The Lens of Love

Serious question.. How do you see yourself? How would actually define yourself? What makes you valuable in your eyes? Really take a moment to consider that. If not for the things, would you evaluate yourself differently? I ask this because even as believers, it’s healthy to ponder these things. Often times, we still need reminding.

I won’t take the whole devotional to tell you this truth, though. YOU ARE VALUABLE, SIS. Not because I said so. Not because you’re pretty or ambitious. Or have accolades that you think you’ve accomplished in your own strength. But simply because the One Who created you said so. The One Who knows us better than we know ourselves, loves us better than we could ever love ourselves. Our Almighty King, in all of His gentleness, personally tells us in Isaiah 43:3b, “..you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.” If no one else has expressed their affections for you, the King of Glory has. And unlike man, He cannot lie. Unlike man, He is unchanging. With a love greater than any person, He loves you. And it is in understanding, -truly understanding, the love of God that drives us to the very heart of God.

Consider this: Before you knew Him, He loved you and chose you. In the midst of your mistakes, the things that attempt to make you feel guilty and unworthy; He still loves you. Furthermore, guilt cannot withstand the blood of Jesus. Why? Sis, I will never fully know. He willingly chose to create us and while we were sinners, caring about nothing but the world; He willingly pursued us. And He still does. As I ponder how I was on my way to hell, before accepting Christ into my heart; I cry tears of gratitude. I am filled with wonder. As I ponder how He placed the idea for The Christ Her in my heart many years ago; I am humbled. I rarely ever feel worthy of this great calling. Yet, He continues to enable me. What has He done in your life that ignites the realization of His love and faithfulness towards you? 

In our human minds, it can be difficult to really conceive the unconditional, uncontrollable love of God. Because we ourselves love with conditions, it’s hard to think that God’s love for us does not change. It does not increase, nor decrease based off of our behavior. Now, I’m not saying He condones foolishness, but it is sin He hates, not the actual sinner. 

His endless love is based off of His own character. His own heart. His own faithfulness. Not our’s.

One of my favorite biblical figures, David; often put the wonder of God into perfect words. What I love most is that David often wrote of God’s wondrous ways, while in the middle of his own personal battles. Yet battles within himself and with others did not blind him to the character of God, rather it illuminated the Lord’s affection towards him. Now that’s maturity. David’s imperfect life consisted of rejection from his father and brothers, living a life of tending to sheep, being anointed king but waiting numerous years to take the throne, betrayal from his father figure -king Saul, the death of his best friend, the loss of his baby boy, caught in adultery, scared & insecure, lonely at times and many other trying events (1 Samuel 16).  Despite the ups and down’s of life, David still discovered the heart of God and shares it with us, so we’d too, know it.

Psalm 139:16-18 reads: 

16 You saw me before I was born.

Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out

before a single day had passed.

 17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.

They cannot be numbered!

 18 I can’t even count them;

they outnumber the grains of sand!

And when I wake up,

you are still with me!

Simply put: He created you. He has plans for you. He thinks of you. And He is with you. These words of the Holy Bible are for us, sis. It’s not reserved for those who have it all together, but for us in all of our imperfections. You are not behind. Your mistakes have not disqualified you. You are not just someone God forgets about or passively thinks about. And He certainly does not leave you. 

But like a mother to her sleeping baby, each morning God is watching over you. As often as a nurturer would think of her dependent, You are on God’s mind infinitely more than that! Consider the grains of sand to ever exist. The total of His thoughts about you and you alone, surpass that. Notice, these verses are not general or broad, rather personal and individualized. You are the creation of a Creator Who makes no mistakes. It’s impossible for Him to fail.

 And so for every reason you believe He should write you off; He has a million reasons to counter why He won’t. See, the Lord was not ignorant to who you are, your ways and weaknesses. He knew that when He called you to Himself. He’s not intimidated by your mistakes. And you most certainly cannot outrun His grace.

Even every seemingly bad thing, is used for redemption in His hands. It was already written in His book. Every ugly perception in man’s eyes is beautiful in the eyes of our Savior. The Word says, He considers you and cherishes you. It’s amazing huh? Because we know how imperfect we are. We know the not so good things we have done. And yet, God in His perfection sees us as worthy. Worthy of saving us from sin and temptation. Worthy of forgiving us when we ask. Worthy of withholding things that He knows will destroy us. Worthy of redemption. Worthy of leading us. Worthy of constantly loving us into greatness. Please realize, this isn’t done passively. It takes thought. Intentional, passionate thought to do this. The kind scripture describes as precious.

But don’t just take me at my word. Get alone with God and really meditate on these words. Verses 1-18 is a clear depiction of the Lord’s relation to you! Along with so many other passages of scripture.

As you read God’s Word, evaluate these questions in your heart. Will you see yourself from the fresh sense of the Creator, today? Will you really meditate on these verses until the knowledge of His love for YOU seeps into the very core  of your being? Will you choose to root yourself in Him? Will you choose to counter every lie of the enemy against your identity with the mighty Word of God?

As you do, may you begin to see yourself through the lens of love!!

Lets pray:

 Loving God, wondrous are Your ways! Often times, I can’t fully comprehend Your heart towards me but I thank You for even considering me in the first place. Holy Spirit, give me a fresh, deeper awareness of the love of God. May Your love drive me away from anything that would hinder me from You and instead drive me into Your loving arms. God, You are so worthy and yet You call me worthy, known and loved. Thank You for Your faithfulness when I don’t exactly live up to Your standards. Continue to help me live in the identity which You have given me in Your Word. Destroy every false perspective I’ve had of You, myself and others. I exchange my false perspectives for Your lens of love & truth. Humbly, I take hold of Your abounding grace today.

In Jesus’s name, amen.