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At the start of January, I wrote a devotion based on my word of the year—CONSIDER. Since then, many of you have shared your words with me and I have enjoyed using these as inspiration for further messages. It seems that our words of the year have evolved into a word for the week.
This week will focus on the word SAFE. I think safety is something we all desire, and truly it springs from feeling loved. Love makes us feel safe; love allows us to let our guard down and be our authentic selves. Love brings comfort and provides refuge from the world. Love is an anchor for our souls and a firm foundation for us to stand on. It motivates us to TRY (a previous word we learned about), with the knowledge that we won’t be rejected if we fail. Love invites us to retreat to the arms of the Lord and find safety under His wings.
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I’d like to share a page from my book “Confidence and Crowns: Devotions for a Daughter of the King,” to expand on this notion.
You are Loved
Love is the fundamental foundation on which all our confidence and security is built.
Speaking from personal experience, I know that no matter how old we are, no matter how many wrinkles or gray hairs we have, no matter how tough we act, deep inside our hearts there will always be a young, vulnerable girl who longs to be loved and cherished.
From the moment we are born, our heart’s deepest longing is to be loved. Love affirms our very worth. It’s what keeps our spirit alive; it fills us with hope and spurs us on. Air, food, and water are vital to our survival, but left alone without love and intimate connection we will fail to fully thrive. Knowing that we are loved makes all the difference in the world. Love is our safe landing place when everything else falls apart. I have a wonderful message for you—there is Someone who loves you more than you could ever imagine! You’ve been on His mind since before you were even born, and He will love you far into eternity. He wants to be the One you think of, the One you turn to, the One who fills you with joy and hope and confidence. He wants to go through life with you. With His loving-kindness, God will keep pursuing you and drawing you into His open arms.
Jeremiah 31:3, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness.”
Consider this question: How is the love of Jesus your safe landing place when things begin to crumble?
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Pause, pray, and ask Jesus to remind and assure you of His immeasurable love, and to help you know that you are safe. His love for you is eternal, unconditional, lavish. His love makes you brave, strong, fearless. His love is your refuge and safe place. His love is trustworthy and faithful. His love follows you everywhere you go, all the days of your life.
This passage describes God’s love for you and me:
1Corinthians 13:4-8, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres Love never fails.”
Rest in God’s love, then allow Him to use you to show His love to others. And as a result, they can feel safe too.
Love locks in Paris.