More for Youth

WHAT IS MY VALUE?

"Somebody Needs to Discover Me!"

By Jacqueline J. Overpeck
Guest Columnist

CBN.com – Do you have a nagging in your heart to be the next big star? Maybe you’d like to be the winner of American Idol?

No matter if you want to be America’s Next Top Model or on Survivor or Hollywood’s Dance War or So You Think You Can Dance---today’s reality TV has a hook to sell you a hot, new hit series.

The other day I ran into a pretty girl and complimented her on her style. I said, “Aren’t you snazzy! I love your red boots.”

Her eyes perked up. “Uh-hu, sista! Somebody needs to discover me!”

Her reply made me laugh. But afterwards, I thought about our conversation.

The first thing she considered when I complimented her was---stardom and fame. She wanted to “make it big.” Her desire to be found or discovered was driving her inner world of thought and it was taking over her character. (I like to define character as the distinctive qualities about a guy or girl that reveal his or her true makeup.)

The book of Luke says, “Whatever is in the heart overflows into speech” (6:45, TLB). The girl in the red boots said, “Somebody needs to discover me!”

What exactly was her hungry heart crying out for? She said it -- discovery!

To discover is to find something that was previously not known. It’s to be the first to find or learn of something. It’s the first person to notice someone else or take an interest in him or her.

To discover is to recognize someone’s potential and help bring that person to prominence or fame. If you’ve been discovered, you have importance, distinction, good standing, and status. Wow, who doesn’t want that?

God has Discovered You

There is someone who has taken a divine interest in you and every detail of your life. He recognizes your potential and His desire is to lead you to success.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (NIV).

Wait right there. Back up. Rewind.

You might be asking with a raised eyebrow, “God has plans for me?”

Yes, he does!

His game-plan for you is one of abundance. Imagine being one of the top ten contestants on American Idol. Well, God’s got more, much, much more excitement than that in store for you. You see, to him, you aren’t in the top ten. You’re number one!

Here’s the deal: You’ve been discovered by the God of heaven and his plans for your life are far greater than what any reality TV show could ever provide. Producers might break their promises and contracts have loopholes. But God never changes. When he makes a promise, it is for keeps. (See 2 Corinthians 1:20 and Matthew 5:18.)

Jesus has discovered you. You are the jewel that he came to seek. He counts you every bit as precious as a gemstone (and then some!).

Randy, Paula, and Simon may travel the country seeking singers, but God sent his son Jesus from heaven to look for you. Why? Because he has a great plan for your future.

God is in the business of discovering, noticing, seeing, discerning, and digging up diamonds just like you. Why? Simple -- so that you can have a great encounter with him. He wants to offer you a lifetime of faith, hope, love, and joy.

Have you experienced real joy? It’s joy that lasts even if your parents get a divorce or your best friends turn their backs on you.

Remember this: Jesus is always there. His arms are stretched open wide. There’s nothing you can’t share with him. He loves you just the way you are.

God is there whether you’re center stage on Broadway, or if you’re an ordinary teen from small town, “nowheresville.” He’s near supporting you and lifting you up long after the spotlight fades and the TV cameras are unplugged.

What is My Value?

Do you have a special ring with a diamond, or maybe a necklace made of pearls? If not, maybe you have some other valuable or sentimental object? (No! X-Box 360 doesn’t count!)

Think about how you care for that prized possession. You know where it is at all times. You’re careful not to loose it or scratch it. If it’s your class ring, you might take it off before you go to the beach with your pals and put it in a secret place, like a velvet jewelry box for safe keeping.

Well, it’s just like that with God. Psalm 27:5 says, “… He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock” (NKJV).

He’s always got his eyes on you. God won’t let anything harm you. John 10:27-28 says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand” (NASB, emphasis added).

Nothing and no one is ever going to come and steal you from the hands of heaven! Why? God won’t allow it. You are much too special to God. Your life is priceless to him, so priceless that he gave his own life so that you can live eternally with him in heaven.

So you see, your successful future is of utmost importance to him. God has a lot invested in you. Way more than the executives at American Idol have invested in their reality show contestants. God’s there for a lifetime, not just a season full of commercial breaks and for ratings sake!

Are You Ready to Discover God?

Great! So, we’ve cleared a few things up:

You have been discovered.
You are tremendously valuable.

Now, let’s get to the real question. Are you ready to discover God?

He is the author of life. He knows every chapter and page and paragraph of your future. Besides that, he holds the stars in the sky. He whispers encouragement to you with every breeze that blows through your hair. There’s not a moment that goes by that you’re not on his mind. He totally cares about the things that concern you. (Yes, even the details like which dress is right for prom!)

He created this entire world and everything in it just for you. There’s so much that he wants to reveal to you. So much that he longs to share with you. Having a personal relationship with Jesus is the key to all you can hope and dream.

If you are interested in knowing a God that cool, pray this simple prayer with me:

Dear Jesus, thank you for discovering me, now I want to discover you. I know you died on the cross because of your great love for me. I receive your love right now. Please come into my heart. Forgive me of my sins; wash me in your blood. Touch my life right now. Renew my spirit. Create a clean heart in me. I want to know you---really know you. Will you speak to me? Will you reveal the wonderful secrets of your heart to me? I know I’m just a young person, but you don’t despise my youth! To you, I’m every bit as valuable and important as anyone else. Oh Jesus, cause the joy of your presence to fill my life now. I love you and I give my life to you. I’m so excited to be born again! Amen.

Congratulations on praying that prayer! The angels of heaven are clapping and cheering for you like you just won American Idol, only louder and with much more confetti. Why? Because we’re talking about way more important stuff than Hollywood here, duh!

If you prayed that prayer, please click here to let us know

Check out this awesome scripture found in 1 Peter 1:3-9:

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy" (NIV).

Peace In!

When everything else fades away, Jesus is there. Keep looking every day for new ways to discover him. How? By reading your bible (try Psalms or Matthew), making Christian friends, going to church, and through prayer.

Remember when you pray that it’s just like talking to anyone else. Only you’re talking to God. Listen with a tender heart and you’ll find that God talks back with you.

Everybody knows Ryan Seacrest. He created the popular phrase: “Peace Out!”

Well, let’s you and I forget that bad idea and try “Peace In!” instead.

Jesus will give you PEACE IN your heart and your life today. (Check out Philippians 1:2.)

Do you have a relationship with Christ? Meet Him now.