How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1
Love has all sorts of implications. Love can feel warm and fuzzy or it can be a choice to act lovingly despite our feelings to the contrary. Love is complicated because relationships are messy. Yet love in its most radical form is God’s grace, His unconditional love for us despite our behavior. We don’t earn His love and we don’t deserve it. God freely gives His love despite the fact that it cost Him something – the life of His precious Son, Jesus. In 1 John 3:1, we learn that He not only extends His love to us, He lavishes it on us! Lavish implies a profusion of love or an excessive amount of love. It’s really mind-boggling to think that God loves us that much!
In the midst of busy lives and difficult circumstances, keeping this lavish love in the forefront of our minds can be challenging. We need a reminder that because of His great love for us, we can experience blessings right now. God’s unconditional love for us has implications for our lives every day.
Lately, I’ve been pondering this concept of love overflowing from God’s heart to mine. I realize His great love permeates every fiber of my being, making it possible for me to live life joyfully, contentedly, and peacefully. My new motto is “Because I am loved by God…” Each day, I make it a practice to fill in the rest of that sentence. Here are some of my fill-in-the-blanks:
Because I am loved by God, I can experience joy in the midst of hardship.
Because I am loved by God, I don’t have to be afraid.
Because I am loved by God, I can have His supernatural strength for today.
Because I am loved by God, I can be content despite my circumstances.
Because I am loved by God, I can trust Him to meet my needs.
Because I am loved by God, I can be true to myself.
Because I am loved by God, I can love others as God has loved me.
Because I am loved by God, my past doesn’t define me. I am set free.
Because I am loved by God, I can have hope for tomorrow.
I’m amazed at how God’s love transforms me. No longer regretting the past or fearing the future, I can live fully in the present knowing I am loved by God.
Dear God, thank You for Your great love that You have lavished on me and on all who believe in You. Thank you for reminding me each day how much I am loved by You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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Text and photo copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of sunset from Pacific Grove, California.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Love has all sorts of implications. Love can feel warm and fuzzy or it can be a choice to act lovingly despite our feelings to the contrary. Love is complicated because relationships are messy. Yet love in its most radical form is God’s grace, His unconditional love for us despite our behavior. We don’t earn His love and we don’t deserve it. God freely gives His love despite the fact that it cost Him something – the life of His precious Son, Jesus. In 1 John 3:1, we learn that He not only extends His love to us, He lavishes it on us! Lavish implies a profusion of love or an excessive amount of love. It’s really mind-boggling to think that God loves us that much!
In the midst of busy lives and difficult circumstances, keeping this lavish love in the forefront of our minds can be challenging. We need a reminder that because of His great love for us, we can experience blessings right now. God’s unconditional love for us has implications for our lives every day.
Lately, I’ve been pondering this concept of love overflowing from God’s heart to mine. I realize His great love permeates every fiber of my being, making it possible for me to live life joyfully, contentedly, and peacefully. My new motto is “Because I am loved by God…” Each day, I make it a practice to fill in the rest of that sentence. Here are some of my fill-in-the-blanks:
Because I am loved by God, I can experience joy in the midst of hardship.
Because I am loved by God, I don’t have to be afraid.
Because I am loved by God, I can have His supernatural strength for today.
Because I am loved by God, I can be content despite my circumstances.
Because I am loved by God, I can trust Him to meet my needs.
Because I am loved by God, I can be true to myself.
Because I am loved by God, I can love others as God has loved me.
Because I am loved by God, my past doesn’t define me. I am set free.
Because I am loved by God, I can have hope for tomorrow.
I’m amazed at how God’s love transforms me. No longer regretting the past or fearing the future, I can live fully in the present knowing I am loved by God.
Dear God, thank You for Your great love that You have lavished on me and on all who believe in You. Thank you for reminding me each day how much I am loved by You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Want to subscribe to future posts? Click here.
Text and photo copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of sunset from Pacific Grove, California.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
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