‘How do you see your heart responding to God’s love?’
I wanted to quote almost all the lines of today’s devotional. Downs writes so well about God’s love for us. I chose to bookmark this day’s message because I felt she’s wrote about God’s love for us so well. (And I thought I was the only ‘punk’ around.) I really like her imagining God’s breath in me each time I breathe in and out, speaking loving words into my heart with each intake of breath. I hope I remember that imagery for ever.
Because of his great love for us, even while we were undeserving, we love him back in our own ways, little though they often are. Annie F. Downs challenges us to look at our passions and interests and love him with those.
If I were to focus more on the little ways I could show my love for Him, rather than get hung up on all the reasons I’m undeserving of his love, then it might shift my mindset too. But I would need to be brave to love God with my passions and interests and choices.
How will I choose to let my heart respond to God’s love? I love to write, so I’m going to try to be braver to do that. How does that look for you?
I don’t know what I will do. I care about others. I want to help others more than I want to help myself. I need to make changes to do that more. It’s a longer term plan. In the short term I will try to do something every day. Even if it’s a comment, a call or a letter
That’s beautiful, Steph. What seems small to us isn’t necessarily small to someone else. Being remembered for “no reason” other than being you is HUGE. I often feel when I give out like you suggest I end up feeling good too. Love Tifainé
Oh. And I will try to listen more. Quiet listening.
You are enough, Steph, just as you are. I meant it when I said I loved how she talked about the breathing in and out thing. Like intentionally remembering that God loves me with every single breath. I said I was going to do that but I forgot so far today lol. Now I’ve just remembered xx
Annie says, “Has He given you a passion for something you haven’t bene brave enough to pursue? … Embrace the fact that you are loved and chosen by God, and take the courageous step of using these passions to love God back.” I am passionate about creative expression through writing and art, but this is a brave and difficult thing for me because it is both vulnerable and riddled with imperfections, which is difficult for an achievement obsessed struggling perfectionist. The fear of failure or not being seen often keeps me from jumping in fully to that expression. I’m also passionate about teaching. How can I love God back in teaching? Is it possible that anything we do with excellence can be an expression of love to God? If you pursue a God-given passion with excellence, is that loving Him back? To honor the gifting is to honor the giver.