There are three words you probably need to hear from God today. No matter what circumstance you’re facing, these three words can breathe life, imbibe hope, and infuse joy:
I.
Love.
You.
Those three little words pop up again and again throughout Scripture. You’ll be hard pressed to read the Bible for very long before encountering our bighearted God and his love.
So why does God use the entire Bible and thousands of years of history to say these three simple words?
Because… [Tweet ““I love you” is not just a slice of information, but an invitation to transformation.”]
One of the things that I’ve wrestled with over the years is how do we baste ourselves in the reality of God’s love on a daily basis. I ache for the Father’s affection to be more than a mental assertion or factoid. It must make that long, arduous journey from my mind to my heart, then trek through every fiber of my being.
I long to be ravished by the love of God.
Why? Because if I am lavished by the love of God, then I can lavish others in his love, too.
One of the practical ways I’ve started making the Father’s affection a living reality is by spending time every day reading, reflecting, and meditating on the Scriptures in which God speaks of His love for us.
Here are a handful of the dozens of Scriptures I’ve been reading:
“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” —Zephaniah 3:17
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” —Romans 8:38-39
“Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.” —Psalm 63:3
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” —Jeremiah 31:3
I’ve taken these and many others and printed them out on a sheet that I’ve read through morning after morning—underlining key words, circling powerful phrases, saturating myself in the truth of God’s affection. This simple practice has made an enormous difference in my life.
The Father’s love is that which should fill us to overflowing until it’s dripping out of us, a never-ending spring that baptizes us anew each day.
Each week, we’re diving into The Sacred Echo book and Bible Study during the online Summer Bible Study.
This week:
- Watch. Session .002: I Love You on the DVD
- Write. Respond to the second session of homework in the workbook.
- Read. Chapters .003 & .004 in the book.
- Interact. Share what ideas or phrases that catch your attention. What God is challenging or showing you through the material. How we can pray for you. And of course, you’re welcome to send in quirky questions, too, since I’ll be interacting with them throughout our time together. Leave your thoughts at MargaretFeinberg.com or on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using #SacredEcho.
- Gather. Set a time to meet with your small group face-to-face, schedule a Skype date with your long-distance friends, and join the online community on Wednesday, June 11th at MargaretFeinberg.com.
*This week’s memory verse: Zephaniah 3:17
Lamentations 3:21-22
Because of His GREAT love we are not consumed, I like to add what ever is consuming me at the moment…by fear, by stress, by circumstances, by anxiety, pressures, pain, sorrow, distress, etc…
The concept of being filled with His love was made new to me last summer, and I realized I really have no ability to love others AT ALL if I am now filled with His love first so it can overflow out if my time with Him. This concept is near and dear to my heart!
I love that passage in Lamentations, Tara. You’re so right. If we’re not overflowing with his love, it’s nearly impossible to love anyone else!
This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10
A sacred echo repeated in the Sunday School lesson I taught yesterday. I even shared the quote that is repeated above. I love it when He works all things together like this.
Amen, Fonda! God is so good! May he continue to awaken you to his sacred echoes.
This verse is standing out to me today:
“Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.” -Psalm 36:5-6
There are so many great verses that reflect God’s love for us that I can’t say I have a favorite. Psalm 130:7 popped out at me today… “put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.”
Love that one, Karlee. Thanks for sharing.
Isaiah 43:4 is one of my favourites: “…you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you…”
I think one of the sweetest songs of all times is the childhood chorus, “Jesus Loves Me”. Profound truth in such simplicity. Yes, Jesus loves me!!
His,
Joy
PS. LOVING the book. I’ve read .003 and .004 already and I’ve underlined, bracketed, arrowed and highlighted so much. Wish I had all the other material, but for now I’m getting so much out of the book even on it’s own.
I think “Jesus Loves Me” is going to be stuck in my head for the rest of the afternoon (not a bad tune to start the week off with!).
Hug to you, Joy.
I was just thinking that as humans we will never know the true Love of God until we reach heaven because our earthly bodies would not be able to handle it.
Margaret I am not sure which video you mentioned the burning bush, I believe it is The Organic God and how you love that part of how Moses was introduced to God. Well I am on board with that because it shows us God’s love for us too. If we really look for God’s Love, he will reveal it to each and everyone of us if we just look for that burning bush. To close your eyes and imagine being there at that time in that place is one of the most powerful times in history of God’s Love.
When he tells us, as you have described that “I Love You”, it is very powerful, transforming, comforting and refreshing! The more we listen to God’s voice and his word, the more we will, I will hear him say those so very precious words, “I Love You”!
God is so very good and thank you again for your ministry Margaret! God bless you over and over!
I think you are right, Buddy. The more I plumb the depths of God’s love, the more there seems to be. Neverending.
Love this post Margaret! I too have realized that focusing on God’s love changes me more than any 9-step self-improvement program I try to pull off. Simply basking in His love makes me realize I have worth even without accomplishing anything important. One of my favorite passages is Eph. 3:17-19.
You’re so right. May we all take the time to bask in the Father’s love.
His love for us is a repeating theme for me the last year. I’m humbled by that. 1 Cor. 13:4 MSG Bible: Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head.
I love that version of the verse, Kim!
So helpful, Margaret! Will make a list of verses like these and “baste” my mind in God’s faithful love.
Yes. Yes. Yes. I’ll be praying for you as you soak up God’s fierce love for you!
I had to Share this today. I’ve been praying the same prayers and hearing God say he loves me over the last two weeks as I’m doing the Sacred Echo study. Today, God answered a prayer that I have been praying for two solid years. I’m a little bit in shock right now. I’m going to keep praying. Wow.
AHH-Mazing, Cynthia. God is so good!
God’s Love Is the ultimate of all else.
The scriptures I’m making notes,
It’s incredible to me that God does
Whisper! Lamatations 3:21-22
I found a date 3 years ago I had been
so hurt, yet I think at that time, I thought God had left me. Since that time, I have been seeking Him
I never lost hope now I’m sure I am rooted in his love. Nothing can ever separate me from Him. Nothing can!
it’s so sweet – I remember singing Jesus Loves Me.. I am soaking it up.
Thank all of you for bible verses.
They are noted in my Journal.
Amen, Mae. That Lamentation passage is rolling over and over again in my head today.