“Praise be to the Lord, for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege. In my alarm I said ‘I am cut off  from your sight”! Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.” Psalm 31:21-22 NIV

Today as I sit reflecting on love and grace in my life I realize that You have always been there, even in the times I felt You abandoned me. I realize now that my feelings do not dictate Your actions. My feelings do not tell me the truth about Your love for me. My feelings cannot even begin to fathom the depths of Your love for me. I’m fragile and fail at times, in need of Your strength and Your resilience. You are strong and powerful, yet oh so gentle in Spirit. Your love is too grand to even measure.

It is so overwhelming knowing that I am held even in the times I feel alone. It is so refreshing to know that You are not like man, You are not here just because of what I can give.

You are here because You love me for me.

I so love the way you love me.

I love the way You calm my fears when I am shaken.

I love the way You whisper my name to let me know You are near and I am loved by You.  Oh to sense Your presence in those times of loneliness and feel Your embrace when I am weary and afraid. There is none like You Oh God.

You are my Peace.

You are my Rock.

You are my Hope.

You are the Lover of my soul, in You I find peace.

In You I find rest. In You I find the grace to continue on.

Thank You Lord for reminding me that You are still here. You have not forgotten about me. You have not forsaken me. You are working even when I can’t see it. Even when I don’t believe it. Thank you. My fears were real. They were valid and You heard me. You heard my cry. You answered every complaint showing me that You care. You are concerned about me. You are with me. You got me. Thank you.

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

Do you know this love that is found in God alone, through Jesus?  Would you like to have a relationship with Him?  It starts with a simple heart felt prayer:

Lord, thank You for dying so we can be set free from all of guilt and sin — no matter how big or small.  Your blood has erased all of our sin. Thank You so much! Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be. Amen

FURTHER READING

If  you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, you can learn how to start one at this link:
https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws

The post To Be Loved By You appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded.” James 4:8

It takes a special kind of courage to draw near to God. Yet the reward is amazing as His presence comes near to you. God’s presence is actually the very thing our hearts seek. It fills us and fulfills us all at the same time. It can completely change the mundane into the opportunity to see beauty and feel awe. Can you even remember the last time you felt awe at what God was doing in your ordinary life?

But what does that look like on a Monday morning as you rush off to another week chasing your job?

1.    Be Intentional: If you truly want to feel God’s presence and know His wisdom and peace then it takes setting aside even a few minutes to draw near to Him.

2.    How do you do that? Open your hands – actually do it – and ask God to take the things that interrupt His flow in your life. Ask Him to point them out. Listen. Actually do the motion of washing your hands while asking God to help you make changes.

3.    Offer your heart. Lift your clean hands now toward Heaven and offer God your heart, asking Him to fill it with His wisdom, peace, joy and presence.

4.    Be single minded in following Jesus. When we are double minded (one day seeking Him, the next day ignoring Him) we will find instability rocking our minds and emotions.

As you reach out to Him, He will reach back to you. It’s a promise. His presence will make all the difference in the stability and fulfillment of your life.

Father God, So many things distract me and You often seem far away in my day to day reality. Help me to use the exercise daily of opening my hands and having You show me what I need to wash out of my life. Then extending my arms to heaven to receive from You as You reach back to me with the fruit of Your Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, faith, humility and self control Galatians 5:22).  Please help me to be intentional today in drawing near to You. In the strong name of Jesus, I pray, amen.

By Gail Rodgers

If  you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, you can learn how to start one at this link:
https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws

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The post Courage to Draw Near appeared first on Thoughts About God.