A few weeks ago I had the privilege to speak to 250 jr. high and high school students about the love and character of God, and His heart for all of us. Before I continue, let me preface: the dream of God’s heart is for us to love Him with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. It’s the FIRST commandment. But think about it; He desires voluntary lovers, affection children who worship Him with all of their adoration and surrender, who know and trust His character. He desires lovers who choose to die to their sin and choose the abundant life He offers through Jesus…which includes the beauty of being made new, of joy, of restoration, of hope, of healing, of infinite Love.
Here’s the thing---Satan wants you to believe lies about the character of God.
You don’t think you believe any lies about the character of God? Read on. These are lies even I have believed subconsciously at times.
LIES: You have to earn God’s approval and love. There are requirements to meet. You have to fulfill certain steps to please God. A relationship with God is just about being saved from hell for eternity. God will make bad things happen in your life to teach you a lesson. God’s love is relative and behavior-based. If you sin, it’s a mark against you.
TRUTH: God’s desire is FOR you not against you. That’s why He set up things to work in your favor through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jesus said we should approach God as “Father.” Jesus said to “Abide in My love” (John 15:9). God is NOT into torment---He loves you with a perfect love, and perfect Love casts out all fear. It’s by His grace, love, and goodness that when bad things happen that He works all things together for our good. As my pastor says, God came to DESTROY not to employ the works of darkness. His heart for you is goodness (Jer. 29:11). Satan wants to lead you to guilt, shame, fear, isolation, condemnation….Father God speaks life, joy, peace, clarity, freedom, and sometimes conviction, but hope in that. Jesus came that we might have abundant life in God. If you sin or make mistakes, which you will still do even if you’ve given your heart to God and are ‘saved,’ God won’t love you any less when you mess up. Jesus’ blood covers ALL of your sins---yesterday, today, and forever! Your failures and shortcomings don’t define you, God does. Don’t grade yourself differently than God does. It’s not your job to fix yourself---He is the Healer, and we’re just responsible for being obedient and surrendering to Him, because we can trust Him. You are never too far gone. He’s the God of the entire universe, and He is far greater than our weakness. He is the strength in our weakness.
One of my dear friends went running a few months ago. As she ran, she crossed paths with a guy around 20 years old. God spoke to her and said, “He’s having problems with his parents and is feeling hopeless and alone. Go pray with him.” She wasn’t sure if it was God speaking to her, so she prayed, “God, if that’s You, bring me across his path again.” A few minutes later, she ran by him. She finally got up the nerve to track this guy down and tell him what the Lord had just told her. He started to weep in her arms and she prayed with him. THAT is the heart of God. He pursues you too, with the same desire---to let you know He cares and desires to see you made whole, complete with His joy.
My old roommate has had knee problems for a few years. Someone approached her this summer and said that God hurts when she hurts, and He wants to make her well. This person prayed over her knees, and she told me that she took her first pain-free steps in 3 years. THAT is the heart of God. He speaks healing and life to those who choose to embrace His offer.
At the beginning of my freshman year of college, I bought a poster, which is a photograph of the silhouette of a couple in Italy. Sitting in my room alone one night, I poured out my frustration to God of how no human relationship of any sort will ever fulfill. He then revealed His character to me, as I covered the poster with these truths:
“You will fill me with joy in Your presence.” Psalm 16:11
“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zeph. 3:17
“Beauty for ashes, joy for mourning…” Isaiah 61:3
“Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with Me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear upon the earth; the season of singing has come!” Song of Songs 2:10-12
“I am He who comforts you.” Isaiah 51: 12
“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’” Rev. 21:5
“My Lovingkindness and my Fortress, my High Tower and my Deliverer, my Shield and the One in Whom I take refuge.” Psalm 144:2
“As the Father loved me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” John 15:9
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait on Him.’ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the ones who seek Him.” Lam. 3:22-25
“He rescued me because He delighted in me.” Psalm 18:19
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your hunger with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:2-5
“Love never fails.” 1 Cor. 13:8
“I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:20
Jesus paid in full for you. God waits for you to seek Him, and the dream of His heart is for you to love Him.
I can’t use eloquent words or captivating stories to change your heart, or life, or even begin to grasp where you are at, you who read this. The Holy Spirit does all the work, and God gets all the praise. Please know that He has you reading this for a purpose though. And He loves you with an everlasting Love.
“From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'” Acts 17:26-28
This very moment is a determined time. What will you do with it, oh precious child? You are His desire…and your love is the dream of His heart.
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