BECOMING A BETTER ME...part 6

Even as he chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy [consecrated and set part for Him] and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before him in love.  ~  Ephesian 1:4

GOD LOVES ME UNCONDITIONALLY!

I've NEVER felt loved unconditionally. Now, those of you reading this, who know me, may say, "Well, I do," but I guess the key word in my statement is "FELT."

I've always felt that if I didn't perform a certain way, complete a certain task, do with my life what was expected, then love would be withheld from me.

There is no earning love with God. He gives this as a free gift. In fact there is nothing I can ever "do" to "get" Him to love me more then He does right now and even more amazing is that, under no condition, will He ever stop loving me.

I am not my performance. As Joyce says, "Your 'who' and your 'do' are separate. As long as we think God's love is conditional, we will keep trying to earn it by attempting to prove that we are worth loving. When we make mistakes, then we feel we are no longer valuable and therefore do no deserve love, We suffer the guilt, shame and condemnation of believing we are not lovable and should be rejected. We keep trying harder and harder until sometimes we are exhausted mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and even physically. We try to keep up a good front, but inside we are weary and often very afraid."

Somehow I missed that others could be displeased with my behavior, but still love me.

God loves us and accepts us even in our imperfection.

I have to make the decision to simply believe it. I am precious and valuable to Him, just the way I am. No matter how many right things I do, I can never do enough to deserve God's love, and no matter how many wrong things I have done, they cannot prevent God from loving me forever.

God planned that I would be exactly the way I am. He will never help me be someone else, so I need to stop comparing myself to others and rejoice in who I am. He looks favorably on me and there is no point feeling guilty, after I have asked for forgiveness.

I'm not where I need to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be! God is so good!