Relying On His Love…

 

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.—1 John 4:16 NKJV

We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him.—1 John 4:16 AMP

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.—1 John 4:16 NLT

Sometimes it really helps me to read a verse or a section of Scripture in different versions to help me understand better what it is saying.  1 John 4:16 was one of those verses for me. 

Knowing how much God loves me by personal observation and experience, enables me to rely on His love a little more every day.  I see and am a recipient of His faithful lovingkindness. It is always before my eyes.  I abide in Him who is love.  

We love Him because He first loved us.—1 John 4:19

Father!  I so want to rest completely in Your covenant love.  You have proven Yourself faithful. The reality is I can trust You. I can relax no matter what comes my way. You love me because You love me. Period!  You chose me not because of anything in me. You chose me for reasons known only to You. I am Your special treasure. I can’t make You love me any more or any less than You already do.  For some reason, which is so very impossible for me to comprehend, I am Your well-beloved.  In You, I dwell safely and securely. You shelter me all the day long and I, like Benjamin, dwell between Your shoulders. 

May I be today as a little child sleeping on Your shoulder…resting my weight fully on You, whose steadfast love toward me never ceases. Help me to rely on You…on who You are, on what You have done and on what You have promised to do.  (And You, Lord,  have done EVERYTHING) All of Your promises are yes and amen in Your Son. 

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him— Psalm 103:11

His lovingkindness…

His favor…

His goodness…

His faithfulness…

His steadfast love…

For the LORD God is a sun and shield;

The LORD will give grace and glory;

No good thing will He withhold

From those who walk uprightly.

O LORD of hosts,

Blessed is the man who trusts in You!—Psalm 84:11-12

Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow (hunt me down) me all the days of my life,—Psalm 23:6

The eternal God is your refuge,

And underneath are the everlasting arms;

He will thrust out the enemy from before you,

And will say, 'Destroy!'—Deuteronomy 33:27

Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."—John 6:29

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.—Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT

But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous: With favor You will surround him as with a shield.--Psalm 5:11-12