I AM LOVED BY GOD

I have big news, great news, exciting news! On April 28th I will be turning 40! I am not at all mourning the fact that I am getting older. Ok, let me keep it real, maybe I am a little upset that I don’t drop the pounds as fast as I used to and that if I eat what I shouldn’t it seems to show seconds later. Let’s just say my age and my metabolism are not best friends. But other than that, and some other interesting side effects that comes with getting older, I must say that I am totally embracing this turning 40 thing! Why? Glad you asked….I was going to tell you even if you did not inquire. I can reflect on my life and see how much growth has taken place. Yes, I have more learning to do, but I am going to celebrate all that God has done in me and all that He has taught me. I have learned many lessons that has helped me to lose my life while at the same time finding it in Christ. It has been a ride, let me tell ya! But I am tasting freedom in overwhelming doses. I have been in super reflective mode, as is my custom around my birthdays! This year, I decided to share those reflections with you, yes you! For the next 40 days I am going to share 40 lessons I have learned on the road to turning 40. Of course, I have learned more, but these are the most pronounced as I reflect on my life.

The most life changing lesson I have learned on my road to being 40 is that I am loved by God! Sounds simple I know but I must confess that there were times in my life where my actions proved that I did not believe this to be true.

Times when I
shrunk back when I should have stood up
doubted when I should have believed
put up what I should have put out
Feared when I should have been confident
Settled when I should have demanded more
Compromised when I should have yielded to conviction

All because I didn’t embrace the unchanging truth that I am loved by God. I am just so overwhelmed with emotions when I really think about how much He loves me. It used to seem like such a distant love. However, the more I surrender to God, the more personal His love becomes. Perhaps it’s because I am more intentional about sitting and listening to Him speak to me. I am hearing these messages of love that I seemed to have missed. It wasn’t that He wasn’t telling me before, I just couldn’t hear Him because of the competing voices in my head. Surrender seemed to have fine-tuned my hearing and my heart. I am getting a deeper revelation of His love and it has brought a new level of confidence…not arrogance…there is a difference. There is something about knowing I am loved by the creator of the universe that pushes me into my purpose with my head held high. I know I haven’t fully grasped His love for me but I am starting to get it. How about you? Do you know and live in the reality that you are loved by the creator of the universe? Leave a comment below, I would love to hear from you. Below are some scriptures to mediate on to remind you of this love. See you tomorrow as I share lesson #2 on my road to turning 40!

Psalm 13:5-6 (NLT)
But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the LORD because he is good to me.

Jeremiah 31:3
“…I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.”
1 Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

Be Blessed
Anika