I was a single woman in my late twenties when I fell in love with Jesus. One glimpse of His grace, and I was His forever.
The truth? No one will ever love you like Jesus.
When we need forgiveness, He extends it.
When we long for a fresh start, He delivers it.
When we ache to be loved, He provides it.
His love, like His grace, is sufficient. Our online sister, Joanie, captures it perfectly: “Indescribable, immeasurable, intentional, and unconditional!”
Absolutely.
“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever” (Psalm 100:5). Here, love is that splendid Hebrew word hesed, meaning “favor, covenant loyalty, loving-kindness,” which God showers on “the lowly, the needy, the miserable.”
If we’re honest, that would be every one of us.
Lynne admits, “I fail and doubt, yet He still loves me.” We understand, sister. We’re amazed by that reality in our own lives. As Alison puts it, “His grace-filled love says, ‘See this girl? She’s mine.’”
God says the very same about you, beloved. You are His.
His love is “loyal” (LEB), filled with “kindness” (NLV), and brimming with “mercy” (AMP). To be sure we understand how long His love will last, more than forty times in His Word we’re reminded, “His love endures forever.” Notice it doesn’t say, “…unless you mess up.” Forever means forever.
Sharon rightly says, “I know I can never do anything that will make Him stop loving me.”
Wow. Let that one sink in. And this.
Oh, yes. Vivian is a woman who has plumbed the depths of what it means to be loved by God: “He loved me when no one else did. He loved me before I even knew Him.”
And consider this: God speaks all five Love Languages:
- He offers His followers affirming words in His Word.
- He has performed, once for all, the ultimate act of service.
- He lavishes those He loves with spiritual gifts.
- He gives His children endless quality time.
- He wraps believers in His gentle embrace.
Do you ever (secretly) think that you and the Lord have something special going on? You do. Saint Augustine said, “God loves each one of us as if there was only one of us to love.”
So, how do we experience His love?
Open the door. Invite Him in.
“God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5). Here, the Greek word agapé means “love, benevolence, goodwill, esteem.” All good, all God, all ours to receive.
When He gave us the Holy Spirit, He “flooded our hearts with his love” (EXB). The emptier we were, the greater our awareness that something was happening inside our hearts and minds. His love never leaves us the same. It both humbles and strengthens. Tears down our pride and rebuilds us in His image.
Once we grasp the truth of God’s love, He asks us to give it away. “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God” (1 John 4:7). No need to fear running on empty: the more love we pour out, the more love He pours in. Restoring our souls. Replenishing our supply.
Astounding, isn’t it?
Heavenly Father, even when we’re not lovable, You love us. Even when our love for You waxes and wanes, Your love is steady, ever-present, eternal. Help us trust You enough not to hoard or hide Your love. Enlarge our hearts, Lord. Fill us and flow through us. The love is all Yours. May the glory be all Yours as well.
How do you experience God’s love? Please share your thoughts below. I know your words will bless us all.
Your grateful sister, Liz
@LizCurtisHiggs
P.S. Since I was late with this post (sorry!), look for another one later this week. Trust me, there’s nothing I’d rather do than encourage you!
Since loosing my son and my husband leaving, I claim his promises to get through each day. His word is a lamp unto my feet. His love is forever.
Freda, I honestly cannot imagine the weight of your sorrow, but I am so encouraged by your brave and faith-filled sentences. Jesus holds all things together with the word of his power, and it seems that you have found Him holding you.
Hey chicks! Sometimes in my hardest times The Lord will send someone in my path and they will speak just a few words and I will know immediately it is Him speaking to me. Recently I was have bi-lateral knee surgery and during the surgery I woke up. The antithesisolgist ask me if I was ok and as I talked to him, Before I went back under, I heard the radio on. As I listened I realized Amy Grant was singing to me. All my Christian life I have turned to her music to comfort me, to minister to me.I could only smile and have peace. I knew The Lord was telling me, don’t worry – I got this. It’s ok. Cool, or what? God is sooooo good. K
I find it amazing that God takes the time to make someone like me, who is so ordinary, feel extraordinary. My heart bursts that I am His child.
