Make yourself at home Lord

(John 15:9 NLT) "I have loved you even as the Father has loved Me. Remain in My love.

As much as you long to have relationship with God, He desires it even more with you. Because of our own knowledge of how we daily fall short of perfection we, not God, hold back from relationship. I don’t understand how but God sees through our failures into the very heart of who we want to be, who he has made us to be. Think about it, what is your idea of a prefect friend – someone who loves you unconditionally, who sees not only who you are now but who you could be and causes you to be a better person when they are around. God is that and so much more! Somehow our view of God gets so twisted that we cannot enjoy being in His presence for very long. I’m guilty of it and I often have to confess before God that I have allowed fear to take control. My heart longs for Him but everything I’ve ever experienced tells me it’s not possible. How could the almighty God love me in spite of the things I’ve done? Though I need Him at times I push away, I think many times for fear that I’ll be rejected. It’s through study, prayer, and worship that His small still voice whispers the truth to my heart and though the storm of my thoughts and emotions surround me His whisper breaks through telling me that He loves me and cares for me regardless of what I have done or haven’t done. Matter of fact there is absolutely nothing that can separate me from the Father’s love. It is then I ask the Lord if I might have a glimpse of what He sees. He then encourages me by telling me who I am in Him. You ask why do I keep coming back to study His Word? Because of His great love and my desperate need for Him, therefore I will remain in His love for me.

Lord, thank you for loving us more than we can comprehend. Let your people see just how much they are loved today and encourage their hearts. Often we allow failure to turn our faces from you but it is when we fall that we need you the most. Teach us not to turn away from you. Whatever stands in the way of us having a clear view of who you are, would you take it from us this hour? You said that nothing can separate us from your love and by faith we accept that and cling to it, for we are desperate for your kindness and Lord help us not forget what you have done for us so that we may freely give your love to others. May you be blessed Lord as we imitate your kindness and give away that which you have given us! In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.