So, grab a cup of coffee (or tea!), get comfortable, and lean in ~ I want to tell you something very important for this new year ~2014! Are you listening? Really listening? ok…. YOU ARE LOVED! Yep, that’s it LOVED! Now, don’t look so disappointed! Did you think I was going to say that you had won a million dollars or something?! Come on, sistah! Get real! LOVED is even better than a million bucks! Now don’t go rolling your eyes, it is! Let me ask you, do you know that you are loved? And, not that superficial kind of “love” – you know how we kind of throw that sayin’ around at the end of phone conversations, emails, etc…. I mean L-O-V-E-D! Do you feel L-O-V-E-D? If you don’t, then listen up…..you are L-O-V-E-D!
OK, so you may not have the “love of your life” in your life. Remember, there really is no human “prince charming”! You may not have a friend that you feel truly loves you, and maybe you don’t even have a close family relationship. For that, I am truly sorry, but do you know what? There is someone who you can count on, who loves you, supports you, and is your “prince charming”! God, our Father, loves you! Really L-O-V-E-S you!
Let’s consider the following scripture from Isaiah 43:1-4 (the Message):
“Don’t be afrid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end-because I am God, your personal God, the Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you…! That’s how much you mean to me! That’s how much I love you!” (emphasis mine)
I know that me, or anyone else for that matter, telling you how much God loves you isn’t going to make you feel it! YOU have to open yourself up to allow yourself to feel it. Yep, it’s all up to you! Now, I’m not being bossy here or critical ~ please here me, I’m speaking from experience here! ~ I have been a Christ follower for the majority of my life, but until the past several years I never really FELT love. Oh, I knew in my head that God loves me and had accepted His love, but that really heart wrenching level of acceptance didn’t come for me until a few years ago and, friend, I have to tell you – it’s AWESOME! There is a level of self-confidence, security, joy, and contentment that comes with this kind of love that is just, well, AMAZING!
I know this is risky to open yourself up like this; especially if you have a wounded heart. Trust me, I’ve been there, too! It is risky! It makes you vulnerable. (And, if you are anything like me – one of THOSE people who doesn’t like to cry in public – it’s an even bigger risk…..I get it!)! But, please hear me – it is worth it!
So, friend, I encourage you for 2014 to be OPEN to feeling His love.
1. Open your Bible and begin reading His message to you. Not sure where to start? Well, try 1 Corinthians 13 (the love chapter!) and the book of John. Then, personally, I like Romans….especially Romans 8:31 (“If God is for us, who can be against up?” NIV).
2. Pray! Pray and LISTEN! Ask God to reveal His love for you and, then, listen and look for His answer. He will answer you! And, if you’re like me and have difficulty being comfortable with being vulnerable (isn’t that an oxymoron!?!), when you pray look up, with eyes open and palms up. I know this seems odd, and in the beginning it’s a little uncomfortable….ok, it’s a whole lot uncomfortable, but it really helps to begin developing a true closeness with our Father. Yep, OUR Father! Or, you could address him as Dad! Or, Papa! Whatever makes you comfortable and whatever helps you feel closer to Him.
I’ll close for now! Try these things, ok? And, will you comment and tell me how it’s going, please? ‘Cuz, remember, the goal here is to completely and entirely feel ~ YOU ARE LOVED!
Praying for you! 🙂
Jacqueline's Jive 