How do I experience God’s Love? “Open thine eyes so thee may see.” It’s all around me. I just have to pay attention. It’s in the faces of the kids I teach in Sunday School, in the Youth group at Church. In the dedicated and faithful people who do so much without expecting a single thing in return. And of course in nature in so many beautiful and wonderful ways. His Love is always present. Sometimes I can get so involved, I need to remind myself to be still and feel his love. in good times and bad.
Thank you Liz for being you and reminding us to pay attention.
As a victim of years of sexual abuse, I was on the verge of suicide…thinking I had no alternative because no one cared or loved me, God drop an incredible woman of God in my life. She poured out God’s love in such ways I didn’t realize was possible. Through her, I started to love God and allow him to love me. I had to let walls crumble and open doors, but it got easier! It’s not the big things…Its the everyday small things that the Lord brings…I’m a work in progress in letting the Lord love me…but I’m learning and he is faithful!!! Thank you Jesus!
This is where I am struggling. It is in my head that He loves me it is now just getting it to my heart and letting it saturate every area of my life. I so much want to experience His love and be able to give it to others.
Don’t give up Stacy…it’s a work in progress. Little by little…day by day. Your going to have it all…its already inside. Look at God’s truths about his love… Our feelings can be tricky…we have to rely on what we know about God and his love on the hard days. Starting looking at the daily small things, they bring hope and reassurance! I understand you, I’ve been right there on that road, at that place..I’m still walking!!!!Your making it Stacy!!!! I will add you to my prayer list!!❤❤
Thank you Dori, I needed that encouragement 🙂
Stacy, stay in God’s Word. His promises are true. He loves you and will never leave you. I have hurt so bad at times that I couldn’t even find the words to pray, but Romans 8:26 told me, the Holy Spirit prays and groans for me. I wish I could wrap my arms around you and tel you face to face how much God loves you and me.
No matter how desperate our circumstances may be or how unloveable we may feel, there is no place that the love of Jesus is not already there waiting to be embraced by us. By faith we must believe and receive it to know it. The enemy will do all he can to deny us from knowing this lavish love that is beyond our comprehension but so longed for by each of us. Remember Jesus has already won the war and through His power in us we can win this battle for our minds and hearts. I could not go on a day without Him. God is Love and His Word is Truth.
Everyday in the great forever love he brings
just knowing He loves me more than anything or anyone ever can is comfort and joy returns each moment i remember this and feel Him love me and fill my heart
It was a busy Monday, following a week of snow days with three young boys for this single mama. I almost skipped this beautiful reminder. It is so difficult for me to remember to pause, but today–thanks be to God!–I did. If your email had come in the midst of the ice and crazy children and exhaustion of last week, I probably would have skipped it.
I am more than my loneliness. I am more than the label of single mama. I am more than the person who (last week more than occasionally) yells at my boys. I am beloved. I am delighted in. I belong. And for this woman who so deeply desires to be adored and cherished, it is beautiful to remember that God does speak my love language and is always thrilled to spend quality time with me. Exhausted, overwhelmed, beautiful, chosen me.
Thank you so much for the wonderful way you speak truth into the dark corners of our lives.
I experience His great love, when He pours it on me. I feel His presence with me, often. He shows me certain scriptures, the same one, several times in a week from different venues…and I acknowledge Him as I read them. He is the one who pours out the love, and I just receive it. Gladly, willingly, excitedly!
Love everything you read Liz – so encouraging!!
These words helped to keep me in the correct frame of heart & mind, listening to God’s words through my readings and daily talks. I call my prayers “talks” because I MUST!! It helps me remember how much He loves me, wants to guide me, and wants to use me. I just need to talk AND LISTEN. He will speak in any language with love, patience & forgiveness, but with authority.
I’m with you using the word, ‘talks’ – actually – adding in the listening part – I now think of praying etc. as having a conversation with the Lord. Thank you for sharing. Be blessed.
I grew up singing “Jesus Loves Me”. I knew He loves me in my head but not in my heart. Through years of hurt I listened to satan’s lies. I was unloveable. Liz you sweet lady, wrote a Bible study”Loved by God”. Thank you for listening to the Holy Spirit and teaching us how much God really loves us!
