An Invitation to the Table
CICELY THOMAS
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“and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.” Colossians 1:12 (NIV)
Years ago, I was invited to a strategy retreat for the organization I worked for. I was thrilled! I love being around creative thinkers and visionary leaders.
Logically, I understood why I was there — I was the executive assistant to one of the leaders, I had deep insight into the organization, and I was also the notetaker. I felt excited and honored to be included.
Still, during one of the sessions, I did a very foolish thing. I looked around the U-shaped table and started silently listing the credentials of everyone in the room. Bad idea. These were highly qualified, experienced leaders, and I felt small, insecure, and incredibly underqualified in comparison.
And that is when the pity party started in my brain:
You don’t belong here.
You don’t add value.
You’re just the assistant. Nothing more.
Instead of rejecting those lies, I welcomed them and agreed with them. I was present in the room but completely lost in the pity party — there was a disco ball and everything! Have you ever hosted a party like this at some point in your life?
But God, in His mercy, interrupted my pity party for one. He gently reminded me:
You are here because I invited you.
You are qualified because I qualified you.
It wasn’t my job title or my credentials that earned me that seat. It was God’s hand that brought me to the table. And that truth changed everything.
We often forget that God is the One who qualifies us. Not education, status, wealth, or talent. He alone qualifies us.
Colossians 1:12 says God is “the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.” And 1 Corinthians 1:27 reminds us “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (NIV).
If the enemy has ever whispered that you don’t belong, you’re not enough, or you have nothing to offer, recognize those thoughts for what they are — lies.
Friends, God has invited you to His table. The only credential needed was paid for by Jesus on the cross. You belong — not just because of who you are but because of whose you are.
You are seated with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). You are called, chosen, and qualified. So walk confidently in the spaces He brings you into, knowing that you are there because God has qualified you to be there!
God, thank You for calling me to Yourself — for inviting me to share in the inheritance of Your people. Help me remember that I don’t need to live up to the standards of this world. You give me everything I need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), and that is enough. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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FOR DEEPER STUDY
2 Peter 1:3, “His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness” (HCSB).
Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them” (HCSB).
Are there any areas in your life where you might be feeling unqualified? What might God be saying to you in those spaces?
What are some scriptures that you can memorize to help combat the lies of “you are not enough”? Let’s start with Ephesians 4:12-13.
We’d love to hear from you — share with us in the comments!
© 2025 by Cicely Thomas. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
Originally published Monday, 06 October 2025.
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