Kim Adetunji is passionate about many things, including helping people discover Bibles that draw them deeper into Scripture. She is an encourager by nature and loves to spur others on in their faith. She is known for sending prayer texts rather than just saying, “I’ll pray for you”—especially when someone can’t find the strength to pray for themselves. It’s a grace to welcome Kim to the farm’s front porch today…

guest post by Kim Adetunji

I’ve long struggled with being a deep feeler, and I’ve spent many years of my life trying to change who I am.

Instead of valuing the quiet, prayerful, kind, caring, and tenderhearted spirit God gave me, for a long time I placed a higher value on qualities I greatly admired in others but that I didn’t intrinsically have.

I tried to “fix” what God had uniquely designed.

Although it wasn’t a conscious decision I made, going against my natural grain to try to be someone I am not took a great toll on my soul because I wasn’t fully embracing or valuing who God created me to be.

I was ignoring and numbing deep aches in my heart. I felt disappointment often because of high expectations I placed on myself and others. I put undue pressure on myself to be and do more.

I also compared my weaknesses to other people’s strengths, a soul-crushing endeavor.

Oh, how the Lord’s heart must have grieved to see His precious child—His masterpiece according to Ephesians 2:10—rejecting qualities he had intentionally and graciously given.

The Bible tells us just how much care God put into each and every intricate detail about us:

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13

When I was five years old, I was given a hand-me-down shirt from my cousin Laura that said Delicate on it. It was my favorite shirt, but at the time I had no idea how profoundly true that simple statement would be in my life. I remember asking my mom, “What does delicate mean?”

I imagine God may have been smiling down from heaven at that moment whispering, “Oh, sweet child, it’s you. You are delicate. I placed a delicate heart within you for me to reside in so I could shine My love and light through you so powerfully into the lives of those who are broken and hurting and hopeless.”

I’ve often wanted to trade in my ultra-sensitive enigma of a heart for one that is much simpler to manage—or even one that doesn’t feel at all.

But now I can wholeheartedly agree with Psalm 139:14: “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.”

Ephesians 2:10 doesn’t just say we are God’s masterpiece; it also mentions God’s purpose for us: “He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Our lives can uniquely point to God’s goodness and faithfulness—despite any weaknesses, insecurities, mistakes, setbacks, failures, pain, or struggles we’ve faced. In fact, God will use it all for His glory!

Anytime I start to believe the lie that my heart is my biggest weakness or that I’m not strong enough or when I don’t feel equipped to fight the battle before me, I remember 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”

I have found so much freedom and strength in knowing Christ and surrendering everything to Him. He is always my strength. I have nothing to fear because He goes before me. I don’t have to feel like the battle is ever mine, because He fights for me.

God, in His infinite power, chooses to use my weakness to display His awesome glory!

I got a tiny glimpse of this several years ago at a camp for precious foster kids when my tears spoke volumes to a young girl who needed to be reassured she was loved and so incredibly special. In that moment I learned a valuable lesson: I don’t need to be embarrassed or try to hide my tears.

God created me exactly how I am—free-flowing tears and all—and I’ve discovered there is immense beauty in that. The same is true for you.

God can use you mightily just as you are for His Kingdom purposes—often even more-so through whatever pain has brought you to where you are today.

A favorite verse I like to pray is Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

I used to run to people first to understand my heart; now I run to God.

In the Bible, Paul tells us to never stop praying. Praying continuously means I never lose sight of God’s presence. I am constantly communicating with Him, listening, surrendering, asking for wisdom, giving thanks, worshiping, confessing, course-correcting, listening to promptings, and noticing His hand at work in my life or in others.

Our world is filled with so much pain, isolation, heartache, chaos, and division. Our hearts need hope. We need refreshment. We need truth. We need to hear from God.

God speaks through His Word. The more I hide God’s Word in my heart and pursue Him earnestly through prayer and the more I sit quietly and expectantly before Him, the brighter He will shine in and through me! 

Time spent in God’s Word and in prayer is invaluable. It grounds us, gives us strength, and equips us as ambassadors for Christ.

Through this pandemic, my dependence on God, trust in His Word, and commitment to prayer has only intensified as I strive to put my full trust in God each day.

Carving out space to read our Bible, sit before the Lord, and invite God to speak to us through His Word and through prayer is not only life-giving—it is life-changing.

We cannot leave the presence of God unchanged.

 

Kim Adetunji is a Brand Manager at Tyndale House Ministries. Throughout her 16-year career working on Bibles, she has enjoyed witnessing the transformational power of God’s Word at work in people’s lives throughout the world.

One of her favorite Bibles to recommend is Inspire, which is the bestselling Bible for coloring and creative Bible journaling. How do you keep your time with the Lord fresh—and prioritized—without getting distracted, discouraged, or falling into a rut? Bible journaling and recording your prayers could be one way to help spark new joy in the Word, ignite your creativity, and help you document your prayers. 

The all-new Inspire PRAYER Bible is the third unique edition of Inspire with the widest margins yet! Enjoy even more space in the three-inch-wide margins for journaling through word or original art. This unique edition of Inspire features an all-new set of full- and partial-page Scripture line-art illustrations to color; 32 colorful vellum pages with prayers; and 142 prayer prompts. 

Bible journaling is your creative expression on the pages of your Bible in response to what you’ve read and studied in Scripture. Find Bible journaling inspiration and view sample pages from the all-new Inspire PRAYER Bible, plus stay informed about upcoming workshops and events.

All features in this special edition of Inspire (2 different cover options available) are aimed at helping the reader focus their heart on prayer and enhancing their coloring and creative-journaling journey through the Bible.

[ Our humble thanks to Tyndale for their partnership in today’s devotion ]