Do you believe that God loves you for real? Have you let that sink in your heart? Or is it only a nice,  intellectual concept for you? God’s monumental love for us is a fundamental fact of Christian faith. If you don’t yet fully embrace it ask God to enable you to believe it. When you really grasp this lovely fact it opens you up to be fully human and fully alive.

Because your value comes from God: you are his child.
Your joy comes from the Lord: you are forgiven.
Your peace comes from above: this world is not everything there is!

What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to. But friends, that’s exactly who we are: children of God. And that’s only the beginning. Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see him—and in seeing him, become like him. All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus’ life as a model for our own. (1 John 1: 2-3, MSG)

This world does not recognize God for who he really is. But God’s marvelous love is a game-changer. When we truly embrace God’s unconditional love we are forever changed. Nothing looks the same anymore. Suddenly we see Christ and – in experiencing his grace – we slowly but surely become like him. And this is only the beginning! We have been called for so much more!

“You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16, MSG)

We’ve been called not only to bask in God’s marvelous love but let that love shine through us! God’s amazing love is not a secret to be kept! We are called to be generous with our lives, to share what keeps us shining through the storms in our lives. We are called to reflect God’s light into the dark world, to share what makes our life worth living with gusto. By opening up to others, we’ll prompt people to open up with God, to receive God’s marvelous love, healing touch, and empowering grace.

Dear pilgrim, don’t ever forget God’s love for you.
It’s real, it’s life-giving, it’s uplifting.
There’s nothing better than that!
Light for people in darkness!
Love for people living in hatred!
Freedom for people under pressure!

 

Gracious God,
Thank you for your marvelous love!
Enable us to fully embrace your grace!
Cleanse our souls so we could
better reflect your light to the world.
Shine through us!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Do you believe in your heart that God loves you for real?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you live in love and let God’s love shine through you!

Image courtesy of Russell Martin. Linking up with , Friday Favorite Things & Brag on Fridays/It’s not about me November.

Weekend Prayer Wall @flowingfaith is time for prayer and praise!

Link up your prayer post or participate in the comment section!

The link up will open on Saturday morning and close on Sunday night.

“Pray, and let God worry” ~Martin Luther