God's love for you Archives - Page 2 of 2

Your hearts will heal

Earlier this week one of our children was reading to me from the Jesus Storybook Bible – Every story whispers his name, by Sally Lloyd-Jones, a fabulous children’s bible that in the Old Testament stories overtly foreshadows Jesus coming as the rescuer. On this day she chose to read The Servant King, recounting The Last Supper, from Mark 14 and John 13-14.

These words in the story really spoke to me, “My heart will tear apart – and your hearts will heal.” Jesus was speaking to the disciples about the breaking of his body and the pouring out of his blood so that we could be reconciled with our Heavenly Father.

Words filled with love, “My heart will tear apart – and your hearts will heal.”

Have you ever had your heart torn apart?

I’m not sure if I have, but I do know that at times my heart has been heavy with disappointment.

In Luke 22 we are given some insight into Jesus’ thoughts and actions regarding having his heart broken ….

Then he withdrew from them a short distance to be alone. Kneeling down, he prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup of agony away from me. But no matter what, your will must be mine.” Jesus called for an angel of glory to strengthen him, and the angel appeared. He prayed even more passionately, like one being sacrificed, until he was in such intense agony of spirit that his sweat became drops of blood, dripping onto the ground. Luke 22:43-44 TPT

In John 17, we get more of a glimpse into Jesus’ heart for us, as he prays for us, the believers that were to come …

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved me. John 17:20-23 NKJV

What’s happening in your heart now, knowing that Jesus’ heart was broken for me and you? Knowing that He was completely obedient to the will of his Father and sacrificed himself for us, so our hearts could be healed. That disconnection from God, our Heavenly Father, can now be reconnected through Jesus surrendering.

Jesus knew that his mission was accomplished, and to fulfill the Scripture, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting nearby, so they soaked a sponge with it and put it on the stalk of hyssop and raised it to his lips. When he had sipped the sour wine, he said, “It is finished, my bride!” Then he bowed his head and surrendered his spirit to God.” John 19:28-30 TPT

We just need to choose to surrender and ….

confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 NKJV

And then decide daily to surrender our will, the choosing to love and trust God no matter what the circumstance looks like; choosing to believe that God is for you, so who can be against you; choosing to believe that you are a child of God, lavished in His love.

Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvelous love that he has lavished on us! He has called us and made us his very own beloved children. 1 John 3:1 TPT

A marvelous love, that heals our heart as we yield and willingly receive all Jesus has freely given us.

A lover of God

If your faith remains strong, even while surrounded by life’s difficulties, you will continue to experience the untold blessings of God! True happiness comes as you pass the test with faith, and receive the victorious crown of life promised to every lover of God! James 1:12 TPT

There is a lot to consider in that scripture, but the question that keeps coming into my head this morning is “Am I a lover of God?” I know without a doubt that I am a lover of chocolate, especially smooth dark chocolate! I know what dark chocolate looks like and tastes like. And I know exactly where to find it in the supermarket aisle.

But what about God? What does He look like? What is it like to taste his love? Where do you find him when you need him?

What does God look like? I don’t know. But I know what His love looks like … the peace that comes in a situation that seems utterly hopeless; the thing that just happens and there is no other explanation other than God did it; the word of encouragement that comes when no-one else knew what was going on in your life – except God; and of course the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, opening the door for us to spend eternity with God.

What is it like to taste God’s love? For me it is like that ice cool refreshing drink you have on a sweltering day, that helps to bring relief from the heat. His love brings me to back to the place of knowing that no matter what is going on, healing and restoration is possible. Other times his love is like that smooth hot chocolate drink that brings comfort, when even a hot chocolate drink can’t. It is a comfort that is more than momentary. It is deep and stays with us. Always His love is sweet, bringing a smile to my lips and often tears to my ears as I think on Who He is, the creator of the universe who sent His son Jesus to earth to show His unconditional love for me and you. A love that is far sweeter and smoother than chocolate.

Drink deeply of the pleasures of this God.
Experience for yourself the joyous mercies he gives
to all who turn to hide themselves in him.
Psalm 34:8 TPT

Where do you find Him? God is here, with us, Emmanuel.

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Matthew 1:23 NKJV

God is everywhere.

“Am I a God near at hand,” says the Lord,
“And not a God afar off?
Can anyone hide himself in secret places,
So I shall not see him?” says the Lord;
“Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord.
Jeremiah 23:23-24 NKJV

God has gone before us.

And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8 NKJV

If we look for God with all our heart, we will find him. He will answer our call. The bible tells us that in Jeremiah 29.

Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13 NKJV

And because of what Jesus did, when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, God is directly accessible to each of us today ….

