Tag Archives: relationship with god

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Joyce Meyer – Imperfect, but Perfectly Loved

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There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! —1 John 4:18

We cannot love ourselves unless we realize how much God loves us, and if we don’t love ourselves, we cannot love other people. We cannot maintain good, healthy relationships without this foundation of love in our lives.

By the time I met the man I have been married to since 1967, I was desperate for love but did not know how to receive it, even when it was available. My husband, Dave, really did love me, but I found myself constantly deflecting his love due to the way I felt about myself down deep inside. As I entered into a serious and committed relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, I began to learn about God’s love. But it took a long time to fully accept it. When you feel unlovable, it is hard to get it through your head and down into your heart that God loves you perfectly—even though you are not perfect and never will be as long as you are on the earth.

There is only one thing you can do with a free gift: receive it and be grateful. I urge you to take a step of faith right now and say out loud, “God loves me unconditionally, and I receive His love!” You may have to say it a hundred times a day, like I did for months, before it finally sinks in, but when it does it will be the happiest day of your life. To know that you are loved by someone you can trust is the best and most comforting feeling in the world. God will not only love you that way, but He will also provide other people who will truly love you. When He does provide, be sure to remain thankful for those people. Having people who genuinely love you is one of the most precious gifts in the world.

Trust in Him: You won’t be able to receive God’s love until you trust Him. Take a step of faith right now and say out loud, “God loves me unconditionally, and I receive His love!” Say it as many times as you need to until you believe it.

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Don’t Bow Down – Rod Parsley

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You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.Exodus 20:4-6

Why did God give a command against making a form of things in the heavens above or the earth below?

It is because needing a physical form to bow down to and worship diminishes faith, even if that physical form is an attempt to represent God Himself. The need for the physical is of the flesh, but we are to live and know God in the Spirit.

Romans 8:13 teaches, “By the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body.” Our “religious” behavior can take our church buildings, our list of “ministries” and accomplishments and put them in place of a relationship with God.

God’s primary commandment is that we love Him! Even in this commandment He is calling upon us to love Him, and in return He promises to love us to a thousand generations.

Have you forgotten God today in favor of the physical forms of worship? Don’t get stuck on earthly things just because you can see them. Today, I challenge you to just spend some time with Him in quiet, putting aside all outward forms of worship and prayer. Allow Him to work within you during this time.

Further Reading

Deuteronomy 6:5

Hosea 3:1

Jude 1:21

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Charles Stanley – How We Don’t Get to Heaven

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John 3:1-17

If asked, “Why should you go to heaven?” most people will answer very sincerely that the basis of their acceptance by God is the fact that a) they are pretty good or b) they aren’t sinful and therefore don’t deserve to be condemned. This is a prevalent theological fallacy in our world today. As a young man, I attended three different churches before somebody told me the truth about salvation.

In reality, it doesn’t matter what kind of a person you are—the issue is the simple truth of God’s Word. The misguided idea that we can earn salvation has devastating implications. For one thing, if you could enter heaven based on your earthly merits, Jesus’ death at Calvary would have been totally unnecessary. And if that were the case, it would follow that God the Father made a terrible mistake in sending His Son to a cruel death. What’s more, if salvation were possible apart from Jesus Christ, then you’d be able to have a personal relationship with God apart from Jesus Christ as well.

We must not distort God’s great love for us by using faulty theology. We are forgiven solely on the basis of Jesus Christ’s incredible sacrifice—which comes from a place of unconditional love. If we base our salvation on anything else, we destroy the cornerstone of Christianity.

It’s important to learn Scripture well enough to discern truth from false teaching. Many people go to churches that claim, “God loves everyone, so you’ll be okay if you just do your best.” If that were the case, Christianity wouldn’t be symbolized by a cross, because Calvary would have been a mistake.