Loved Lavishly

Why is it that we so easily buy into Satan’s lies and neglect the truth? Why is it that we focus on what we feel is going wrong in our life and totally miss all that God has done for us? Why do we long for others to love us when we are already loved lavishly? We are some messed up people. On one hand I want to giggle and acknowledge that would be me, but on the other hand I want to lay in the floor and cry because that would be me. Is it you, too?

We focus on Satan’s lies about who we are, what we feel is going wrong in our life and the people who choose to not love us. What we focus on we give power to and before long it is those very thoughts that Satan uses to steal our joy, kill our purpose and destroy God’s plan for our lives. If we were talking with someone else, we would encourage them to focus on the truth about who God says they are, all that He has done for them and the depth of the love He has for them. Maybe today is the day that we start saying those things to ourselves and dwell on who God says we are, all that He has done for us and the fact that we are loved lavishly.

What is the truth about who we are? God, our creator, tells us in His word that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, created in His image and deemed His masterpiece. As children of the King, we have been chosen, forgiven and made complete in Him. We have been uniquely gifted because He desires to use us and our life for His glory. He delights in us. He rejoices over us with gladness and quiets us with His love. We have all we need because we have Him. How would our life change if we accepted that we are who He says we are and lived secure in Him?

What has God done for us? Oh my, there is not adequate space or time to answer this question. What if we made a list of things that God has done? We could start with Him sending His only Son to die for us and His grace upon grace upon grace. Let’s add the breath in our lungs, the physical abilities we have, and the capability of our brain. We must include every good and perfect gift we have ever received because we know they come from Him. We should list each family member and friend, everything we own, our spiritual gifts, talents and strengths, plus any knowledge we have gained. Let’s add every job, trophy, promotion, title, designation, degree, and acknowledgements we have received - not because we are great, but because He is. Let’s stop and look around us right this second and see His blessings absolutely everywhere. What would happen if we focused on and gave power to how good He is and all that He has done?

Do we know that we are loved lavishly? Lavishly means in a sumptuously rich, elaborate or luxurious manner. Being loved lavishly is being loved exceedingly, abundantly above all the love we could ever dare to imagine experiencing. God loves us like that! God loves YOU like that! Oh sweet friend, let’s receive that today. Let’s declare, I am loved lavishly by the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! Ephesians 2:4-5 says “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)”.He loved us long before we loved Him. He loved us when we were lost. He loved us lavishly.

Why is it important for us to get this? Why do we need to accept that we are loved lavishly? Because until we get this, we cannot experience all that God has for us. There is more! There is so much more!

“that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-19

Although we cannot understand or comprehend it, we can accept it. We, my friends, are loved lavishly. The proof is in who He created us to be and in all that He has done for us. Our Heavenly Father loves us so! Because of His great love, we are invited to experience much more. We are invited to be filled with all the fullness of God. What would happen if today we allowed His love to take root in our life?