"And I ask Him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breath! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the hights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19 (The Message).
In this amazing prayer, Paul asks God to help us internalize the extravagant love of Christ so that we may settle in our hearts, once and for all, the fact that we are totally, completely, absolutely loved and treasured by Him.
I often hear, I can't take in that extravagant love! I know it in my mind, in my heart it is another thing. I am rather empty. I want to believe that I am loved. I want to love others and have good relationships.
Growing up in imperfect homes around imperfect people in an imperfect world created love deficits and rendered us mistrusting, dissatisfied, self-preoccupied, strong-willed...
It is extremely difficult even for believers to take in Christ's supreme love for us when we allow the lies of Satan, the World, and our own flesh to take root in our souls.
God knows our backgrounds very well. He prepared precisely what we need to re-order our thought life, heal our emotions and memories so that we may walk in His fullness for His honor and for His purposes. We must take in His love on His terms though. By faith.
Faith is a gift of God, it comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ. Romans 10:17
No matter what family of origin we come from or how bad choices we have made, if we change our thinking (repent), Christ's love will move us from emptiness to fullness. We will grow conscious of His hand of love in our daily interactions with people and in our life circumstances. We will learn to respond not react to persons or life situations. We will discern how the Lord is working in us. Our relationships will improve.
The following is an excerpt from Max Lucado's -"A Love Worth Giving You"
And the love of Christ -
"bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Cor. 13:7
Think for a moment. Drink from that for a moment. Drink deeply... It is time to let His love cover all things in your life. All secrets. All hurts. All hours of evil, minutes of worry.
The mornings you awoke in the bed of a stranger? His love will cover that. The years you peddled prejudice and pride? His love will cover that. Every promise broken, drug taken, penny stolen. Every cross word, cussword, and harsh word. His love covers all things.
"He loads me with love and mercy" Psalm 103:4
Picture a giant dump truck full of love. There you are behind it. God lifts the bed until the love starts to slide. Slowly at first, then down, down, down until you are hidden, buried, covered in His love.
"Hey where are you?" someone asks.
"In here, covered in love."
Let His love cover all things. Do it for His sake. To the glory of His name. Do it for your sake. For the peace of your heart. And do it for their sake. For the people in your life. Let His love fall on you so yours can fall on them... Let His love fill you, flood you, and change you forever. Live loved!
Ready to apply insights learned through this posting?
Be intentional. Every day this following week keep a mental picture of Christ's love falling on you until you are totally covered with His love. Observe how you respond to pleasant and unpleasant people and circumstances. See your love falling on them!
Write your comments to mayagraves@yahoo.com
More on loving relationships in the Fourth Letter of " Letters From your Father God" by Maya Graves.
About Maya
- Maya
- is a bi-lingual - English-Spanish Christian psychotherapist in private practice in Houston, Texas. For sixteen years, Maya has been counseling individuals, couples, and families seeking answers for personal and interpersonal conflicts. Maya is committed to help her clients focus not only on behavioral modification but character growth. Maya wrote her own book-workbook “Letters from your Father God” in English and Spanish to walk clients through a practical process of mental, emotional, and spiritual maturity. Maya is originally from Ecuador, South America. She graduated from the Catholic University in Quito-Ecuador. She completed all the State of Texas requirements to obtain her license as a LCSW (Licensed clinical Social Worker). She is also a certified TRT (Trauma Resolution Therapist). Maya lives with Tom, her husband of over thirty years. They have a married daughter and two grandchildren.