Yesterday, our squad coaches asked me, “What is one victory you’ve had since the Race started?” I didn’t have to think too long. The answer had everything to do with how established in God’s love I have become.
The big revelation that led to this was the fact that God’s love was evidenced (factually and historically) in the event of Jesus dying on the cross 2,000 years ago >> It has absolutely nothing to do with how loved I might “feel” on any particular day. Let me show you the verses that rocked my world:
- For God showed his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
- In this the love of God has been made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world. (1 John 4:9)
The evidence of God’s love is that he sent his Son to die for me. It’s that simple. Even if I don’t feel loved, I am.
I crafted the following prayer declaration in Sri Lanka, and I said it everyday until I actually started to believe it… which took a couple months. (Sometimes we need to be patient with ourselves. If the truth doesn’t sink in the first time, we might just need to hear it over and over and over. And that’s okay, because I’ve discovered that repetition eventually leads to truths running deep and being cemented).
Here it is:
Thank you for loving me Father! I never again have to question your love or seek to “feel” loved because Christ came and died. For you showed your love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). End of story. I am loved!
And since I know I’m loved, it frees me to love others more fully because I no longer require anything of them. I don’t need their acceptance, I am accepted. I don’t need approval from people, I am approved and wildly pursed by my Creator. People could think badly of me or harshly reject me but it wouldn’t change how loved I am by you.
I’m letting your love swallow up self-consciousness and fear of man. I no longer waste time wondering how I look or what people think of me. I no longer waste time trying to fit in or trying to make people like me. Instead, I have come to know and have believed the love you have for me. For you are love, and when I abide in love, I abide in you, and you abide in me (1 John 4:16). I’m learning to live consistently abiding in the warm embrace of your love.
Papa, I love your love! Thank you for increasing in me the knowledge of your love everyday – for rooting and grounding me in your love, that I may have the strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breath and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that I may be filled with all the fullness of who you are! (Eph 3:17-19).
I hope this blesses your world today! My prayer is that you become established in this truth:
You are loved. End of story.
P.S. Actually… knowing we’re loved is only the BEGINNING of the story. Because once that’s established, we can go love others with the same outrageous love that we know deep in our hearts. We love because he first loved us! (1 John 4:19)
