A Birthday Card From Your Creator (A 7-Day Devotional) နမူနာ

YOU ARE LOVED (JUST AS YOU ARE)!

I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love—not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God's love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord! - Romans 8:38-39 (CEV)

If no one has ever said this to you, I wish I could look you straight in the eye and tell you plainly…

God loves you.

More specifically, I want you to hear clearly that your Creator, your Father, your Savior, your Friend loves you… just the way you are.

Too often, we simply nod our heads (or shrug it off) when we are told that Jesus loves us. But, if we are honest with ourselves, deep down we think there are conditions on God’s love. We believe there are things we have done, or situations we are in, or bad attitudes we have that prevent God from loving us.

We think there are barriers to His love.

We assume He could only love us after we have stopped making bad choices, pulled ourselves off the floor, fixed our broken relationships, or cleaned ourselves up for Him.

Yes, I know God loves me if…

Yes, I know God loves me when…

Yes, I know God loves me but…

God loves you just the way you are.

He loves you if… you are feeling happy or sad.

He loves you when… you are walking confidently and carefree or crawling through the mud.

He loves you, but… [nothing].

There is nothing you have done…

There is nowhere you can go…

There is no one who can come between you and God’s love.

This birthday, as you set goals for the year ahead, don’t believe for a minute that you need to change before God can love you. God deeply loves you and is right by your side as you are today, and will continue to be by your side to help you grow this year.

Reflect, Pray, and Celebrate Your Birthday!

Today, be reminded—wherever you are in life or in your relationship with God at this moment—Jesus loves you.

Despite what we read in today’s verses, do you sometimes feel like there is a barrier between you and God? Nothing can separate us from God’s love, but there may be something you need to address—a misconception, a sin, or even your own pride—so that you can remove the distance you feel between you and Him. Take a few minutes to pray that those walls would come tumbling down so that you can receive His unconditional love!