“All You Need Is Love”; “If You Say You Love Me”; “What the World Needs Now Is Love”; “I Just Called To Say I Love You.” Love songs are ageless. Long after their hit season, the words continue to be remembered. Everyone wants to be loved. Women love a good love story. In the core of your being you long for love. Because you were created in the image of love.
Once upon a time there was a beautiful love story. You were the delightful daughter. He was the loving Father. A villan entered the story and whisked you away. He told you lies about who you were. He tried to distort your beautiful love story. But the rescuer came and rescued you back. Now you are His.
In the beginning, you were created for love. You were created in love. You were brought here to be loved. At the very core of your existence you are the object of His great love. Your life is the greatest love story ever told.
In the beginning God created, for love. It was the love of the Father that made all that we see each day. He had you in mind when He formed the earth. He made it for you. The beauty of the mountains, the depths of the sea, the blue skies that never end, beautiful sunrises and sunsets are offerings of His love. But you, dear one are His masterpiece.
Do you know how deeply you are loved? It is for your heart that He comes. In the beginning, in the shadow of the Trinity, you were created. All He has ever wanted was to love you. Are you comfortable in His embrace?
Many years of my life were spent seeking to be loved. I didn’t understand that I was wanted and pursued. All I knew was that I wanted to be enough, and do enough to be an acceptable gift to Him. My efforts and what I believed about myself held me back from fully entering into love.
Love at it’s core is a gift. It’s not love if it has to be earned. It must be received. Earning holds us back from the full embrace. Many live as the older son in the prodigal son story, hoping somehow that their hard work will help them to be pleasing enough to enter in.
How does the mind grasp it all? How does one move forward to receive that gift that seems so costly? Shouldn’t they have to do something to pay Him back? Shouldn’t it cost them something? He just wants me. He just wants you.
He invites you in. He relentlessly pursues you with His love. He does not see you as you see yourself. He sees you in the light of who He created you to be. He dances over you. He sings over you. He is enthralled with your beauty.
In the stillness of His embrace, you discover His life. It is that “be still and know I am God” place, where His work is enough and you can stop yours. His life begins to be offered through you, showing you the things that matter. He doesn’t want what you can do to earn His love, He just wants you.
God is all about relationship. Relationship is about response. He has no expectations on you. His expectations were fulfilled by Christ. Because He has no expectations on you, you never disappoint Him. Can you grasp that? You are never a disappointment to God.
You have been lied to. He loved you first. You are here on this earth because He loves you. It was love that formed you and brought you here. From the moment He laid eyes on you, He has been pursuing you. He waits to love you. It’s not you that invites Him into your life, He invites you into His. Do you know that He moved heaven and earth to come to you personally, individually, by name?
What holds you back from entering in to be loved? He has thought of you for a long time. He has known you for a lifetime. Will you let Him love you just as you are? That is the invitation.
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17
4 comments:
No wonder we all love Fairy tales...we were designed to love them...so sad that we often miss the real one. This was lovely as always. And thank you for the encouraging comments about my mothering. You are such a blessing.
Copied my thoughts from Heart of the Matter:
Beautifully said. I so relate to every thought here. My heart echoes love.
God's love is constant, it hunts us down and captures us. Once captured, we find our true meaning. Hidden and embraced by love.
Excellent devo. Loved it. Danced inside as I read your heart, Julie. I feel the same way. Want all to know His love...
Julie,
This article speaks to my heart, as you well know by now. Thank you so much for sharing your heart. Your comments on my blog uplift me. The Lord truly blessed me when He revealed such a precious Jewel! I would like to hear more about the ministry you spoke of. God has been so faithful to continue healing me. Of course, there is much more to my story, but looking back now, I see God's faithfulness throughout. Thank you for your tender heart and your encouraging words. You have such a gift of encouragement.
Luv,
laura
The first time I really heard about the "Love Story" was through a book by the Eldriges: Captivating. I know in my head the concept is true, but it isn't real for me yet. I know this may sound strange, but I feel like sharing it: I was so full of emotion as a child, and I know that is part of me but when it comes to my relationship with the Lord, the emotions/feelings have been missing for several years now. I talked with Him about it, but don't understand it. I'm really not sure what to do about it either. Just feels like a waiting game right now. Thanks for the reminder... I know He will get to my heart soon enough.
shanda
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