“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19, NKJV)

Dear Friend,

Have you ever felt saved and stuck? Are you a Christian, yet you aren’t seeing victory in certain areas, and life seems more difficult than it’s ever been before? I felt like this for years, until I discovered the power of God's love. If you can relate, I believe this topic is going to be a key to unlocking the fullness of your faith.

Understanding God’s love is the link that helped me thrive as a Christian and led to freedom in every area.

If we don’t understand and believe that God loves us, then we will have a weak foundation as disciples, and we won’t be a strong, spiritual house.

The Bible says in 1 John 4:8 AMP, “…God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.]”

This means not only that God is love but that His will for you is loving, good, and kind. God delights in you and He's pleased with you!

This is a powerful and phenomenal truth, but it’s only powerful if you actually believe it.

We can live a life of freedom and power when we know and believe God’s love.

How many times have you and I read the Bible, then we cross it off our to-do list for the day and move on? I have to continually remind myself to slow down, to think about what I’m reading, and to ask myself questions along the way. Like, do I really believe this, and do my thoughts and actions reflect the truth that I’m reading?

Throughout this book study of Hello, New You, this is my challenge to you. To meditate on the highlighted Bible verses individually, and ask yourself these types of questions:

• Do I believe this verse?

• If not, is there an experience from my past that’s causing me to doubt this truth?

• If so, then pray, “God, I give these areas of my life to you, and no matter what comes my way, no matter what experiences I’ve faced, I determine to believe you first and foremost. Help me in my unbelief, and guide me into all truth.”

My precious friend, there is nothing that God can’t do in a heart that’s surrendered to Him in this way. Experiences are going to come—and some may be very difficult—but we must never let our experiences sway us from believing God’s truth. In fact, Jesus said that we can make the Word of God ineffective in our life because of our traditions (which are a result of religious practices, or human interpretations or customs) (Mk. 7:13). Open your heart to truly believe the Word, and you will live a life full of God’s promises and power.

God’s Love Leads to a Life of Freedom and Power

“to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” (Ephesians 3:19-20, NKJV)

Take a moment with this verse. First, have you ever imagined what it would look like if your life was filled with the fullness of God?

I take time to think about this, and I can hardly imagine it! It goes on to say, that THEN, after knowing the love of Christ and being filled with His fullness, that God is able to do exceedingly above all that you could ask or think of, according to the power working in you.

What is that power? It’s the power of the Holy Spirit working within you when you know and believe God’s love for you.

“…faith which worketh by love.” (Galatians 5:6, KJV)

The word “worketh” in Greek means, to be active, efficient, be effectual (fervent), be mighty in, work (effectually in).

Your actions, traditions, and good performance don’t make your faith effective.

Your faith is mighty when you intimately know God’s love, filling you with His power and ability.

I hope you’re grasping the importance of understanding God’s love for you, and how pivotal it can be in the Christian life. It can set you on course to freedom and victory overnight.

One person who displayed this beautifully is Mary. The Bible doesn’t directly say that Mary had an intimate relationship with God, but you can see it in how she trusted Him. When the angel Gabriel told her that she’d give birth to the Son of God as a virgin, she responded simply, “…Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word…” (Luke 1:38, KJV). I pray I always respond to God with such unreserved, adoring faith as Mary did.

Mary then went to visit her cousin, Elisabeth, who heard Mary’s salutation and spoke by the Holy Ghost, “And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:45, KJV)

Blessed is she who believed, for there shall be a performance [of the promise] ... (brackets mine).

How did Mary believe this miraculous news? Because she knew God’s love intimately, which helped her to trust Him.

A personal relationship with God and believing His great love for you is directly linked to the fulfillment of His promises and power in your life. Not because God’s withholding something from you if you don't believe His love, but because your faith works by (is mighty) when you do believe His love.

We’ve all been tempted to try to "help God out" by hurrying up the promise. Like Abraham and Sarah, for example, who then produced Ishmael—who was not the promise.

Speaking from experience, it hasn't always been the easiest path waiting for God's will in my life. But, knowing that He loves me and He has good plans for my future, helps me and strengthens me in the waiting. From where I stand today, I'm so glad I've trusted God and waited for His promises.

The biggest promises can sometimes be the hardest ones to wait for, but God’s will is always worth the wait. We can only wait for God’s best and serve Him wholeheartedly, when we truly believe how much He loves us and that He has a good plan for our future.

Today, let God’s amazing love fill you with His fullness and power. If you need some help, the below steps can help you grow in understanding God’s love for you:

• Praying in tongues (Jude 1:20)

• Stir yourself up (2 Timothy 1:6-7)

• Persuade your heart that God loves you (Romans 8:37-39, 1 Samuel 30:6b)

God has already promised you His love and a good future. Now, it’s your turn to believe it and walk it out boldly by faith.

Next week, we’ll discuss chapter 2 in my book, Hello, New You! Join us live every Tuesday on YouTube at 5:30pm MT. I hope to see you there!

Love,
Erin

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