God is Love
By Kate Belford
1 John 4:16
I remember the first time I read the scripture “God is love”. The words jumped off the page and settled into my heart. Years of longing to be loved no earthly relationship could ever satisfy. I was loved by my parents, family and friends but always felt a lack, like something was missing. It was when I met God, that I found out that the lack was an emptiness in my heart that only He could fill. I will never forget that day I got on my knees and asked God to come into my life. His love poured over me and I felt my heart burn in my chest. The yearning I had was for God all along! His love saved me! His love brought me to life! I was relying on man to give me only what God could give me. Reunited with my first love! The One who formed and knit me together in my mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-14). The One who quiets me with His love and rejoices over me with singing! (Zephaniah 3:17)
God sets eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11) that only His eternal love can quench. He meets each of us right where we need to be met. We do not need to check off a set of rules or standards or have it all together for God to show us His love because He is love. He wants your heart and wants you to know His. For His love has no bounds (Psalm 103:6-18) and we can come to Him just as we are, with our hearts open to receive His abundant love and grace. A love that is gentle, a love that is truth, a love that disciplines, a love that is everlasting, a love that heals, His love endures forever (Psalm 136). In Romans 8:38-39 the author Paul says “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” and I am also convinced! He loves us that much! When I look back on my life, I can see how He has been with me from the beginning! God has been with you from your beginning and sings over you too, my friend. Sometimes our beliefs hold us back from really seeing and experiencing all that He is. I want to share with you a poem that I wrote during a time of reflection in my journey with the Lord:
You were there from the beginning
Covered by Your precious blood and love
Who am I to believe I can do my own healing
It comes from You above
Your rod and Your staff they comforted me
When heartache in life came over me
I did not know…
Your heart beats with mine
On a path that is completely divine
All along you were with me
A love I chased, I longed for, a passionate pursuit
Only brought heartache and tears
Tears that were shed and sown for You
I cried out to You, surrendered my life
You poured Your love over me
Love that never fails
I feel it now…
Your heart beats with mine
On a path that is completely divine
All along you were with me
Here we are today
True love restored
Abiding together, I’m forever Yours
Burning for you
Until we meet face to face
Your abundant grace covers me
I see it now…
Your heart beats with mine
On a path that is completely divine
All along You are with me
God is with you (Isaiah 41:10). He has chosen you and sees you as His treasured possession (1 Peter 2:9). How do I know this? It is in His beautiful word. Everything written in the Bible is truth and an expression of His love for us. Quite like a love letter. In reading His word and through prayer we can cultivate an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. By being rooted and established in love (Ephesians 3:17) we can love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).
Do you believe that’s God’s love has no bounds? Why or why not?
Find a verse about God’s love. Write it down and share it with a friend.
Reflect on your journey. Through prayer and praise I invite you to share with God how He has met you right where you needed to be met and how His love covered you.
Heavenly Father, I thank you that You are love. I thank you that we see such an outpouring of Your love through Your word and the gift of Your presence. I pray that I can open my heart to receive and accept Your love and pour it out to others. To become rooted and established in Your love, allowing Christ to dwell in my heart. Let me be filled to the measure of all the fullness You Lord have for me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.