I love you unconditionally! (Week 1, Day 2)

"How big is God?"

Hanna just had to know. Being tall compared to other 4-year-olds, my daughter wanted to hear how her stature compared to God's. "God is a spirit, He does not have a body like we do," I tried to explain. "Of course," Hanna exclaimed understandingly, remembering how I had recently praised her for drawing people with full bodies, "He only has a head and feet!"

Three days later she was ready to broach the subject again, revealing that this new concept was becoming deeply established in her mind: "Mama, why does God not have a belly?"

Aren't we just like that? We find comfort in having our world neatly categorized and continue to entertain thoughts, even when they turn out to be misconceptions. The longer we cling to false concepts, the harder it is for us to change our way of thinking.

For me, the belief that God's love was conditional was one of those misconceptions I found hard to let go of. For such a long time I had focused on all the things I thought I had to do to please God, I had to be reminded of the truth many times for it to finally sink in.

Maybe you have felt overwhelmed at times, thinking of all the things you need to do for God. Perhaps you struggle with the thought that God can't possibly love you just the way you are. Today I would like to remind you of all the things God has already done for you:

He foreknew you. (Rom. 8:29)
He predestined you. (Rom. 8:29)
He knit you together in your mother's womb. (Ps.139:13)
He knows your thoughts. (Ps. 139:2)
He is acquainted with all your ways. (Ps. 139:3)
He chose you. (Is.41:6)
He has called you His treasured possession. (Deut. 7:6)
He has engraved your name in the palm of His hand. (Is. 39:16)
He desires you. (Song of Solomon 7:10)
He draws you with chords of lovingkindness. (Hos. 11:4)
He redeemed you. (Is.43:1)
He raised you from the dead. (Col. 2:12)
He gave you new life. (Col. 2:13)
He saved you. (Is. 43:1)
He forgave you. (Col. 2:13)
He released you from the law. (Rom. 7:6)
He cancelled the record of debt that stood against you. (Col. 2:14)
He blots out all your transgressions. (Is. 43:25)
He washed you. (1 Cor. 6:11)
He justified you. (1 Cor. 6:11)
He sees no flaw in you. (Song of Solomon 4:7)
He calls you beautiful. (Song of Solomon 4:7)
He adopted you. (Eph. 1:5)
He filled you. (Col. 2:10)
He sealed you as His own. (Eph. 1:13)
He indwells you with His Spirit. (Rom. 8:9)
He has made you His heir and co-heir with Christ. (Rom. 8:17)
He has given you an inheritance. (Eph. 1:11)
He has lavished the riches of His grace upon you. (Eph. 1:7)
He circumcised your heart. (Col 2:11)
He restores your soul. (Ps. 23:3)
He sanctified you. (1 Cor. 6:11)
He glorified you. (Rom. 8:30)
He changes you with ever increasing glory. (2 Cor. 3:18)
He rejoices over you with gladness. (Zeph. 3:17)
He quiets you by His love. (Zeph. 3:17)
He exult over you with loud singing. (Zeph. 3:17)
He hems you in, behind and before. (Ps. 139:5)
He lays His hand upon you. (Ps. 139:5)
No one can deliver you from His hand. (Is. 43:13)
Nothing can separate you from His love. (Rom. 8:39)
He considers you precious. (Is. 43:4)
He takes thought for you. (Ps. 40:17)
He hears you when you call. (1 John 5:14)
He longs to show you compassion. (Is. 30:18)
He sympathizes with your weakness. (Heb. 4:15)
He catches each tear that falls. (Ps. 56:12)
He removed the veil from your eyes. (2 Cor. 3:17)
He has made known to you the mystery of His will. (Eph. 1:9)
He prepared in advance the work for you to do. (Eph. 2:10)

That is how big our God is!

·       Which of these concepts speak to you most about God's unconditional love? Look up the Bible references and write the Bible verses in the space below.