We live in a face-paced world where we are expected to live fast-paced lives. Living these action-packed lives can leave us with no breathing room and plenty of space to miss things that would normally be overly apparent.
God knows this and understands this, but is saddened by our disinterest in trying to put Him first as he does us. In the words of Emily Freeman from her book "Grace for the Good Girl," "Jesus loves me, this I know. But oh, how often I forget." Here is a list of nine easily forgotten things that various Bible verses tell us about the many different ways in which God loves us.
1. He will be my strength when I have none left to offer.
"The Lord is the everlasting God; he created all the world. He never grows tired or weary. No one understands His thoughts. He strengthens those who are weak and tired. Even those who are young grow weak; young people can fall exhausted. But those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak."
Isaiah 40:28-31 (GNT)
2. His vastness stretches far beyond than the grandest of all things, but even in his extremity, he has no trouble finding me.
"God’s love is meteoric, his loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, his verdicts oceanic. Yet in his largeness nothing gets lost; Not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks."
Psalm 36:10 (MSG)
3. Nothing that I have done or ever will do can earn me God’s love because I already have it, eternally and undeservedly.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
4. It is in Christ I find out who I am and what I am living for.
"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will."
Ephesians 1:11 (NIV)
5. He is jealous for me, and His love is ALWAYS better.
"The proverb has it that 'he’s a fiercely jealous lover.' And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find."
James 4:5 (MSG)
6. He is Alpha, Omega, beginning, and end. Savior, Messiah, Redeemer, and Friend (shoutout to those of you who caught my reference).
"I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, 'who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.' "
Revelation 1:8 (NIV)
7. When I love others, I am showing them God’s love for them. When others love me, they are showing me the same.
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
1 John 4:7-8 (NIV)
8. His peace is greater than my fear.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Phillippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
9. There is nothing in the whole wide world that can separate me from Jesus. His power is simply too great; his love is simply too strong.
"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)