Launched Into DestinySample

You Love Me How Much, Lord???

You live fully in me and now I live fully in them so that they will experience perfect unity, and the world will be convinced that you have sent me, for they will see that you love each one of them with the same passionate love you have for me.” (John 17:23, TPT)

The Father loves fairly and equally. However, He had a really hard time convincing me. I was a real tough nut to crack, but He never gave up on me. A tremendous breakthrough for me came one day as I was reading the book of John. In chapter 17, Jesus had gone to the garden of Gethsemane to pray. I read as He prayed for His disciples, asking the Father to protect them, to help them remain united, and to guard their hearts against evil. But as I read further, I realized He was also praying for me and you. In verse 20, He begins to pray for those in the future who would one day believe because of His disciples’ teachings. The part that completely changed my life was when I read how God loves us, just as He loves Jesus. What???? I just sat there and read this verse over and over. It shocked me to realize God loves us, you and me, with the SAME passionate love He has for His Son. It is almost beyond our ability to comprehend.

He repeats it in verse 26. This absolutely wrecked me. I began to weep and cry out to Him, asking for forgiveness and thanking Him for showing me a Father’s love. It was something I had longed for and yearned for all my life. I had an amazing encounter with our Lord right then and there. Not once since then have I felt unloved or unwanted. I had security and a promise of eternal love and fellowship with my Lord. This life no longer held any real value for me except for the fact I still had a destiny to fulfill.

You and I are not orphans, half-brothers, half-sisters, or any other negative label or term people care to add to indicate less than being whole. I know this because, as believers, we are covered by the blood of the Lamb. Never let anyone make you feel differently. He lives in us! John 4:13 says He is in us and we are in Him. Also, our Lord assures us in His word He considers all of His children equal. In essence, we carry His DNA!

My Prayer for You:

Lord, release your Spirit to speak into this precious one seeking the truth about you. Let them feel your great love and passion to work miracles in their lives. Help them understand, through your Word, how incredibly proud you are of them, and how you long to gather them into your family. Bless them beyond measure as they spend more and more time getting to know you and reveling in the comfort and peace of your love. Father, I ask all these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our King. Amen.

Declaration:

I will rest in the knowledge of the Father’s complete and unwavering love for me and my loved ones. I will not hesitate to declare His works in my life. Peace and harmony will rule as I walk in the will of my Father. I will study His word to prove myself worthy of His love and interaction in my life. My household will flourish under the watchful eyes of His Spirit. I will praise and worship Him all the days of my life.