And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22 NKJV

Just mentioning chocolate again ….. even though it is delicious and so accessible in our world, it doesn’t offer the salvation and new life that Jesus does.

So back to the original question that I was pondering, ‘Am I a lover of God?’ Knowing what Jesus has done for me, knowing the things I think, do and say each day that would not be pleasing to God and knowing that His forgiveness is readily available, knowing that Jesus is interceding for me, knowing that He won’t leave me or forsake me, then the answer has to be yes. Could I be a better lover of God? The answer again is yes, and that comes through the daily walk with Christ, living more of His way and less of my way. Thank you Jesus for your grace.

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 NLT

Jesus

There is a beautiful song by Christy Nockels, Wonderful Name, through which I have cried out to Jesus many times over the years ….

“There is healing for all who ache; there is comfort for all in pain; there is freedom; there is grace. Here in Jesus and the power of His name

All who are broken, His love endures; All who are weary, His rest is yours; All who are hopeless, run to His name.

He is Jesus, You will never be the same”

How true those words are. Once again this week I am in awe of Jesus, the power of His name and His love for us. Please be encouraged, if your family seems like it is broken beyond repair, it is not. It is just in the process of receiving the love and reconciliation that Jesus freely offers each of us.

For it was only through this wonderful grace that we believed in him. Nothing we did could ever earn his salvation, for it was the gracious gift from God that brought us to Christ! Ephesians 2:8 TPT

Hang in there!

But we have to be prepared to hang in there for the long haul. Choosing in every frustration, disappointment and seemingly backward step, to trust that God is good and He does have a plan. And know that He is drawing us closer to Him and maturing us in the process.

But that’s not all! Even in times of trouble we have a joyful confidence, knowing that our pressures will develop in us patient endurance. And patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads us back to hope. And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us! Romans 5:3-5 TPT

From what I have observed over the past 8 years, the outworking of His grace is so absolutely unique to each of us. He completely understands what each of us needs and when we need it.

Lord, you know everything there is to know about me. You perceive every moment of my heart and soul, and you understand my every thought before it even enters my mind. You are so intimately aware of me, Lord. You read my heart like an open book and you know all the words I’m about to speak before I even start a sentence! You know every step I will take before my journey even begins. You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness you follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past. With your hand of love upon my life, you impart a blessing to me. Psalm 139:1-5 TPT

While Jesus’ grace is the same for each of us, the way that Jesus gives it to us in our every day lives is a beautifully individualised gift.

Jesus loves you

Think back to yesterday, how did Jesus show you His love – in a way that only you needed?

Now think about all the people you know, and how He is doing the same for them, even if they don’t recognise it yet.

Let’s think about all those people you don’t know – the other 7.53 billion or so, on this planet, and how Jesus is doing the same for them too. I don’t know about you, but for me it is simply a mystery as to how He knows and loves each of us so well. For me it’s difficult to understand the needs of just four children!

But I do know that His grace is simply amazing …

This is just too wonderful, deep, and incomprehensible! Your understanding of me brings me wonder and strength. Psalm 139:6 TPT

Don’t give up on Jesus

It is that wonder and strength that enables us to keep pressing in to God despite what is happening in our lives. His love for us. The truth is that He loved us first and His love endures. Let’s choose to stick with Him and be expectant for what He is going to do in and through our lives.

Give thanks to the only miracle working God! His tender love for us continues on forever! Psalm 136:4 TPT

For some more thoughts on Jesus please visit this post … Jesus – Day 2 – Drawing closer to God Devotion.

The canopy and God’s protection over us

Earlier this week I was walking in our local park, making my way to the beautiful bush walk we are blessed to live near. As I walked from the open space with the heat of the summer sun beating down on my head, into the bush with the canopy providing shade and protection, I was struck by the sudden change of circumstances. With only one step I went from the open, unprotected area into the covered, protected place. And wasn’t I glad I’d taken that step! That sudden physical change in the atmosphere made me think about the canopy and God’s protection over us, and how different life is when we choose to walk under it.

But let them all be glad, those who turn aside to hide themselves in you. May they keep shouting for joy forever! Overshadow them in your presence as they sing and rejoice. Then every lover of your name will burst forth with endless joy. Lord, how wonderfully you bless the righteous. Your favour wraps around each one and covers them under your canopy of kindness and joy. Psalm 5:11-12 TPT

The Psalms

How reassuring the Psalms are …. Your favour wraps around each one and covers them under your canopy of kindness and joy…..

There was a time when I didn’t read anything in The Bible except the Psalms. The deep pain in my heart so often resonated with the words of the Psalmist.

