What Does God Say About You?

April 5, 2026

START HERE

Before anything else, slow down and sit with this:

What do you believe God sees when He looks at you?
What report are you currently believing about yourself?

Be honest.

“Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7

THE PATTERN IN SCRIPTURE

Over and over again in Scripture, we see the same pattern:

People label based on the past.
God names based on purpose.

Jephthah was labeled the son of a prostitute and treated as an outcast, rejected by his own brothers and driven away.
“But Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior… and he was the son of a prostitute.” — Judges 11:1
“They drove Jephthah away…” — Judges 11:2

Yet when it was time for war, the same people who rejected him came back to him.
“Come and be our leader, that we may fight…” — Judges 11:6

God saw him as a leader before people did.

Abram was seen as childless, a man without legacy.
God said he would be the father of many nations.
“No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.” — Genesis 17:5

Jacob was known as a deceiver and a liar.
God renamed him Israel.
“Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel…” — Genesis 32:28

Joseph was seen as just a dreamer, dismissed and rejected by his brothers.
God raised him to leadership and authority.
“You shall be over my house… only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” — Genesis 41:40

Moses was known for murder and running away.
God called him to deliver His people.
“Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people… out of Egypt.” — Exodus 3:10

Gideon saw himself as weak and insignificant, the least in his family.
God called him a mighty man of valor.
“The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” — Judges 6:12

Rahab was known as a prostitute.
God redeemed her and brought her into His people and lineage.
“But Rahab the prostitute… Joshua saved alive.” — Joshua 6:25
“Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab…” — Matthew 1:5

Deborah could have been overlooked as just a woman and a wife.
God established her as a judge and prophetess.
“Now Deborah, a prophetess… was judging Israel at that time.” — Judges 4:4

David was overlooked, left out, and forgotten even by his own family.
God chose and anointed him as king.
“Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” — 1 Samuel 16:12

Ruth was an outsider, a Moabite with no claim.
God brought her into His covenant story and lineage.
“…a son has been born to Naomi…” — Ruth 4:17
She is later named in the lineage of Jesus — Matthew 1:5

Paul was known as a persecutor of believers.
God called him a chosen instrument and an apostle.
“He is a chosen instrument of mine…” — Acts 9:15

God does not define you by your past.
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…” — 2 Corinthians 5:17

WHAT YOUR NOTES REVEAL (JEPHTHAH INSIGHT)

Jephthah’s life shows something deeper:

The people closest to you may reject you.
You may be treated like an outcast because you’re different.
People may only see your past and not your calling.

Yet God still calls you.

The same people who rejected Jephthah ended up needing him.

The same people who hate you and mistreat you may be the same people who need what God placed inside you.

WILDERNESS AND PREPARATION

It may feel harsh, but it has purpose.

What Jephthah went through prepared him for where God was taking him.

Sometimes God removes you from environments:

where you are comfortable
where people limit you
where you rely on others more than Him

So you can learn to rely fully on Him.

This was Jephthah’s wilderness.
This was Joseph’s process.

PERCEPTION VS PURPOSE

At first, they saw Jephthah as:

the son of a prostitute

Then:

a warrior

Then:

a leader

People’s perception of you may change over time, especially when you don’t let what they thought stop you from becoming who God called you to be.

Even then, some people will still see the old version of you.

But they cannot deny what God is doing in you.

GOD GIVES A REPORT TOO

We spend so much time focused on what people say.

But God speaks.

“There is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man…” — Job 1:8

Before the trial…
before anything…

God already gave a report about Job.

“Let God be true though every one were a liar.” — Romans 3:4

IDENTITY STARTS WITH RELATIONSHIP

God does not start with what you do.

He starts with who you are to Him.

He is Father first.

“Our Father in heaven…” — Matthew 6:9
“I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me…” — 2 Corinthians 6:18

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God…” — 1 John 3:1

Before anything else:

You are His child.

Then:

He is your King
your Savior
your Healer
your Provider

But identity begins with relationship.

THE REAL ISSUE

If you believe:

what people said
what your past says
what the enemy whispers

You will be confused about who you are.

“He is a liar and the father of lies.” — John 8:44
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” — John 10:10

Because:

Wrong voice leads to wrong identity.
Wrong identity leads to wrong direction.

“As he thinks in his heart, so is he.” — Proverbs 23:7

REFLECTION

Take your time with these. Don’t rush.

What labels have been placed on you?
Which of those have you believed?
If God gave a report about you right now, what would He say?
Do you truly see God as Father, or only as someone you go to when you need something?
Where has your environment or people around you limited how you see yourself?
How would your life change if you actually believed what God says about you?
What is one label you need to release today?

“Examine yourselves…” — 2 Corinthians 13:5