Hearing God Say, "i Love You"

Three of the most comforting, encouraging, and life-giving words in the English language are, "I love you".  Spoken from a sincere heart, these little words carry a tenderness and strength that will fill a lonely heart and bring a smile to a sad face.  These are words that come from the hearts of loving parents when they see their new baby.  They are whispered in the ear of someone frail as they lie on a hospital bed.  They are words spoken with chocolates to a special someone, or perhaps with a "knowing gaze" shared across a room between partners in a long-term caring marriage.  They are words that every human longs to hear over and over again. 

God wants us to hear Him tenderly saying those words to us each day.  We can speak with God and read His word in the Bible where He tells us of His unfailing and everlasting love.  We can also pray for others who don't yet know how loving God really is.  We can ask God to help them receive and respond to His love. 

I bow in prayer to the Father because of my work among you.  From the Father every family in heaven and on earth gets its name.  I pray that he will use his glorious riches to make you strong. May his Holy Spirit give you his power deep down inside you.  Then Christ will live in your hearts because you believe in him. And I pray that your love will have deep roots. I pray that it will have a strong foundation.  May you have power together with all the Lord’s holy people to understand Christ’s love. May you know how wide and long and high and deep it is.  And may you know his love, even though it can’t be known completely. Then you will be filled with everything God has for you.  (Ephesians 3:14-19 NIRV)

There is such generosity of Spirit and love described in this scripture passage -- a love that is wide enough to embrace us wherever we go.  It's a love deep enough to get below our deepest wound and disappointment.  God's love celebrates with us on our brightest days and fills us with comfort and courage when life’s challenges come our way.  This is love that we cannot begin to find words to describe. Sharing and prayer is all about living in that wonderful love today.

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