Leaning In
"Though Our Feelings Come And Go God's Love Does Not"
quote by C.S. Lewis.
His love is enough. In keeping with my journey on the love of God, I see that His love for me is EVERYTHING. As I dig deeper into who Christ is to me, I am learning that I have to lean in more to the love He gives. Ever been on a rollercoaster and out of fear you tense up? After you go on a few times you realize it wasn’t as bad as you anticipated so you start to lean into the dips, turns, and curves. Letting God have control and trust His love this way is like the roller coaster experience. Life comes fast. There are curves, twists, bends, turns, highs and lows, but leaning in allows me to receive the fullness of God’s love.
I was in my quiet time last week and I asked the Lord, “How do I see your love? How do I know the difference between a false love and Yours? How do I lean in so I can completely embrace that perfect love You have purposed for me? Once I see Your love, how do I run towards it and not away from it?” The Lord took me over to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 in the English Standard version. It was in this:
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[a] it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. (ESV)
He very gently told me to replace the Word love with God. Since God is love. (1 John 4:8) This nudge made perfect sense to me. So it would read. “God is patient and kind. God does not envy or boast. He is not arrogant or rude. God doesn’t insist on His own way. He is not irritable or resentful. He does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. God bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. God never ends (or fails as in some translations).” This realization blew me away. It dawned on me that to discern if a love comes from God it would check the boxes then I could lean into it. I can relax and not be worried. I was then pulled into a place of rest. I could lean into His love like a comfortable pillow or soft fluffy chair. Picture this love that can wrap its arms around you and give you that embrace you’ve longed for, but never received. Imagine a love that never leaves you nor forsakes you. (Deuteronomy 31:6) Even if your family did, this Love, God, never will. (Psalm 27:10)
I could also trust that if God were to place people in my path that said they loved me I could use this passage as a barometer to know if it was true. Now obviously, as human beings we are flawed so no human love will ever be perfect. At the same time if the love comes from God we are to strive to be perfected in God’s love and how we love one another (1 John 4:18, St. John 13:34) . I don’t have to fear love. I don’t have to fear God because His perfect love for me drives out fear. I don’t have to fear allowing those around me to love me. This is not easy for me to always garner as I tend to worry that I cannot reciprocate fully that love. Then the thought that maybe the love given won’t last… When God places that unconditional love in our hearts there is no condition. Nothing compares. There is no reason to worry or fret. God has done the work. Now all I have to do is lean in.
Let's pray: Lord, we thank You that you are here to let us lean into the love that only comes from You. Your Word says that You are love. It is the ultimate love. Help us to perceive it and accept it. Help us to relax and embrace. Even if that love comes in a different package than we thought, teach us to allow Your love to lead us. Guide us with love. We say, “yes”. We will be comfortable in love. We will be perfected in this love. You are what we long for in this life. Your love is what we have been searching for all along so we will lean in by faith in Jesus' name.
If you are reading this and have never accepted Jesus as Your Lord and Savior this is the time. If you have once walked with God, but you have strayed away, here is your moment. There will never be a more ideal time than now to surrender your life to the One who loves you most. He wants to call you out of darkness into His marvelous light. No strings attached. No hidden motives. He just wants a relationship with you. If this is you please say the prayer below.
Sinner’s Prayer: Lord, I confess that I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. He died on the cross just for me. I also confess with my mouth and believe with my heart that He rose again on the 3rd day, paying my sin debt in full. He is now seated at the right hand of power, interceding for me to the Father. I thank You, Jesus, that as I pray this prayer and believe with my heart that You have saved me. I receive Your love and commit my life to You. You are now the Lord of my life. Thank You for all that You have done and will do for me in the future. In Jesus name, Amen.
Scripture References: Proverbs 4:23, 1 John 4:8, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 27:10, 1 John 4:18, St. John 13:34 - All references are English Standard version unless otherwise stated.
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