God’s Unfailing Love

“His love is never changing. It doesn’t depend on what we do or don’t do. God’s love is constant, steady, and unconditional.” -Micca Campbell, An Untroubled Heart

Unfailing and unconditional love.

In our everyday life, it’s hard to imagine—a love that doesn’t depend on what we do, how we act, mistakes we’ve made…and yet, this is God’s love for us. No matter what we do or don’t do, God continues to love and care about us.

But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. (Psalm 86:15 NLT)

God’s love is unfailing, but that doesn’t mean He condones our sinful ways. There are consequences to our actions. The result of sin is separation from God. 

Have you ever had a disagreement or argument with someone and until everything was made right, it felt like there was a rift in the relationship?

That’s what I think of when I’m separated from God. He hasn’t turned away from me, but by following my own ways, I’ve distanced myself from Him. How do we get back to Him when we’ve strayed?

God, in His mercy and grace, will meet us where we are, but He loves us too much to leave us there. God reaches out His hand to take us with Him. Will you take hold of His outstretched hand?

Going with Him means turning away from sin and letting Him change our hearts. Trying to change ourselves won’t do it. But when we invite our Heavenly Father into our hearts, change begins.

The changes are not easy. In fact, at times they can be painful. Letting God change our hearts means letting go of our pride, selfishness, fears, anger, desires, greed, and much more. Dying to myself means I let it all go and let Him fill my heart with Him and His desires for me.

Letting go is unfamiliar territory. I don’t know how to act if I’m not acting out of emotions, anger, and feeling like I’m in control. But as God changes our hearts, He will be there to see us through it all. He promises to never leave us, and God never breaks His promises.

Thanks for visiting today! If you’re participating in the online study of Micca’s Campbell’s An Untroubled Heart, we are in Chapter 10 “The Love of a Father.”

Linking up this week with my friends at On Your Heart Tuesdays, Women Living Well Wednesdays, Winsome Wednesday, and Faith Barista.

In Christ,

Laura

God Cares About Our Hearts {Something to Think About}

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

(1 Samuel 16:7 NLT)

We see what’s on the outside, but God knows our hearts. Changes we make on the outside don’t penetrate our hearts, but changes God makes in our hearts produces change in our outward appearance and behavior.

God bless,

Laura

Linking up today with Barbie at Fresh Brewed Sunday, Deidra at Jumping Tandem, and Joan at Sharing His Beauty.

An Untroubled Heart Online Study - Week 10

Have a great week!
Laura

Week 10 – Mar. 4-Mar. 10, 2012

Monday & Tuesday

• Read the Chapter 10 “The Love of a Father.” Underline or take notes on points you want to remember or go back to.

Tuesday/Wednesday

• Visit Laura’s blog at www.laurarath.blogspot.com for the weekly post, and leave a comment with your thoughts.

Wednesday & Thursday

·         Reflect on, and answer, the Bible Study Questions at the end of the chapter.

 

Friday

• Spend time in prayer and reflecting on this week’s reading. 

Trusting God…With Me

Trust

Trust is my One Word for 2012. If you haven’t heard of One Word 2012, it’s choosing one word, through thought and prayer, to focus on for the year. Since beginning this, I’ve been surprised, and sometimes amazed, at how often the issue of trust becomes present in my relationship with God.

A few weeks ago, I shared that I planned to spend more time studying Scripture verses regarding trust. While I’m still doing that, this week I realized that the issue of trust is underlying even when the word “trust” is not in the verse.

Have you ever felt like a Scripture verse leapt off the page when you read it? I love when that happens! I feel like God is being really obvious in getting my attention, and honestly, sometimes I need that. He grabbed my attention this week as I read Psalm 139.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Point out anything in me that offends you,

And lead me along the path of everlasting life.

(Psalm 139:23-24 NLT)

I’ve read these two verses many times, but what came to mind this time was trust.

Do I trust God…with me?

I often turn to God in prayer asking Him to change my heart, but then I slip in a change in situation or someone else that would benefit me.

Lord, please change my heart…and could you also change him (or her)?

God, I know I need work on my heart, but if you could also change this situation, everything would be a lot easier.

After all, these are the sources of my troubles, right?

As I read these verses over and over, I wondered…When I ask God to change my heart, am I prepared to accept that He might work on me and not the other person or the situation at hand?

Do I trust Him enough to change my heart knowing it means laying down my hopes and desires that might not line up with His plans for me?

Maybe you’ve considered this before, but it struck me in such a way that I had to think about it and have a heart-to-heart with God. If you’ve ever had an honest heart-to-heart talk with God, you know it can be gut-wrenching.

As I spent time (and shed a few tears) with Him, He showed me a few areas that need some work, to put it mildly.

Jealously…it starts with comparing myself to others, and wanting something more, better, or different than what I have. Jealously feeds on itself until it’s completely out of control and making me sick.

Disappointment…it comes from relying on others instead of God. I don’t mean the “don’t forget the milk at the store” type of reliance. I mean putting my trust and hopes in someone, expecting that person to handle such a huge burden and not let me down.

Unhappiness…the outcome of jealously and disappointment. It’s what happens when I spend my time focusing on what’s not going right in my life (according to me), instead of what’s going well. Unhappiness leads to a lack of thankfulness.

God searched me and showed me what is offensive to Him.

Do I trust Him to clean this poison out of my heart and change me? Yes.

I know it won’t be easy. In fact, at times I think it will be emotional and painful. But I surrender. I trust God to make changes…in me.

In Christ,

Laura

Linking up with my friends at Grace Cafe, One Word Wednesday, Faith Barista, Thought Provoking Thursday, Faith Filled Friday, and Spiritual Sundays.