Saturating Yourself in the Love of God: The “Beloved Charter”
I wonder if we really comprehend how fully God loves us. We say it, “God loves me.” We recite the most famous verse of the New Testament, “For God so loved the world (and could even insert the word “me”) that He gave His only son...” We sing about it with praise music on the radio. But do we really understand, as much as we are able, how beloved we are? Do we KNOW it down to the deepest part of our soul?
Or does it feel more generic, “Yes, Jesus loves me. 🎵” Because “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world 🎵” And you happen to be one of them, lumping yourself into the big ball of humanity. It’s a magnificent concept. Nothing could be more wonderful. “Hallelujah!” “Amen!” … but honestly, you feel kind of numb.
What would change in our relationship with God if that truth went deeper today?
Would there be anything we wouldn’t do for Him? Any temptation we wouldn’t quickly discard? Any ambition that would tangle us up?
No. When we are saturated with the love of God everything else falls into place.
It’s His love that brought us to relationship with Him in the first place. And His love that will lead us every day of our life with Him.
We all need a regular dose of re-immersing ourselves in God’s love.
At times, I have felt a deeper knowing. Right now, amidst the last couple of months; the wonderful, bustling activities of Fall, people and conversations.
I could use a “Love of God” tune up. I wonder if some of you feel the same way.
That’s why I’m so excited to share this with you today!
Reading the Renovare Book Club Fall selection, Seeking God: Finding Another Kind of Life with St. Ignatius and Dallas Willard by Trevor Hudson (ooh.. it’s so good! All about God’s passionate desire for friendship with us), I came across this practice on page 66.
I’m looking forward to doing it this weekend; soaking in the sun shining through the peak fall colors during our MAWG (Morning Alone with God), and letting God saturate me once again. For any of you drawn to do it too, I would love to hear all about it!
~ Blessings, Lori
P.S. .. I've included Trevor's Beloved Charter in the pic above
_____________
The “Beloved Charter”
Adapted from Seeking God By Trevor Hudson
One of the best ways we can come to know that we are God’s beloved in a more personal way is by meditating on God’s personal love in Scripture, asking the Holy Spirit to make it real to us; to help us see ourselves through God’s eyes; how recklessly in love He is with each one of us.
Writing Your Personal “Beloved Charter”
The very first word should be your name, so it clearly addresses you.
Look up the verses circling the phrases that touch you deeply.
If there are other scriptures that remind you of how God sees you, write those down as well.
Personalize each scripture inserting your name.
Then write out your personal “Beloved Charter” as if God is speaking to you with these verses of His living word with your name inserted in each one.
Your charter should no more than six to eight sentences.
Set aside a few minutes each day to be alone and read your Charter aloud
as God’s declaration over you picturing Christ alongside you asking the Holy Spirit
to press home the good news of your own belovedness.
Genesis 1:27
Psalm 8:1-9, 139:13-16
Song of Solomon 2:4
Isaiah 41:10-24, 49:15-16
Zephaniah 3:17
Matthew 6:25-34
Luke 12:6-7
John 1:12, 3:16, 15:15
Romans 5:6-8, 8:28, 32
2 Corinthians 12:9
Ephesians 2:4-10, 3:20
Hebrews 4:16