Sometimes
I’m not sure what God is saying to me, but there are other times when His
message is unmistakably clear. Obvious, even. This is one of those times. And
since I know I can’t be the only one who needs to hear this message, I want to
share it with you.
First it
came on a card they passed out at church entitled My Confession. We read it
aloud together for weeks and I continue to read it almost every morning. The
words, “I am the beloved of God” have started burning their way into my heart.
Next it came
in Pastor Jeff’s sermon from Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” He
spent a whole sermon on the word “BE” and one of his points was—BE Loved. This BE
is not something I must do, but something already true to recognize and accept.
I admit I have believed otherwise because of things said and done by others that
made it seem untrue.
Then I
started reading a book I got for Christmas and found His message there. “Live
from the abundant place that you are loved, and you won’t find yourself begging
others for scraps of love.” The author continued. “Living loved is sourced in
your quiet daily surrender to the One who made you.” (Uninvited by Lysa Terkeurst)
If that was
not enough, because God knows sometimes I’m a little dense, He told me again.
This time in a song. Driving to the gym feeling frumpy in my too tight workout
clothes, berating myself for things I didn’t
say, and regretting things I did say.
I was in the middle of beating myself up for my many failures when I heard
“Live Like You’re Loved” by Hawk Nelson.
Okay, God, I get the feeling you’re trying
to tell me something?
Clearly, I need to not only hear I am
loved and believe I am loved, but let
it permeate my whole being and live
like I’m loved.
But how? When
past experiences have shattered my trust. When my mind rebels at the thought
that anyone, even God, could really love me. Especially God, who knows every
detail about me.
I thought
about my mom, dad, and sisters. They love me. They know me—silly, serious, and creatively
warped; they have seen me at my best, and my worst. They know all my
embarrassing stories. Yet I know without a doubt they love me and are committed
to me. No matter what.
How do I
behave when I’m with them? I’m relaxed, happy, content, sincere—eager to be in
their presence.
And I think
about my dear Kelly. He knows me better than anyone besides Jesus, and has the
power to wound me like no other. But he doesn’t. I’m confident in his love,
because he shows me every day he’s committed to us. It doesn’t matter if I have
bad breath or hairy legs, whether I make his favorite dinner, or if I embarrass
us both blurting out something stupid.
And how do I
behave with Kelly? I look forward to being with him, cherish and protect our
time together, and try to think of ways to bless his days the way he blesses
mine. I can be honest with him and look forward to a life of love, laughter,
and adventure.
I don’t have
it all figured out yet, but I’m trying to let this trickle into my spirit and into
my relationship with Jesus. To walk confidently in His love for me. To use my
energy to welcome others into that love, instead of focusing on my latest mess
up, since He has made it so very clear I am loved, accepted, invited—unconditionally.
He may have
to say it a few more times in a few more ways before I really get it, but I do
believe I’m beginning to get the message.
#youareloved
#livelikeyou’reloved #doesGodreallyloveme #whowouldloveme #beloved
So many valuable truths in this post. Thank you. Marion Duckworth
ReplyDeleteI am learning live, pray, see myself and others as the beloved. It is freeing. When I doubt myself, or when I think someone thinks less of me I go back to "Jesus Loves Me" I have sung it until it sinks in my spirit. Until Jesus loves me is all that matters.
ReplyDeleteTracy via facebook
Very true! These are truths we need to keep repeating over and over until it sinks in.
ReplyDelete