We were driving home from preschool the other day, and my daughter, Ruby (3 years old), says to me from the back of the car, "mom, I just 'bless you'd' (i.e., sneezed) all over myself." Funny, the things kids say!! I had a good laugh about that one. Well, turns out that God can even use the silly little things kids say to do a profound work in your heart!
I've been noticing a theme in Christian messages I've heard lately, at church, on the radio, about God's love, and the fact that he loves each and every one of us for just being. Just being. Just for taking up space on the couch, at a desk, on the bus. In a prison cell, on a street corner, in an abortion clinic.
He loves us for just existing.
Not for working, doing, helping, striving, straining, succeeding, running, racing, loving, fixing, serving, changing, producing, acheiving, attempting, laboring, toiling, earning, or anything else. Just for being you. After all, that's who He created you to be! This verse in Romans talks about God's love:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38&39 NIV
There is nothing we could do, or not do, to seperate us from God's love, because He loves us for just being.
I've been convicted the past few days about the myriad of lies about myself that I've let creep into my subconscious, and God has started to reveal to me how they shape my view of Him and my beliefs about when and why He should love me. Or, whether He loves me at all.
If I could just..
If only I would...
If only I did...
If only I was more...
If only I had...
If only wasn't so...
Then I would have arrived. Then I would be loveable.
I realized that by allowing these thoughts to take root, I've "bless you'd" all over myself. I've covered a perfect creation with a spray of stinky spit and goopy, nasty, disease-infested snot. How's that for a visual? It's hard to see the perfect creation when you're covered in junk. In lies.
What would your life look like if you truly believed that God loved you for just existing? Would that radically rock your world? I believe that the Lord wants me to learn more about who I am in Him this year, and to hide those truths in my heart. If you are anything like me, this would be a good challenge for you, as well! I'm going to start a list below of truths from the Bible, and I'm going to continue to add to it throughout the year. It will serve as a constant reminder when times are tough and it's hard to believe. Feel free to add your own in the comments below!
Remember that God loves you for just being--don't "bless you" all over yourself today!