“The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
– Zephaniah 3:17 (NKJV)
Daily Meditation: Galatians 2:20, 1 John 3
Over the years, I have counseled many women who have a blind spot when it comes to God’s love. Oh, they believe that God is love, that he loves the world and the sinner and their neighbor. Yet it is difficult for them to let the reality sink in that God loves them—personally. God really loves you. Deeply, passionately, individually—God loves you.
There are several factors that contribute to a woman’s difficulty in understanding and accepting that she is loved. Perhaps it is a painful past or deep insecurity. There may be an old sin or unfulfilled longing. Once a seed of doubt is sown (“Does God really love me?”) we can allow circumstances and fears to push us further down the path of disbelief in God’s love for us.
Part of what makes it so sad to see women doubting God’s love for them is the sheer magnitude of his love. Scripture tells us that not only does God love us, he delights in us. I love that thought and image of my Father in heaven delighting in me. He is not just tolerating or putting up with me!
Although we may feel unloved, that is simply untrue. The truth is that you are the object of his affection, day in and day out. He wants you, he likes you, he pursues you, and he enjoys being with you. The state of your house, car, hair, bank account, or laundry in no way affects his love for you. The same holds true for husbands, children, jobs, or lack thereof. Nothing in this world can hinder, not even in the slightest, his great love for you and me.
“It’s not about finding ways to avoid God’s judgment
and feeling like a failure if you don’t do everything perfectly.
It’s about fully experiencing God’s love and letting it perfect you.
It’s not about being somebody you are not. It’s about becoming who you really are.”
– Stormie Omartian
Be fearless: How would your life look if you truly believed that God wants you, likes you, and loves you? How would you feel when you wake up in the morning, when you go to bed at night, when there are trying circumstances, and when you are alone?
by Julie Clinton & Dina Jones
Spend this summer growing closer to the Lord and becoming the fearless, strong, and faithful woman you are meant to be in Him! In Be Fearless, Julie Clinton provides a scripturally-sound guide for finding freedom, purpose, joy… and fearlessness. Exclusively offered by Extraordinary Women Ministries, Be Fearless is now available in our store! https://www.aacc.net/product/be-fearless/ We hope you will spend this summer growing closer to the Lord and stepping into the fearless, strong, faithful woman you are meant to be in Him.
Julie Clinton, MAd, MBA, is president of Extraordinary Women and host of EWomen conferences all across America. She is the author of several books including A Woman’s Path to Emotional Freedom, 10 Things You Aren’t Telling Him, and Extraordinary Women. She is passionate about seeing women live out their dreams by finding their freedom in Christ. Julie and her husband, Tim, live in Virginia with their children, Megan and Zach.