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02-02-2008, 02:23 AM
Good news: God loves and approves of you and me! He did even before we were born. In Jeremiah 1:5, He says, Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument]….
We’re celebrating love this month, and I believe that comprehending and receiving God’s love is foundational. I’ve often said you can’t give away something you don’t have.
We can’t truly demonstrate the love of God until we first grasp His love for us. When we receive God’s love and learn to love and accept who we are—who He made us to be—then we become free to love others.
Love, like a diamond, has many facets. There are many ways to express it. We can love others by speaking kind words to them, by giving them material things, or even by the way we think of others. And everyone needs love. Loving and being loved are what make life worth living. We all need to love and be loved.
You see, we each have a God-given destiny. But we need to be free in order to fulfill our destiny. God’s unconditional love and acceptance are the foundation for that freedom. Think about it…who knows you and me better than God? He knows everything—the good, the bad, the ugly—and yet, He loves us. That’s because God separates our “who” from our “do.” While He may not approve of our wrong behavior, that doesn’t stop Him from loving and approving of who we are because we are His. He is the One who made us who we are. He loves and approves of each of us, individually.
So here’s the plan: Receive God’s love, learn to love yourself in a balanced way, love God in return, and love those around you as a result. …God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us (Romans 5:5). The first step is receiving, taking God’s love “in.” Remember, we can’t give away what we don’t have. But with God’s love in us, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can learn to truly love ourselves, to love Him, and to love others in the way He wants us to.
It really is as simple as, “Jesus loves me, this I know….” That’s the beginning. The end result is a powerful love walk that will give the devil a nervous breakdown! Continue to read through this month’s issue for more on love. And remember…
I love you!
Joyce Meyer
We’re celebrating love this month, and I believe that comprehending and receiving God’s love is foundational. I’ve often said you can’t give away something you don’t have.
We can’t truly demonstrate the love of God until we first grasp His love for us. When we receive God’s love and learn to love and accept who we are—who He made us to be—then we become free to love others.
Love, like a diamond, has many facets. There are many ways to express it. We can love others by speaking kind words to them, by giving them material things, or even by the way we think of others. And everyone needs love. Loving and being loved are what make life worth living. We all need to love and be loved.
You see, we each have a God-given destiny. But we need to be free in order to fulfill our destiny. God’s unconditional love and acceptance are the foundation for that freedom. Think about it…who knows you and me better than God? He knows everything—the good, the bad, the ugly—and yet, He loves us. That’s because God separates our “who” from our “do.” While He may not approve of our wrong behavior, that doesn’t stop Him from loving and approving of who we are because we are His. He is the One who made us who we are. He loves and approves of each of us, individually.
So here’s the plan: Receive God’s love, learn to love yourself in a balanced way, love God in return, and love those around you as a result. …God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us (Romans 5:5). The first step is receiving, taking God’s love “in.” Remember, we can’t give away what we don’t have. But with God’s love in us, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can learn to truly love ourselves, to love Him, and to love others in the way He wants us to.
It really is as simple as, “Jesus loves me, this I know….” That’s the beginning. The end result is a powerful love walk that will give the devil a nervous breakdown! Continue to read through this month’s issue for more on love. And remember…
I love you!
Joyce Meyer