Are you feeling it yet? The pressure of the new year? I was falling into thoughts of guilt this morning. Guilt if I sat down and played my games on my iPad. Guilt if I didn’t start working on my goals. Guilt for wanting to read instead of doing laundry. I believe these guilty feelings stem from my fear of being judged and that’s not where I want to be.

So let’s take a break from these incessant thoughts and look at a few scriptures.

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.

1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬-‭19‬ ‭ESV

Anyone, besides me, quote portions of these verses to themselves? “There is no fear in love—Perfect love casts out fear—We love because he first loved us.” These are beautiful truths and powerful reminders, but what struck me as I sought out this scripture was a portion tucked inside. “…because as he is so also are we in this world.” As we believe God loves us, His love abides in us and manifests through us to the world around us. Awesome!

But what about our lack of awesomeness? Here is another reminder I quote to myself:

The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.

Psalms‬ ‭103‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

He’s got a pretty good understanding of how big of a mess I can be. But it’s okay, His tenderness and compassion encourages me to trust that His love will see me through this life of ups and downs, of try and fail, of stand and fall. Which leads me to another quotable scripture.

Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV

So don’t be easily discouraged. God loves you right now. You don’t have to earn it. The amazing thing is – you will get better if you stick with Him.

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

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