Walk away changed!

This is the last week of the 'love' month! Specifically 'love your neighbor has yourself'. There have been many good lessons and insights for me, none of which is so glaringly obvious as, "I can't." And that's really okay, because He can and will. in me, and through me. So that leads to today's post. The 'in me', part. I want to think about what that means and looks like. My sister and I have been having some great conversations about the love of God toward us and how crucial it is that we get it, really get it. Not in our heads, only through knowledge and understanding, but in our hearts where mind and spirit meet. Simply knowing isn't enough. So how does it get from head to heart?

He does it. We show up. We ask. We read. We listen. We wait. He opens the eyes of our hearts, He reveals, challenges, moves, motivates, heals, loves. And we walk away, changed. We can't remain unchanged when we sit in His presence and ask Him to reveal His love for us, any more than your children remain immature and childish in the presence of your home and your guidance. They grow up and reflect your love, your training, your time invested in their character. How many of you hate it when your child wants to know more about your opinions, thoughts, life? How many of you send your kids running and hiding when they just want to come and sit on your lap and hug your neck? How many of you cringe when you see yourself, your spouse or your siblings characteristics come out in your own children. None! We feel blessed when these things happen. It occurred to me this morning that His fingerprints are all over us!!! He wants us to come and hang out with Him, He enjoys us! He put His design, His characteristics and traits, His strengths and talents in each of us and He likes His creation, I think He called us 'very good' in Genesis!

We are designed to reflect the love and care that God put into each of us. We were made to know Him, to recognize His voice, receive His love, walk in His ways, and love Him back. That is the most important thing we can ever, ever do! Nothing in life is more important or life changing than truly understanding how very much we are loved, cared for and nurtured by our Heavenly Father. We can only love others out of a heart response to His love for us. Whatever is in the way of truly receiving His love has got to go! And trust me, we are opposed on every side. Everything will try and stomp out our belief of His love for us individually and on a daily, personal, moment by moment basis. Every lie of hell, every wound, every misconception, disappointment, trial, sickness; you name it, will try and scream to us that if God really loved us, this would not be happening. It simply isn't true. We can't let the stuff of life keep us from finding our true love, our true purpose, and our true selves. We will only find it in His arms. 'The eternal God is our refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms' Deuteronomy 33:27