I experience God’s love when I cease my striving and allow Him to thaw my hard, frozen heart. Sometimes I go running to His throne of Grace and openly plead for Him to love me. But sometimes, I stubbornly dare Him to replace my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh.
Without a doubt, God’s Word is the true source where the Holy Spirit reveals the incomprehensible height, breadth, and depth of His love for me. While I was still His enemy, He loved me. When I couldn’t and wouldn’t desire Him, He desired me.
God is so GOOD!
My grandchildren spread God’s unconditional love to me every time I am around them. Joy abounds and there is no worries. Ah.. to be a child and accept love freely. That is what God is all about!
I experience His love through His mighty and unchanging Word, particularly in such verses as: “for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5) and “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” (Jeremiah 31:3) God’s Word always says the same thing, whether I’m having a good day or a horrible one, whether I feel strong and full of faith, or weak and doubting. His Word never changes, and it CANNOT be broken! It is truly trustworthy, as nothing else on this earth is, and I know that I can believe what He tells me. He speaks to me through His Word, not the fickle voice of my imagination. His Word is a well of comfort that can never run dry!
I experience God’s love in my daily morning quiet time in my little laundry room (aka prayer room). It is my favorite time of the day! I love hearing from my heavenly Father, heavenly Husband, my great reward Jesus. He is my EVERYTHING! My life didn’t truly begin until I surrendered my life to Him and began to walk in obedience to Him, and fall in love with Him. I was in my twenties as well, and now I’m 39 (so I’m kind of like a teenager in Christ). Always so much to learn about Him and His love and grace. I love how His Holy Spirit speaks to me and comforts me when I cry out to Him. I weep tears of healing and awe of His great love.
I experience His love the most when I love Him more than anybody or anything. Mini testimony~ I got married 8 years ago, and the first year of marriage was hard as I began to love my earthly husband more than my heavenly eternal Husband (Jesus Christ). We prayed together each morning, and read a devotional, so I was counting that as my time with God. It is a good thing to pray with others and your spouse, but I learned it doesn’t take the place of spending time with the one Who loves me the most. So a prayer that I began praying and still do is that I do not love anything or anyone more than I love the Lord. (and I pray that my husband David won’t love me more than he loves the Lord).
So when I put God first, love Him the most, and love being with Him more than anything, I experience His love in the most breathtaking ways! Praise Jesus! The Lord is my Shepherd and truly everything I need. (Psalm 23).
p.s. No worries on the late post, I trust that God worked it out for good in all of our lives because we love Him. (Romans 8:28) 😀 You are so sweet and caring. Love your encouraging heart, Liz.
It is in my quiet times when I surround myself with His word that reassures me of His love. I have struggled with knowing but getting it into my heart that He loves me always, everlasting has been my daily challenge. This year my prayer is that I will truly know Him more intimately than ever before. I want to see what He sees in me. I believe I will be able to give more love to others. Thanks once again for opening my eyes to see what I need to see. What an extraordinary amazing love♥
Thank you as always for your encouraging word.
I love your showing us the five ways God does supply our needs.
Lightbulb moment: I seem to whine a lot about this time in my life not having the situations And people to fill my tank like I have in the past ( I energize through people) and whine I have, but it made me realize God is all I need!
He supplies ALL our needs /even my need. His Word supplies that and I need to feast more on his Word then when I do have the opportunity to spin in my energized circle I am showing Christ as my source!
I experience GOD’s Love through the forgiveness of sins… they sneak up sometimes. Through reading His Word, through reading aloud His Word which speaks Truth to my ears. Through many friends and family, through His vast declaration in His Creation all around. Mostly I receive His Love by choosing to do so, even when emotions within yell another lie.
GOD IS FAITHFUL and I am Blessed because of it!
My deepest desire is to know His love, and to totally rest in that love, for in that wonder place of His love is all I need in that secret place of the most High I will find rest and total well being.
So in my struggles of these days I look to His steadfast love to keep me resting.