Hello!!!!
I just wanted to give some quick encouragement to anyone that reads this. God has been pouring into me as of late. I am beginning week #2 of a partial fast and I just feel God's presence all around me. Fasting always seems to help me connect more deeply to my Heavenly Father.
I hope you all know that God loves you. Not only that, but I hope you know how much God loves you. God's loves isn't based on you...Let me explain. God is not a conditional God that loves someone more than me, and He doesn't love me less when I screw up. In fact, in those times that I screw up the most, I feel His loving arms wrap around me the tightest.
I hope you can apply this to your life. God doesn't care what you did yesterday. He isn't surprised by your sins. He knew you would mess up 2,000 years ago when He sent Jesus to the cross. His mercies are new each morning. His love never fails. He's not mad at you for sinning. His love isn't based on your performance to "be a good Christian". He loves you the same. God loves you when it seems like no one else does. God loves you when you seem unlovable. God loves you when everyone else gives up on you. God loves you when you're the messiest...GOD LOVES YOU!!!
As soon as we accept that, our perspectives change about everything. Now, we don't have to "earn" His love by living right. Instead, we will want to live a life honoring God in response to His love.
I love that I don't have to be punished for my sins. Don't let Satan tell you the lie that God will punish you for your sins. If that's true, why did Jesus die on the cross??? Jesus took our punishment away. If I repent of my sins, God casts them as far as the east is from the west. The key phrase, though, is "if I repent".
While reading some of the Old Testament, I realize how awesome Jesus' sacrifice really is. Those people in the OT had to do some serious stuff because of their sins. I dare you to go read about God's anger for Israel's disobedience. God takes sins seriously...but fast forward to today. His anger isn't lashing out at you and me. Jesus took God's anger on Himself and nailed it to the cross. God doesn't get angry or disappointed when He looks at you...He just loves you!!!!
I pray that you would realize God's love for you and live according to that love.
Peace,
Adam
