God Loves Me
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“This will be the sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12
I remember very well that early rainy morning years ago, sitting in my kitchen nursing the grief I felt over not being all I wanted to be. I have found that many women have had the same experience. There seems to always be something more we should have done, something we should have said – or something we should NOT have said.
There are things . . . we haven’t accomplished, but want to and longings that continue to remain un-fulfilled. I have come to realize that when we get caught up in such negative thinking, it clouds our perception of who we really are in Jesus.
Because my Father loves me and wants me to stay on track with spiritual truth, He gave me a gift that day years ago – tucked in the folds of a baby blanket.
My boys were young then. Brandon was in his early teens and Lane had just entered kindergarten. All of a sudden I remembered the blanket; the favorite baby blanket belonging to the boys came to mind. Woman on a mission, I left my brooding spot and went digging in the closet between the sheets and towels until I found it. There – soft, white, with pink and blue ribbons around the border, it lay – just begging to be held.
I remember particularly noticing the ribbons, recalling that the gift had been given by one who did not know the baby’s gender. And in that same moment, I was flooded with a sweet reality that the PINK RIBBON was for me! Oh yes – years after the boys had discarded this precious wrapping, my Father who understands all about my needs – placed it before me. God often gives me visual reminders of His love. And that day at precisely that moment, He gave me the blanket with the pink and blue ribbons. It was just what I needed to remind me of His love and His security. There in that tiny closet, I wrapped myself in the baby blanket and sensed God wrapping His love around me.
This story, perhaps a bit sappy, is couched in truth you need to hear - especially on those days when you’re feeling “less than.” You can deal with those insecurities of feeling inadequate by embracing these simple but life changing truths. You can live out the reality that Jesus loves you and has a plan for your life, no matter what circumstances may indicate. He longs to empower you and get you back on track with spiritual-reality thinking.
TRUTH: You are God’s daughter. If Jesus Christ lives in your heart, your Heavenly Father loves you in a way none other can. You will never discover complete fulfillment by looking inside yourself or within the earthly roles you are experiencing now. Children grow up and move away. Your roles change as seasons of life change.
APPLICATION: During these few days before Christmas, take time to sit with God, reflecting upon His humble birth in Bethlehem. Consider how God’s Glory entered humanity – not in a sanitized setting, but in
a dirty, impure environment. Offer Him your heart – your heart that sometimes feels very dirty and impure. Give Him the gifts of praise and thankfulness for the way He loves you. Give him the "now" of your life, offering Him a renewed thankfulness and commitment to trust Him in this season of life.
SCRIPTURE: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)
PRAYER: Father, just as You entered this world as a tiny baby boy and was wrapped snugly in those swaddling clothes Your love caresses me when I feel less than worthy as the woman You created. I’m amazed that You would choose to come down from glory and settle in a dirty feeding trough. I’m also amazed that You would choose to take up residence in my impure heart often filled with self-criticism and sometimes judgment of others. Regardless of my earthly failures and the many times I miss the mark of holiness, I AM worthy – all because of Jesus. As I continue to turn to You with love and adoration help me to catch fresh glimpses of the way You love me. This Christmas I give You a new and thankful ME. Amen.
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