherished

him as his son. Tenney finally could live with the confidence that he was truly valued and appreciated.

In Isaiah 43, verses 1 through 4, God told his chosen

people that, having formed them, he would use his power and love to redeem them.

You are precious and honored in my sight, he proclaimed. He would act on their behalf because he loved them.

The value God places on those he loves doesn't come from anything we do, but from the simple

and powerful truth that He's chosen us to be his own.

These words in Isaiah 43 not only gave Tenney great security, but also empowered him with the

confidence to do his best for God

in whatever task he was called to do.

Today, he's a pastor who does all he can to encourage others with this life-giving truth.

We're accepted and approved in Jesus.

May we confidently live out this truth today.

Today's Our Daily Bread Devotional Scripture reading is from Isaiah chapter 43, verses 1 through 4.

But now this is what the Lord says. He who created you, Jacob, he who formed you,

Israel, do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have summoned you by name, you are mine. When you pass

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