How Do I Feel GOD’s Love?

Inspiring Lives with Jade Lee

Jade Lee {Podcast at Bottom}

As we are approaching the Month of Love, many may be preparing for the anticipated moment of Valentine’s Day! Yet, we all too often find ourselves filled with emotion during the holiday season. This is because love is in the air every which way we look- in the market, traversing the streets, on commercials- we cannot seem to get away from those chilling colors, crimson and white.

This if you are single, of course. The wait for marriage when trying to live in purity can oftentimes be very difficult.

This is why the entire duration of February we are focusing on how to BeLoved by the Father. These same emotions are felt as we Know we should Feel Loved Emotionally, but we have yet to find the bridge between our Knowledge and Emotional Life.

Even if you are not lonely on Valentine’s Day, perhaps you are married, happily enjoying your sweet family or living life in bliss…there is still a part of every one of our hearts reserved for LOVE. This Unconditional LOVE cannot be filled, by our nearest loved ones or distant friends. It can only be filled by GOD.

Have you ever known in your head Scripture passages such as John 3:16, that Jesus died for you and His Father gave Him for you, yet you cannot seem to find the love He speaks of in your current life? I can remember feeling this same way a few years past. Actually, it was over a decade ago, as a collegiate athlete, enjoying the luxuries of a full scholarship to an illustrious Historically Black College.

Much to my surprise, there were no loosely weaved pullovers, careless sweatpants nor unkempt hair. Walking into the snack bar or lunch room was quite the experience as whiffs of lightly sprayed perfumes accented well-pressed coiffures and model-like movements quickly passed by your wondering eyes.

The caricatures at this establishment were distinct enough to be on any modern tv-show or best selling novel. And somehow, I fit in to this carefully insulated world of luxury glam studies.

I was the typical athlete, donning my sweats everywhere I went, and I knew I was good.

This is me with Jackie Joyner Kersee, the Sports Illustrated for Women Greatest Athlete of the 20th Century and six time Olympic Medalist.

But there was a gaping void in my aching heart. I could not seem to fill it no matter how hard I endeavored.

And the weight of exams, early mornings, all day classes or excrutiating workouts became all the more heavy as I continued in my studies. I would finally have an internal collapse, wondering why I was the MEAC Championship MVP, winning races, at the peak of my running career yet so empty inside, longing for more.

This is me with a teammate carrying our College Track & Field Trophies

This is when I would realize that only Christ could fill this empty placement of my longing heart, no love novel, in spite of how well written…whether on Oprah’s Book List or a New York Time’s Best Seller, could ever play out in my life in such a way that I was fulfilled.

The fancy attire of a 19th Century Jane Austin hardcover would not fulfill me. The romantic wordplay of the most charming gentleman could never immerse this aching heart.

Only One Man would become my knight in shining armor, had enough charisma, magnetism and attractiveness to convey the type of tender affection I so longed.

And He did just that as one by one, every boyfriend or cheating beau, began to break my tender soul.

On top of the world yet broken inside, I began to experience what it meant to BE-Loved.

It was on this journey that I found the significance of my value.

And the voyage never really ends. We continue to realize there are many levels of revelation in regards to LOVE.

You are Be-Loved. The essence of who you are is made to Be-Loved. This is never determined based on your actions, your behaviors, your thoughts or your capabilities.

Many times we have this misunderstood, believing somehow we can win love from GOD, when we are called to receive His love freely!

A world of performance drives us to a mentality that we must Do Something More to win GOD’s Favor, when He is more concerned with us Being, Receiving His Promises by Faith.

Remember, one of our heroic forefathers, the great Abraham simply believed and in the power of his belief, he would eventually receive. This was so paramount that GOD took note of it saying, “Abraham believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)

What we believe about GOD and ourselves can shape our reality and decisions, but belief is about who we are inside, not what we do on the outside. Belief is an active choice yet so principle.

You and I can Believe That We are LOVED beyond our own Imperfections! This is a Powerful Weapon against Loneliness, Condemnation, Fear and Emptiness.

You are LOVED and GOD wants you to feel loved. He wants to pour love into you like never before. He wants this to be Your month of Receiving Love. He is enamored by you and wants to give to you even more than He wants you to give to others.

He is enamored by you and wants to give to you even more than He wants you to give to others.

Do you believe that? Do I really believe that?

Believe you are LOVED and allow yourself the full expression of LOVE!

When we think of the word, “LOVE” what is our inceptive thought? Do we initially think of GOD’s LOVE pouring over our weakened hearts, filling us to overflowing? Or, do we conceptualize earthly relationships, a cumbersome to-do list that we must fulfill…as our minds begin to weigh down in the seemingly impossible burden?

Unfortunately, I believe the latter is all too often true of us; we believe must Do more and Give more when it relates to our connotation of LOVE.

But in this month’s LOVE CHALLENGE, I challenge you to join me in Receiving Love before you feel compelled to give it; it is in this reality that our hearts become tender, finding grace to give even more.

GOD is LOVE.

The truth that we receive love only from Him is liberating.

It frees us from feelings of exasperation, hopelessness, emptiness and unappreciation. We are no longer constantly giving and never receiving, feeling condemning lack, overwhelmed with our inability to please GOD or ever do enough. We no longer, in general, feel UnLoved.

Have you been there before, or maybe you are there right now?

You are always the one giving, giving, and giving while others seem to take for granted your willing nature.

Yet you cannot seem to grasp the essence of tenderness you so desperately need in your own life, a pure and gentle kiss on your trembling cheek, an embracive hug full of “I don’t care what you have done” acceptance, a listening ear hearing out your many thoughts…when will this type of practical love come to me?

When we reach emptiness in this measure, our hearts can become lifelessly cold, numb and giving up on experiencing the fullness of joy promised in the Scriptures.

But I am encouraging you that it is not over; GOD will cause the impossible to begin to occur in your life, even when it seems absolutely impossible. He can and will heal your broken or slightly weakened heart. You are Lovable. He loves you no matter what you do and nothing you do wrong or right can change that truth!

Meditating (deeply focusing your mind on, in silence, repeating them to yourself quietly) on the following passages in our quiet time can begin to cause us to seek out the Only One who can saturate these abandoned spaces of our souls:

• You are worthy of everything because GOD gave you everything– John 3:16 For GOD so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
• GOD wants more than anything to save you from all harm, giving you eternal salvation!– Romans 10:9-13 Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
• No one and nothing has been given the right to condemn you, because the Only One who Could chose not to; He has redeemed you His very life- Romans 8:34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
• He longs for you to be at peace and unworried because He cares about your emotional health– John 14:1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”
• He is very patient and kind towards you; He is not rushing to see you perish, He wants you to thrive!– 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
• He has given you a Forever Helper so you will Never be alone– John 14:16 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,”
• He has given you a way even beyond your own abilities to come to Him; Never feel that you cannot come to Him, He is gentle, kind and forgiving– John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
• He has adopted you as one of His own children and will never leave you nor forsake you; He wants you to experience His love in a deep way. You are embraced and accepted by Him– John 17:26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
• He protects you from evil and is your security– John 17:15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
• He speaks highly of you to His Father; You are Well Spoken Of– John 17:6-8 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

There are many more Scriptures we could meditate on until we feel change occurring in our emotions, but these ten are a great start in resetting our minds back on how GOD truly feels.

BeLoved my sisters and have a wonderful week in Jesus!

What helps you know and feel the love of the Father on weaker days/seasons? I would love to hear your stories and encouraging tips! Share in the comments below!

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