How can we discover God’s redeeming love?

I viewed my life differently after I had read and studied books of the Bible over the years and saw over and over Gods redeeming love deliver His people, save His people and ultimately die for us. The people whom God loves and wants to be in relationship with. 

I saw through the scriptures myself as the disobedient Israelite, the adulterous wife, Gomer and the faithful sojourner, Ruth who was looking for a Savior.  I wanted to learn from the many parables Jesus spoke in the New Testament and be more like Mary than Martha. I long to see the gardens that Jesus went away to be alone with the Father.  My heart loves the garden so I know how much tending and weeding it takes a fruitful one.  

I had to rid my life of the guilt and shame. These were titles that I lived with for a long time. I couldn’t reconcile how to leave 

the past in the past. 

It wasn’t until I learned who I am in light of Jesus Christ that revealed to me the Truth of my identity.  If I am new creation in Jesus Christ then I am no longer under the weight of shame and guilt.  It seems easy but our minds need to learn Truth through the scriptures or the enemy will continue to deceive us. 

Isaiah 44:22 “I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.” 

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:4

The lies were a barrier that I had to overcome through prayer and bible study.  God will fight our battles if we bring them to Him in prayer and seek Him through scripture. 

By Gods grace and mercy, He showed me through the scriptures how He uses messed up lives to bring redemption and show us His redeeming love. 

My hope is that you discover Truth for yourself through the pages of the Bible like I have and will continue to do. The scriptures are a never ending treasure for us and they will continue to teach us as we keep seeking Jesus! 

I would love to hear your personal stories below in the comments of discovering Truth. 

blessings ~tracy 

How do we love God more?

Hello there friend-

Have you wanted to love God more?

I have asked this question because I have said I love God but really didn’t have that desire for Him that I longed for.  I saw other women write about God and heard other women talk about God in a way that I had not felt before.  I too wanted that deeper love that I saw in other women walking with God but how?

Sometimes we ask ourselves why we don’t have a deeper desire for God than we do right now because we can often think of loving God as a feeling but it isn’t an emotional feeling.   I first had to learn what is true about God before I could truly say that I love Him and this love and character of God I had discovered in His Word then turned into a desire to know Him more.  I started to realize I had a lot to learn about God and that desire grew for inside me and then my relationship with God grew deeper and more intimate.

Often my first response is to my feelings and in that we have a faulty view of love.  I believed it was conditional feeling that you earned from others.  God tells us the Truth about love. 

We know that God loved us so much that He gave His only son Jesus Christ to die for us so that we could have eternal life. (see John 3:16)  The Bible also tells us, He loved us first and commands us to love others as ourselves (see Luke 10:27) which by the way is something we have to do first before we can even begin to share the love of Christ.

I know this because I have struggled with loving myself through the years.  I don’t think I am alone in that I had lived with guilt and shame of my past sins even though I had repented.  It is the enemy who wants to hold us back from receiving God’s love and sharing it. So begin today and pray for God to break the bondage the enemy might have you in.  Begin loving yourself as the woman God made you to be.  Loved by Him and set apart! (see 1 Thess 1:4)

If you need help beginning a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ…

Start with prayer and repent of any sins in your life or baggage you might be holding onto. He has already forgiven you Sister if you have asked Him.  Then begin by asking God to give you a heart to love and forgive others in your life.  He is a good God and only has good intentions for us. 

Next, begin a daily walk with God by reading your Bible and learning about who God is and His character. As you are spending time in His Word ask these questions, What does this tell me about God? and How should this change me? Simple questions to start learning about God and as He deepens your love and desire for Him. 

I use to think it was difficult to understand and how could I understand the Bible. You can do it! It is not hard just start reading and God will guide you to understanding I promise. He wants to illuminate His Word and open your eyes so you as a woman of God can hide His Word in your heart.  

From here your desire to love God will start. It takes time to grow anything like a plant but little by little we see growth.  That is the same for our spiritual growth, our love for God grows deep roots the more we feed on the Word of God and spend time in prayer with Him. 

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man." ~ Proverbs 3:3-4

The love of God is what begins our journey with Him and our faith will grow from there into a hope of a bright future with Him.  God never changes and neither does His love.  His love is unconditional, steadfast, and eternal.  We can never be separated from his love as a believer.  That is amazing and something we can take comfort in. 

What characteristics of God are encouraging you right now?  Have you started getting intimate with your Savior by reading His Word and learning more about Him? 

Blessings my friends!

trAcy