Ask Listen Respond Week 1 Day 3 of Living Loved

Have you ever wanted to know God’s plan for your life and truly experience it? As I read Ephesians 3:16-21 today, it became very clear to me that I was reading our Heavenly Father’s perfect plan for every one of His children. The Apostle Paul said in verse 14, “When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, I bow my head and pray,” and then inspired by the Holy Spirit He prayed "17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us," 

Besides John 10:10, Ephesians 3:20 is the only other place in the whole Bible where the Greek word that describes the abundant life that Jesus came to give us is found. It is in this passage of Scripture we discover that it is in receiving a revelation of His love that God is able to bring to pass His plan for us and do superabundantly far over and above all that we dare ask or think- infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desire, thoughts, hopes or dreams. This is the life Jesus came for us all to live. This is what our Heavenly Father dreamed for us all along.

In today’s lesson I share how when I asked the Father, “How do I receive a deeper revelation of your love? How do I learn to live loved by you and truly experience this abundant life?” He responded with three simple words, “Ask, Listen, Respond.”

Jesus said, “Ask and keep on asking and you will receive that your joy may be full. (Luke 11:9).” My whole life began to change when I simply began to ask, “Lord, show me the truth that will set me free.” Give me a revelation of your amazing love for me.” How simple is that? Just ask!

Do you desire a deeper revelation of your Heavenly Father’s love? Do you really want to experience the superabundant life He has planned for you in Christ? Begin today asking Him to show you the truth of His great love. Listen as He begins to reveal to you who you truly are in Jesus. Respond by believing His good opinion of you and thank Him for His amazing grace. Your life will never be the same!

To join us in this online study go to: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=231933273504993

Week 1 Day 2: Living Loved

Nothing makes me feel more alive than to hear my Heavenly Father speak His words of love to my heart through His Word. His love brings me such peace. As I was reading the Scriptures out of today’s lesson, I stopped for a moment to let the truth found in Colossians 2:9 & 10 penetrate deep within my heart: “For in Christ lives all the fullness of God… So I, Connie, am complete through my union with Jesus.”

I am keenly aware that it is when I embrace this truth that I experience the love of Jesus on a deeper level and the abundant life He came to give me. In knowing this, I understand why the enemy is constantly tempting me to believe that I’m not who God says I am-that I lack in some way.

As I was reading page 21 of Living Loved, Living Free, I was reminded again that the root of every lie is “you’re not who God says you are.” As I read through the list of lies, the one that stood out to me the most was “You’re inadequate.” How many times has the devil tempted me to believe this lie? How many times has my heart been discouraged as I pondered on whether or not this was the truth about me? But as I took my eyes off the lie, and moved across the page to focus on the truth that sets me free, my heart was overwhelmed once again with my Heavenly Father’s great love for me and His opinion of me in Christ. Hebrews 13:21 says that in Jesus, God has equipped me with everything I need to successfully accomplish His will for my life.

I truly am complete in Christ. Through my union with Him, I lack nothing! I have His wisdom, guidance, strength, provision, resources, approval and favor. I have everything I need in Jesus. Ephesians 1:11 & 13 in the Message Bible says: “It’s in Christ that I find out who I am and what I am living for. It’s in Christ, that when I hear the truth, and believe it, I find myself home-free!”

I find my true identity in the One Who loved me and gave Himself for me. I don’t have to listen to the devil’s lies. When I feel a sense of lack within my heart, I turn to the One Who loves me, and remember the sacrifice He made to make my heart whole and complete. When I receive His love, I live free.

Have you ever believed the devil’s lie that you lacked in some way? Be aware that he’s just trying to deceive you into believing that “you’re not who God says you are.” When you feel a sense of lack, look to the One Who loves you and say, “Father, I know you love me, and what you say about me is true, I am complete in Jesus! I lack nothing in You! When you hear the truth of who you are in Christ, and believe it, you’ll find yourself truly free!

Watch the video teaching of week 1 of Living Loved Living Free and join us in this online Bible study at:  http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=231933273504993

Created to Be Loved: Week 1 day 1 of Living Loved Living Free Bible study

Living Loved online study

Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.  Ephesians 1:4

I'm so excited about doing Living Loved Living Free again as an online Bible study. I love being on a journey with so many men and women who desire to know Jesus and to live free in His love. Every time I read through the first lesson of this study, I am overwelmed once again with the revelation that my Heavenly Father created you and me to be the focus of His love, to be made whole and complete by His love-to lack nothing in Him.

