I asked God this morning what He wanted to say to you today, the day you read this blog post. Google has its algorithms, web masters know whom to target and what time of day is best to hit their demographic and magazine editors plan what season to cover certain subjects. But God knows exactly what you need to hear on this day, right now at this moment.
So I asked Him.
I sat in my backyard and listened for His answer to the question.
And then I argued with His answer.
“But God…” (Red flag phrase if I ever heard one!) “…these women already know that you love them and that they are doing enough.”
You already know that God loves you. Your social media screens are full of life- affirming reminders and declarations of His love. You scroll down to beautiful scenic photos with scriptures that tell you again and again that God loves you. The titles of blog posts and articles stream past your eyes in a blur. How could there be any doubt that you are loved by God?
But we do wonder. We wonder if saying, “Yes” to the request to lead another Bible Study will help God love us more. Will it show Him how dedicated we are? Will saying, “No” to the invitation to the game on Sunday move me up a notch in God’s eyes?
You, Dear Reader, are loved by the God of the universe. Today. He is not looking at you through eyes that only see your future potential. He sees you, as you are this day, and this moment. And He is loving you. In the present. Today. This minute.
I argued with God about sharing this thought with you because it seemed shallow and basic. Who hasn’t heard the John 3:16 words about God loving the world?
But we still wonder if there is more we can do. More we can be. More we can change and fix. We look around and see believers doing mighty exploits. They are writing books, feeding the poor in Africa, adopting disabled children and creating Bible study curriculum, all while home-schooling 5 kids!
As God and I discussed this post, I opened Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling Devotional and read the portion for today. The very last sentence jumped out at me and I laughed. It read, “Even the most routine part of your day can be a spiritual act of worship, holy and pleasing to Me.”
Standing in your kitchen rinsing the spaghetti sauce off the dishes can be a holy moment. Sorting the laundry into piles of whites, darks and delicates can be a pleasing act of worship to Him. (And some days these routine parts of our day can appear to be mighty exploits!) God wants you to know that folding those towels is a holy and pleasing act to Him. You are His. Every moment of your day is with Him. He takes great pleasure in the routine activities of your life.
Jude 20 says, “You Beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, by praying in the Spirit, you keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NKJV)
Keep yourself in the love of God. Remind yourself that you are His beloved. Today. You do not need to earn your place with Him. It is yours already. God loves you and you are doing enough.
So I think He won our little argument about what to tell you today. He usually does.
Susie, I’m so glad you listened. This is a message I just don’t think we can ever hear too much. So many of us (ahem, me) have damaged self-esteem and sometimes feel knee-deep in being unloved. Even though our heads know John 3:16, sometimes our hearts don’t always truly meditate on these words. This was such a refreshing and tender post. Thank you.
Julie, thanks for coming by. I keep wanting to write something deeper, but God knows how much we all need to keep hearing this and it is a deep message!
Susie
Seems God thinks we can’t get enough of those simple ones: love, trust, obey because we can’t believe it’s really so profoundly simple. I for one have to stop and soak this love message in every time I hear it. Maybe one day it will “stick like spaghetti! Thanks for obedience,Susie.
Marcia, thanks for commenting! I like your description of “profoundly simply”, what great words to describe what could seem to be a shallow and basic lesson. We all need to hear it huh?
Susie
And that my friend, is a message that NEVER gets old. So great to see you hear and I am so glad God won that argument. He usually wins mine, too!
Too true! Not sure why I bother arguing. Ha!
I love that God “is not looking at you through eyes that only see your future potential. He sees you, as you are this day, and this moment. And He is loving you. In the present. Today. This minute.” Thank you for reminding me of that today. A very comforting thought.
Hi Pam! Yes the fact that He is not just loving us because He knows how great we “COULD BE SOMEDAY” is a huge freedom bringer isn’t it? (That sentence does not sound very clear but I’m sure you know what I mean, right?) Ha!
Yes…We are free to be exactly who Christ has created us to be…whether it be Wendy the Wonder Woman, or Pam the bear watcher, He loves us and works through us in His own marvelous ways. I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately, and may have to write my own thoughts, because it’s one of those identity things we women go through…trying to feel worthy and accepted by God…when we know that He alone is worthy…and He has loved and accepted us long before we knew Him. yes, this is a message we all needed to hear. Thank you again.
‘Standing in your kitchen rinsing the spaghetti sauce off the dishes can be a holy moment. Sorting the laundry into piles of whites, darks and delicates can be a pleasing act of worship to Him.’ ~ That just about did me in, today, Susie. People are forever talking about their having sacred moments on mountain peaks or ‘dynamic,’ fireworks display type worship experiences…and I’m secretly envious, wanting the same, wondering why I don’t. But my worship can be just as dynamic as the next gal’s or guy’s, simply folding washcloths or cleaning off my kitchen table for the umpteenth time (without complaining).
And being reminded how much God loves me, how I am His beloved? That NEVER gets old for me. Some days…like today…I need to hear it again.
Thanks, Susie. <3
Thanks for coming by Pam! You know what? Statistically there are more of us at home or in mundane jobs doing the ordinary stuff than there are out there moving mountains. So I think God is OK with that and He enjoys some quiet time in the laundry room with us. Even if we are complaining. Ha! But I’m sure you never do that. 🙂
This devotional was written for me, I’m sure of it. Someone else may like it a lot, but it was written by a dear friend. For me. Thank you, Susie Klein, and thank You, God.
Hi my great friend Joyce! I miss your face and I am so so happy this ministered to you because you were my best cheerleader when I was wondering if I could do any writing at all. Love you!
So glad you quit arguing and just posted it. We do think the message is too simple. But we still don’t get it! Maybe someone else did today.
Hi Melanie! Yes I am glad I quit arguing also. Don’t know why I bother, but I know it does not bother Him. We are constantly learning and growing in this amazing relationship.
Women have a tendency to get in their heads so much that they complicate life and faith and God. Simple messages – returning to the basics – help us get out of our thoughts and into God’s thoughts. Dwelling in His thoughts is where we find out who we truly are!
So true Kari. We add the complication to a simple fact and then complain that we can’t do the BIG stuff to please Him. He has not asked for the big showy stuff, just to look at Him and trust that He is there and already loves us. so simple – so hard.
You must have had pasta recently! Against the wall, washing spaghetti dishes. Anyhoo…wonderful inspiration you’ve written, Susie, and so well, too. We are all loved by God above, no matter what we think. Or are told. Thanks for the reminder.
Well yes, pasta is a staple here in our house as you can tell, ha! You are welcome for the reminder about God’s crazy love, Michael.
We can’t hear this often enough and we can’t hear that it’s OK to need to hear it often enough.
Ah yes, good point Martie. It is ok to need to hear such great news again and again! Thanks for the comment.
Susie
Apparently I needed to hear this today because it brought me to tears. I wonder if we can ever hear enough that God loves us and we’re precious to him? I don’t know that I will ever get used to it. So thank you for your obedience because this Jesus girl needed it tonight!
Oh beautiful Melinda, now you have me in tears! You are right, that we never get used to hearing how precious we are to The Father. Because we have trouble believing it of ourselves and then the tears come when we hear the TRUTH.
I am so happy this post spoke to you when you needed it. 🙂
Susie