God's Everlasting Love

     It's a bit of a hum-drum day and I have been spending the better part of my midmorning in The Word with some great coffee and Bethel Music. If you haven't had the opportunity to check out Bethel Music, I HIGHLY recommend it. I have always been able to connect to music fairly well, but when I listen to them praise God with their voices, I feel almost overwhelmed with emotion to the brink of tears. (It doesn't take much for me to cry and get emotional, but these emotions are different). I feel so connected to God when listening to them worship Him. I wish I was there with them all dancing and singing like I see them do on their Youtube channel. It's a fantastic way for me to spend my morning, especially when I've been feeling so spiritually, emotionally, and physically drained lately.

     

     For the past year or so, I have been doing a devotional/Bible study from a fantastic book called Lady In Waiting by Jackie Kendall and Debby Jones (again, HIGHLY recommend it). It gives such great insight into Ruth's story and how her life can be used to help single women find their purpose in Christ while waiting for their Boaz or "Mr. Right". It's been unbelievably encouraging to me, helping me set my priorities and keep my gaze on the One who truly matters. Although I have been in a relationship for quite some time, it is great to look deeper into what a true relationship should look like and how to work on my relationship with Christ so that my relationship with my significant other can be the best ever. I've learned so much about how God sees love and how I should love others, as well as myself. I have been noticing things I've been doing out of habit that aren't healthy for my relationships with my friends, family or with my boyfriend. I have been able to meditate on these things and pray for guidance and patience as I do my best, with God's help, to improve myself so that I'm the best possible version of myself for my future spouse.

     Today's lesson in Lady In Waiting was about Ruth's Security. For those of you who don't know the story of Ruth, she was a widow and chose to stay with her mother-in-law instead of returning to her own people in her own land and possibly have a future of finding another husband. She must have felt lonely and she must have missed her husband deeply, but she trusted in God to bring her someone who was perfect for her. In Hebrews chapter 13 verses 4-8 it talks about how marriage, money and power don't provide the security young women crave, but only God can provide that comfort and that security we all yearn for. Money, possessions, jobs, relationships all fade after time, none are constant, but God's love and His never ending search for our hearts is always and forever. 

     Romans 8:38-39 says it so well, "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

     This passage brought me to tears. I couldn't stop thinking about how unbelievable this is. God, how MIGHTY are you?? Not a single thing can take You from me. Nothing I can or will do will stop You from caring about me and searching for my heart. I am so loved by You, God. I belong to You forever. God, I am so loved by You. How incredibly freeing is this passage? I feel an overwhelming sense of love and peace. I have spent the better part of my high school year looking for acceptance in all the wrong places, looking to be loved by people who used my kindness for their benefit, yet I was overlooking the One Love that wouldn't use me and wouldn't leave me. Who is constant and unchanging. Who is there no matter what mistakes I have made and have yet to make. No matter how hard I try to ignore Him, He comes searching for me. He knows my heart in it's entirety. He knows my every move. That is LOVE. That is ACCEPTANCE. That is CHRIST. How beautiful is that??

Running to His Outstretched Arms

Can't believe it is already Christmas time. This year has FLOWN by and I don't really know what I have to show for it... do you ever feel like that? I'm sure a lot of people do, I just have been feeling it a lot more than usual lately. 

     Then I keep thinking about what I have been studying in my devotions lately and I am trying to be more open to who God says I am rather than what I/others say. It's not easy. Retraining your mind to think positively. I decided to share these not so positive thoughts I have about myself and then share what God says about me below:

1. "I haven't amounted to anything. I feel worthless." 
   God says in Luke 12:7 "Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows."
2. "I am unhappy with my appearance."
   God says in 1 Peter 3:3-4 "Do not let your adorning be external - the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear - but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."
   The Bible also says in Psalm 139:14 "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."
3. "I'm just exhausted. I can't do this anymore."
   Psalm 145:18-19 "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them."
   Psalm 37:23 "The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;"
4. "I feel alone."
   Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
5. "Do I even matter?"
   John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
   1 John 4:16 "So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God and God abides in him."
   1 John 3:16 "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."
   1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
   Romans 8:28 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

     These messages of Truth have really been a great encouragement to me over the past few weeks when I'm feeling down or I am overwhelmed with a sense of doubt or feeling like I'm not going anywhere with my life. God truly cares about me and He definitely cares about you too! A lot of people assume that Christ followers (Christians) don't struggle with anything or that they have their lives all figured out, but everyone struggles at one point or another. I think it's important to be honest about our struggles with unbelievers so they can see where we find our strength. We gain our strength from the only One who can provide comfort in His mighty, capable, loving arms. What a beautiful thing!