01/08/12

 

We don't see a lot of growth in the winter.

Of course, this winter for us in NC we aren't seeing any colder weather or possible snow, either.

I know in seasons of "winter" in our lives sometimes there isn't spiritual growth.  God is trying to show us something, but we are too "cold" towards Him to learn from what we are going through.  We think that if we are going through a hard time He doesn't love us.  How far from the truth that is!

I was reminded in church this morning to grow spiritually.  

If you are not closer to the Lord now than you were a year ago, where have you backslidden?  What has caused you to fall away?  

It is us that falls away from the Lord, and not the Lord from us.  He is always there, always loving us, waiting for us to return to Him.

Here is one of my devotions from this past week.  It is one that hit me because I have thought it many times.... and done exactly what the devotion says is not what GOD says.  I think it will give us lots of food for thought for this new week as well as this new year:

Romans 8:32-39

Why is it difficult for some of us to believe that God really does love us?  Whenever I have talked with anyone who is having struggles in many areas of life, I always ask if he believes God loves him.  Nine times out of ten the answer is, "No."  Some have said they feel loved by God when they are following a self-imposed set of rules.  It makes them feel obedient, which then makes them feel that God loves them in a better way.  That's not what God's love is about!

For some people, the hardest thing to settle in their minds is the fact that God's love is not earned by their actions, but is given freely because of His character.  Some people view God as consistently critical of their imperfections and failings.  They see a God who is never pleased with less than perfection.

You can't earn God's love.  It's futile to attempt to "make" God love you.  You are not perfect, and never will be in this world.  Even with your new nature gained through the Spirit of God, you still battle the old nature, the world, and the devil, and succumb to their influences from time to time.  You may fail God's grace by falling into sin, but you can never forfeit God's love.  It is unconditional love, not dependent upon you.  If it were, then you are trusting in your performance rather than in God's Word.

You might not even "feel" God's love at times - that can happen.  But He loves you no matter what.  God has compassion on us and He loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).  God's love is tied in with His mercy; "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us" (Ephesians 2:4). 

~  Dwell Devotional:  Tuesday, January 3, 2012