Please, God, show me mercy! Open your grace-fountain for me, for you are my soul’s true shelter. I will hide beneath the shadow of your embrace, under the wings of your cheribum, until this terrible trouble has past. Psalm 57:1 TPT

Please, God, show us mercy! And He has.
Open your grace-fountain for me. And He did.
For you are my soul’s true shelter. And He is.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your embrace. And I do.
Until this terrible trouble has past. And it has.

If the season you are in now is a difficult one for you, I really encourage you to immerse yourself in the truth of the Psalms. God is listening to the cries of your heart and He is on your side.

You’ve kept track of all my wandering and my weeping. You’ve stored my many tears in your bottle – not one will be lost. For they are all recorded in your book of remembrance. The very moment I call to you for a father’s help the tide of battle turns and my enemies flee. This one thing I know: God is on my side! Psalm 56:8-9 TPT

This season will end

The end of this season will come. There will be a time when you can declare this, as the Psalmist does in Psalm 57 …

My heart, O God, is quiet and confident. Now I can sing with passion your wonderful praises! Awake, O my soul, with the music of his splendor-song! Arise, my soul, and sing his praises! My worship will awaken the dawn, greeting the daybreak with my songs of light! Wherever I go I will thank you, my God. Among all the nations they will hear my praise songs to you. Your love is so extravagant it reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness so astonishing it stretches to the sky! Lord God, be exalted as you soar throughout the heavens. May your shining glory be shown in the skies! Let it be seen high above all the earth! Psalm 57:7-11 TPT

Be encouraged, protect your heart and choose to stay under the canopy of His kindness and joy.

If you would like the PDF printable version of these devotions, please email me at hello@wendyrobinson.com.au

For some more thoughts on God as our refuge, please visit this post …
Our refuge – Day 9 – Drawing Closer to God
A safe place – Jesus

If you are looking for more encouragement today, check out my podcasts.

Moments to treasure

Over the years we have had many moments we would rather forget, but thankfully now the season has changed and we are having more moments to treasure. This is one of them, our children racing Ken's dad on his mobility scooter. Four strong healthy children connecting with and loving their grandfather (and providing plenty of entertainment for other people in the park).

How different that picture looked 8 years ago, even 4 years ago. I am listening to the song Remembrance (Hillsong), and there is a line that always makes me teary ...

Oh to think where I would be
If not for You

When I hear these lyrics I think about my salvation, the path I was on, and how that changed when I received Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.

I also think about the many challenges we have faced and how He has brought us through them all. So many hours spent crying out to God, believing for His mercy and grace, trusting that He has something better for our family. Asking Him to help me in those times of unbelief to believe that He would do it. Standing on His Word. Finally coming to a place of believing that He is good when we were still waiting for the circumstances to change.

Declaring His truth like Psalm 119:89-90, when His faithfulness to our next generation looked a little shaky...

Standing firm in the heavens and fastened to eternity is the word of God.

Your faithfulness flows from one generation to the next;

all that you created sits firmly in place to testify of you.

Deciding to keep turning to His Word for the final say, Psalm 119:91-92 ...

By your decree everything stands at attention,

for all that you have made serves you.

Because your words are my deepest delight,

I didn't give up when all else was lost.

Asking Him, what are wanting to teach me? Psalm 119:93-94

I can never forget the profound revelations you've taught me,

for they have kept me alive more than once.

Yes, God has taught us so much over these years, including how to appreciate these little moments together, and the sound of laughter that accompanies them. He has taught me that without Him I am nothing, so I best stick with Him despite my feelings. Psalm 119:94-95

Lord, I'm all yours, and you are my Saviour;

I have sought to live my life pleasing to you.

Even though evil men wait in ambush to kill me,

I will set my heart before you to understand more of your ways.

But one of the most important things I've learned is summed up in Psalm 119:96 ...

I've learned that there is nothing perfect

in this imperfect world except your words,

for they bring such fantastic freedom into my life!

For us the season has changed, there are many more moments of laughter and joy, and we are so grateful for that. But to have had the opportunity to draw closer to God, to learn how to stand and keep standing, to move to a deeper level of trust and belief brings an even greater joy.

A thief has only one thing in mind - he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect - life in its fullness until you overflow! John 10:10 TPT

Let's pray,

Dear Jesus,

Thank you Jesus that you came, and that you didn't leave us or forsake us. Thank you that we can reflect on those moments in our lives and see how you carried us, you guided us, you protected us and you brought us through. Thank you for teaching us to stand and keep standing, bringing people alongside to hold up our arms when we are weary. Thank you that in You alone we find freedom to be who You made us to be. Thank you for the seasons of life and what You teach us in each one, help us to not miss any of the lessons you want us to learn. Thank you that your grace and mercy follow us all the days of our lives. In your name we pray and live, Amen.