We Forget God's Love.

Wes's message last week really reminded me of how great God's love is for us, and how quickly we seem to forget that.

1 John 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

To be honest with yall I've struggled throughout my life with feeling unlovable, unwanted, and undesired. I have made many decisions to win the attention of others. To feel loved, needed, wanted, or make someone proud... even if only for a moment. Thinking about this reminded me of the other verse Wes shared with us Tuesday:

1 John 2: 15-17 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

Sometimes it is hard for me to believe that God could still want me or still love me when I stumble. That's when I remember the cross, and the incredible grace, mercy, and forgiveness that comes from Jesus Christ. "God check's all the boxes", he loves and wants all of us even with our imperfections. This true love is never lost.

Why then do we so quickly forget that and settle for anything less? By choosing our own ways and not trusting our Father, who's love is unconditional, we are doing just that. Why do we not surrender our hearts to the Lord, trusting Him, loving Him fully, completely, and unconditionally? We should never base our worth, or how lovable we are, by what others think, or how they make us feel. Rather remember that our Father's great love is lavished on us. It is perfect. It is unconditional. It is unfailing.

The second verse really hits home "The world and its desires pass away." Many times when I won the attention, affection, or praise from friends, family, or guys, not too long after I was left feeling even worse than before. Those moments so quickly fade.

There is no greater love than God sending his son Jesus to die on the cross for us. That through his life, death, and resurrection we may have eternal life with our Father in Heaven... who has CHOSEN us. (John 15:19)

We are unconditionally loved. We are children of God.

Praying for you all~

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