Am I Okay, God? Devotionals from the Seventh Dimension

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

—Romans 8:37-39

Have you ever asked, am I okay? If so, you aren’t alone. I have asked myself that question many times.

Memories still haunt me of bullying by others who accused me of many things. When I was young, I struggled not to believe the lies even when I knew they weren’t true. I blamed myself—the only way I knew how to make sense of the accusations.

*~*~*~*~*~*

From Seventh Dimension – The Door, a Young Adult Christian Fantasy:

Was the man possessed by demons? Were there underlings roaming the earth looking for an unfortunate victim? The anguished soul stood still for the first time in front of the fisherman, captivated by the king’s eyes.

From off the lake, a breeze stirred, slowly at first and then gaining momentum. Like onion skin, vaporous creatures peeled from the madman, coming out of his brain. The swirling wind tore at the naked and exposed shape shifters. The black, formless creatures were like bats without bodies.

The dark beings smelled rancid and the awful odor settled over everything. The demons cowered submissively before the king. The creatures hissed and screeched and made fools of themselves. The fearful pig herders withdrew a safe distance.

The king asked, “What is your name?”

“My name is Legion,” one of the demons replied, “for we are many.”

The king’s power and authority over the spirits was omnipotent. The underlings knew him. They knew the king. The muscles in my shoulders tensed and my legs twitched. Much-Afraid hid her face under my arm.

The demons begged, “Please, do not send us out of the area.” They pointed to the pigs. “Send us among the pigs. Allow us to go into them.”

At the king’s command, they fled from the man and entered the herd. Their formless bodies slid inside the pigs. I shuddered. The pigs shook violently. The herd, numbering in the thousands, stampeded down the steep bank and headed straight into the lake.

The herdsmen watched their valuable livestock disappear and shouted accusations at the king. “By whose authority did you drown our herd?” They flailed their arms at the fishermen and the shepherds traipsed back up the field resolute for answers. “Who is this man that sends pigs into the lake? By what authority does he do such things?” They continued to argue among themselves.

At first, Cherios, Lowly, Much-Afraid and I were too stunned to speak. Cherios spoke first. “Lowly, that is the king, the king of the garden. He’s here. The king is here among us.”

—Shale Snyder; Cherios, the rabbit; Lowly, the pig; and Much-Afraid, the dog; chapter twenty-two

*~*~*~*~*~*

As a teenager and even into early adulthood, I believed everyone was more athletic, talented, and smarter than me. Had I missed the blessings that my friends had received? I wasn’t able to see my value or worth.

There’s a difference, however, between feeling flawed and being a sinner. The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ, the king in Seventh Dimension – The Door, did not come to condemn the world, but to save it.

I grew up in a non-Christian home and did not know Jesus Christ. My first introduction to him was in the 1961 Hollywood movie King of Kings. I was drawn to Jesus for one reason: his love for the people with whom he came into contact.

I did not feel loved for many years. I think we all suffer from feelings of worthlessness and lack of validation. We live in a fallen world where no one loves perfectly except Jesus Christ. And even though he was perfect and sinless, many still rejected him.

If people can reject the Son of God, who was sinless, how much more can we feel rejected by others who are imperfect?

While it’s true you’re a sinner, that doesn’t make you a bad person. It means you need a Savior. You’re created in the image of God and that makes you more than okay. You’re wonderfully made. You were bought with a price—Jesus Christ died for you.

You’re loved more than you will ever know. God loves you more than your parents, your boyfriend, your girlfriend, your brother, your sister, your spouse—even your dog.

You cannot do or say anything that will make God love you more. You cannot do or say anything that will make God love you less. His nature is unchanging. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

I hope to show you in this short devotional book, Am I Okay, God? Devotionals from the Seventh Dimension, you’re more than okay. You’re loved by a perfect God.

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin separated them from their heavenly father. Sin entered the world. Until then, perfection was all Adam and Eve had known, including perfect communion with God in the garden. The first sin created a chasm between God and man. Decay began and has continued to this day.

God banished Adam and Eve from the garden. The price for their disobedience and for everyone born after them was eternal punishment.

Ever since the first sin in the garden, Satan has accused and tormented God’s people. The condemnation you feel does not come from God.

In the above excerpt, Jesus performed an exorcism on the demon-possessed man. The naked demons entered the pigs looking for a “home” to possess. Jesus then drowned the pigs and the demons in the lake. The demons had tormented the man relentlessly for years—until Jesus set the man free.

*~*~*~*

Thank you, Jesus, that you have given me life. Let nothing separate me from your love. Let this day be the first day of the rest of my life—the day I receive your unconditional love and no longer believe the untrue things people say.

To learn more about Lorilyn Roberts Seventh Dimension Series Books, please visit http://LorilynRoberts.com