Who is God to you?
How do you think God feels about you?
To even begin to love God, I believe we need to personally answer these two questions.
I grew up with the perception that God was some “being” who ruled from up above with an iron fist. I was not to cross Him.
As a little girl, I thought God didn’t like me or He was mad at me. I believed I could never measure up to God’s standards. Ever.
But I wanted desperately to do so. I wanted to please Him. I desired to do whatever it took to earn His love.
I went to church to hopefully help my cause. However, I didn’t understand church. My mind would wander to the point of noticing who was in church that morning, and what everyone else was wearing.
My “talking” to God consisted of memorized prayers that I also didn’t understand. I didn’t talk to Him often.
The Bible was a huge book in a box that sat on a shelf in our home. In high school I had a Bible which I took to my weekly two-hour church education class, but I can’t say I ever read it.
Jesus was God’s son, born in a manger, stripped and nailed to a cross, and rose on Easter. None of that made any sort of sense to me.
Things changed, however, when at twenty-two years old, I was introduced to the concept of God loving me for who I was.
He created me, so He loves me. Really? God loves ME?
It was as if my eyes were opened to the truth of who God was. Who, the God of that huge book I never read, and the God I feared as a child, really was.
I didn’t need to fear Him any longer. I could stop trying to earn His love. There was no need to walk around with guilt on my back for one more minute.
I learned of how God knew I couldn’t measure up to His standards, so that’s why He provided a way to Him through His Son, Jesus.
I became aware of how God desires to have a relationship with me. With ME!
I could talk to Him in plain, everyday words. Words I didn’t have to memorize.
I bought a Bible I could understand, and began reading. The words almost seemed to jump off the page and into my heart. I couldn’t get enough of those words. I still have that Bible, and read out of it in my study time just this morning.
Since that day in April 1991, as I’ve studied, have seen God work in my life, have experienced His love and intimacy, and have witnessed Him answer my prayers (and so much more), I have fallen in love with the God I once feared.
Who is God to me?
He’s love, mercy, grace, forgiveness. He’s almighty, sovereign, faithful, trustworthy. He’s worshipful, everlasting, supreme, perfect. He’s my Creator, Savior, Redeemer, Protector and Friend.
Feel like sharing? Who is God to you?
Tomorrow I’ll share what God says in those words–His Word–about you and me.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. I pray this encourages your heart on this Day 5 of 31 Days of Loving God & Loving Others!
Until tomorrow, God bless you!
Julie
Continuing on in our journey of 31 Days of Loving God and Loving Others. #31DaysLovingGodLovingOthers
I grew up in a traditional church that sounds similar to yours. I did everything to please God because I felt the nagging fear of retribution if I did not. God was big and ominous but not one that felt like warm, fuzzy love. I eventually learned as an adult the joy of having a relationship with God and all the wonder and grace that comes along with it. So glad to be on this journey of knowing God with you!
It sounds like we have similar experiences in our younger years with church and with God. So thankful we have come to the knowledge of having a real, vibrant, relationship with God is possible. Yes, wonder and grace! I’m so glad to be walking this journey with you, too, Mary! You’re a blessing in my day! Thank you for sharing, friend. Hope your week is going well!