God loves you as a lover loves

This wild God of mine . . . loves me . . . not in the way we usually translate when we hear, “God loves us.” Which usually sounds like “because he has to” or meaning “he tolerates you.” No. He loves me as a Lover loves.

~~Stasi Eldredge

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Take Heart, Oh God: Riches from the Greatest Christian Women Writers of All Time.

“Love.” The word speaks to the soul, the emotions, the heart. A child cuddled by Mom or Dad. A toddler toddling toward outstretched arms. Friends reunited with bear hugs. An engaged couple walking hand-in-hand, then gazing into each other’s eyes. Newlyweds driving from the reception, beginning life together.

Whatever feelings the word love evokes, multiply them by thousands to gain a glimpse of God’s love for you. God’s love goes beyond any kind of human love we can experience. It is perfect love—he loves us not because he has to, not because he tolerates us, but because he is wildly in love with us. Such love is almost unimaginable—but it is true, it is real, it is yours.

Let that thought, that picture, those emotions wash over you, cleansing you of any hesitancy or fear in your relationship with him. He loves you as a lover loves.

Prayer for Meditation

Thank you, God, for loving me so much.

Scripture for Meditation

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:14-19

Music for Meditation

I Feel My Savior’s Love 

If you feel led to do so, please post a note of encouragement in the comment section below, or send your note by email to PrayersForSally@gmail.com