Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Tuesday's Unwrapped

OK, so this could almost be considered a Wednesday unwrapped, but I'm sure you can understand the tight schedule I have.  I did make it to bible study last night for session 9 of Beth Moore's Breaking Free.  If any of you have done this study it's the lesson on God's unfailing love-WOW!  How humbling it was to hear and actually 'get' that I can only love God because He loved me first.
Beth issues a challenge that every time you think of God, or even when you don't, instead of saying 'I love you God' try saying 'I love you too'.  Pretty cool, huh?  I've practiced it several times today and am just awed that He loves me...really, really, loves me!  He is good to me.  He desires my companionship.  How great is that?  The God of this universe that controls EVERYTHING in it loves me?
Do you know that?  Do you feel that?  Even when everything else around you falls apart you can know that He loves you.  Even when you don't love Him as you should or you don't feel His love for you--He loves you still.  He is love (1 John 4:16).  That makes it impossible for Him not to love you!  Kinda confusing, but once you grasp the concept it will change your life.
Beth also made a statement that was eye-opening to me.  She said that 'One of the biggest and least addressed obstacles to loving God:  Thinking I already do when I don't.'  That was a good one!  Think of the person that you love most in this world (your spouse, child, parent, etc.) and ask yourself 'Do I love God more than ___________?'  Don't be ashamed of your answer.  If it is 'No', then ask Him to take that place in your life.  Seek Him daily in His Word and through prayer.  Choose to give Him your first, choice love everyday and trust that He'll cultivate the desire in your heart for Him to be your one true love.
He can do it for you.  He can do it for me and I am going forward trusting that He will!
 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15

3 comments:

Debbie Dillon said...

Wow! That's incredible! "How humbling it was to hear and actually 'get' that I can only love God because He loved me first. Beth issues a challenge that every time you think of God, or even when you don't, instead of saying 'I love you God' try saying 'I love you too'." I LOVE that! Amazing truth from our amazing God.
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog - you're so sweet. Be blessed!

Unknown said...

I'm going to try saying, "I love you too". That really puts it into perspective. Every where I turn, I keep hearing the message that God loves us. I think He's trying to tell His children something. :)

Phather Phil Malmstrom said...

It certainly sounds like a wonderful study Allison! I really like the "I love you too" challenge as well. Thank you for sharing this!

Have a Blessed Day!