A Devotional on 1 John 3:1: Finding Your Identity as a Child of God

BySierra
365 Mental Health Devotional Challenge: Day 58

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources I’ve personally vetted and believe will support your healing journey.

Stained glass window featuring a biblical scene with Jesus and worshippers in vivid colors.

[Click HERE for the full post!]

Devotional


 1 John 3:1
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”

Faith Connection – Have you ever taken a moment to slow down and visualize how much love our Heavenly Father has for you and I? It is easy to say and acknowledge the love God has for us, but to truly visualize it can absolutely change one’s perspective, especially during the hardest and darkest days. Today, we will be doing an educational review of a visualizing exercise that helps grasp a deeper understanding of the love of our Heavenly Father. 

Visualizing God’s Love Exercise: 

1. Visualize Close your eyes and picture God’s love as a physical substance, not just a feeling.

  • Imagine it as a warm, golden sunlight or a vast ocean.
  • Don’t just look at a “drop” of it. Look at the horizon, it goes on forever. That is the quantity.

2. Soaking Up The Love Of God Instead of just thinking about the love, imagine it pouring into your mind, soul and body, filling you back up. 

  • Identify: Where does your body feel tight? (Chest? Shoulders? Jaw?)
  • Release: Imagine that “lavish” love soaking into those specific tight spots until they soften.
  • The Goal: You aren’t asking for a “dose” of help, but rather you are sitting under a waterfall of grace.

3. Acceptance While you feel that warmth, place your hand over your heart. * Take 3 slow breaths.

  • Say out loud: “This is not a small dose. This is an ocean of love.” (you can also create your own phrase to match your visualization. 

Reflection Questions: Does my current view of God feel more like a demanding boss or a Father who enjoys giving to His children?

Prayer Dear God, Open my eyes today to see the love You are pouring out. When I feel like I am running on empty, remind me that Your grace is not rationed. Help me to accept the identity of being Your child—not because of what I do, but because of who You are. May Your “lavish” love quiet my restless heart today. Amen

Additional Resources

Book Recommendations: I have received a few inquiries from individuals asking to get more information surrounding the devotional topics! If you are interested in learning more about today’s topic I have a great book recommendation below. 

The Abba’s Child: Brennan Manning

Description: Brennan Manning explores the profound difference between living as an “imposter” trying to earn approval and living as the “beloved” child of God. He explains how our internal self-talk and stress often stem from a deep-seated fear that we are not enough, which keeps our bodies in a state of tension. This book provides a spiritual foundation for your visualization exercise, encouraging readers to stop seeking “doses” of validation and instead bask in the “lavish” sunlight of God’s grace. By embracing your true identity as a child of God, you can move away from performance-based living and allow your restless heart to find genuine, lasting peace.

Click here to purchase

Want To Further Your Mental Health Journey? You can actually start reading the many book recommendations on this blog for FREE in the next 60 seconds. Grab a [Free 30-Day Kindle Unlimited Trial here] or [Get 3 months of Audible for just $0.99/mo] to unlock this title and thousands of other mental health tools, instantly on your phone or tablet. (Note: Kindle Unlimited selection varies over time; check the product page for current eligibility.)

Closing Thoughts

You have completed Day 57 out of 365 Days of our 2026 Mental Health Devotional Challenge. I hope you were able to soak up the endless love of Christ in today’s devotional application. Let us know your visualization of God’s love in the comments below. 

If you haven’t subscribed to our newsletter already please consider doing so! Each blog post will be sent straight to your email so you never miss a single day!

I hope you all have the best and most blessed day!

Sierra Stratman MSW LMSW U/S PhD Student

Disclaimer

I am a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), but I am not your therapist. The information provided in this blog post, including book recommendations and mental health insights, is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute a therapist-client relationship, nor is it intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read here.

2 Comments

  1. Taking the intentional time to pause in his presence is harder than I thought. Im thankful to have a new way stop and pause in HIS presence. It’s comforting. There are so many people who tell us we dont even belong in the flock… Jesus didnt shepherd from the stage. He sat with and still does today.

  2. My current view is more of a father with some easily met demands. Not like a boss, especially since the bible gives you everything you need to be a good Christian.

Comments are closed.