Why does this truth touch me so deeply? I think it's because I know what it feels like to live with a broken heart. I lived so many years of my life believing the devil's lie that "I am not who God says I am." Just like Adam and Eve, I believed that I lacked in some way and so I looked outside of my relationship with Jesus to meet the needs of my heart and the result was shame and brokenness. My husband, my children, my parents, and my friends cannot satisfy the need that God has placed within me to be valued, accepted, approved and loved. Some how when I look outside of Jesus to meet my needs, I end up disappointed and discouraged. But when I bring my heart to Jesus and believe what He says is true, every need of my heart is completely satisified in His love. When I am willing to lay down my own opinion and the opinion of others and embrace with all of my heart what my Father says about me in Christ, I experience true freedom. When I value His opinion of me more than the world's, I live loved and I live free. Ephesians 1:4 says that He loves you and me and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. He sees us as very good because we are in Jesus (II Corinthians 5:21).

One day as I was taking a walk with my granddaughter, Ryann, I began telling her how much I love her. I said, "Ryann, you are a very good girl." She responded by saying, "Yes, I am, grandma!" I laughed with joy as she received my love and embraced my good opinion of her. She believed that what I said about her was true and it made me so happy. At that moment the Father spoke to my heart and said, "Connie, I love you, and you are very good." Just like Ryann, I confidently responded by saying, "Yes, I am, Father, because everything you say about me is true." I felt Him smile as I received His love, just as I did when Ryann received my love for her.

So how do we truly receive God's love and live loved and live free? Simply by embracing His good opinion of you in Christ. When we agree with His view of us, our hearts are healed and made whole by His love. We live free from all shame and brokeness and finally we are empowered to live the abundant, full life that our Heavenly Father intended for us to live all along. Today, listen with me as our Heavenly Father speaks to our hearts through His Word:

 "My beloved child, You are excellent in every way! You are good, so very good, and I approve of you completely! You are without fault in my eyes because of your faith in my Son, Jesus, and there is nothing you could ever do to change my good opinion of you!- Your Heavenly Father

How will you respond to Him today?

Join me as we journey through Living Loved Living Free online Bible study. You can watch week one of this series by attending our online study at http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=231933273504993

Day 6: I am valuable

21 Days to Discover Who you are in Jesus

Day 6

I Am Valuable

 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus.

                                     Ephesians 2:10 nlt

A masterpiece is a valuable work of art created by an artist. The word valuable means expensive, precious, priceless, and important. You’re valuable, precious, and important because God created you as a new person in Jesus. You’re His masterpiece.

 Yet, there are many people who don’t believe they are valuable because they seek their worth from something other than their relationship with Jesus. When a person bases their value on the world’s system, it often leads to a low self-esteem and self-worth.

Have you ever compared yourself to others and based your value on...

·       ...how you look?

·       ...how many friends you have?

·       ...what others think of you?

·       ...how much you do to help someone?

·       ...your social status?

·       ...how well you do something?

·       ...your job or position?

·       ...how much you’re needed?

When we base our value on these things, we fall into the trap of the enemy. We begin to believe these lies: you’re not needed; you’re not important or valuable.

I used to base my value on how I compared to others. I thought, She’s better then me. She has a better personality than I do. They like her more than me. She’s prettier, smarter, and more gifted then I am. All of these comparisons made me think less of myself. They made me feel less valuable and important. Sometimes I would focus on something that I was better at just to make myself feel better, but deep down I didn’t believe I measured up. Have you ever compared yourself to others and felt this way?

The value of something is determined by what someone is willing to pay for it. Let’s look at how much Jesus was willing to pay for you and me.

You know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom He paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless, Lamb of God.

                                     1 Peter 1:18,19 nlt

When I realized that Jesus proved His love for me by purchasing me with His precious blood, I began to see myself as valuable. I don’t have to compare myself to others anymore or look to them to find my value. I can believe the truth that I am valuable and important not based on what I do or how well I perform or how I compare to others. I am valuable because Jesus paid a great price for me. I don’t have to base my value on the world’s system. I can live in God’s kingdom and allow the truth of what Jesus did for me to define how valuable and important I am.

I have two daughters that are still at home, and I have two grown sons. The Lord has also blessed me with a beautiful daughter-in-law and two granddaughters. They have all been such a joy in my life.

All I have ever wanted to be is a wife and mother. To this day when someone asks me what I do, my first response is, “I’m a mom.” Not too long ago, my heart was feeling sad because my boys had grown up, and I didn’t feel like they needed me anymore. I remember taking my heart to Jesus and talking to Him about how I was feeling. He began to show me that I was looking to my boys needing me to find value and worth in this world. He reminded me that I am valuable because of the price He paid for me. My value is found in who I am in Jesus.

Have you found yourself looking to something else besides Jesus to determine your value? I encourage you today to let Jesus define how valuable you are. Your value is not found in how you compare to others, how well you do something or a position that you hold, it is found in who you are in Jesus. So believe who you are in Him and speak the truth out loud:

·       I am a masterpiece because the Master created me.

·       I am precious and important in Jesus.

·       I am valuable because of the great price Jesus paid for me.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for showing me how valuable, precious, and important I am to You. Jesus paid a great price for me. I don’t have to look anywhere else to find my value. I can be happy and secure in the truth that I am valuable because I am Your masterpiece. Thank You for loving me so much.