One of the greatest revelations I’ve ever received is that God wants only good for me.  I believe this is foundational to understanding God’s true nature, character and will for mankind; and for us personally.

It just downloaded in my heart one day: God didn’t want a particular situation I experienced to have happened the way it did.  I had heard it preached that “God loves you” in the context of God’s love for all people; but that just didn’t ring a bell in my own life.  I thought of God’s interaction with us in an impersonal and uninvolved way.  But sure, I knew He loved the world and forgave us.  So I tried to reason it was true, but what did this “love” really have to do with me?

But when I “saw this” truth it became so personal I knew my Father was heartbroken for me, for all those involved and He understood how I felt.  He cared.  It wasn’t what He wanted to have happen.  Maybe you’re in a situation, or have experienced one that brought loss, tragedy, or emptiness in an area of your life.  I want to encourage you today to take the first steps toward experiencing God’s love for you personally by choosing to believe this too.

God only desires good for His children.

Jeremiah 29:11 for I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

This might seem super basic to some, but I’d like to challenge you to examine your core belief; what you really believe in your heart.  Are you fully convinced God’s desires for you are always and only good?

Take this one step further:

Does it influence your approach when you come up against negative situations?

James tells us God does not tempt (test) anyone.  That God only gives good gifts.  Therefore, if you are in something that is not good, or have experienced something that wasn’t, it is not what God wanted or planned for you.

James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Someone might say, “What does it matter if God wants good for us?  It wasn’t good, so how does that change anything?”   If you don’t have assurance, a conviction on a heart level of God’s goodness toward you personally, you won’t be able to receive His love and compassion.  You might not blame God, but if you think God is the one who did it, allowed it, or even has no involvement at all, it will be almost impossible to open your heart to Him.

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weakness and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.

This verse lets us know that Jesus Himself was put to the test, tempted in every way that we have.  He understands and relates to it.  The next verse invites us to receive the mercy, compassion and all of God’s grace in those situations.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

So the first step in allowing God to love you is to accept that He does.  Meditate on the scriptures of the Bible that show you God’s love.  Spend time in the gospels and see how God demonstrated His love and nature to all those who came to Him.

The next step is to believe this love reaches out to you personally; understanding and empathizing with you; and with the ability to comfort you and to heal your heart.

Isaiah prophesied this of Jesus:

Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound

And in Luke 4:21, Jesus fulfilled this scripture in His earthly ministry.

Luke 4:21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

So today, if you are suffering from a situation you have experienced, believe in the love of God for you enough to come to Him believing He wants to heal your heart, and for all things in your life to be good.

Thank Him for that.  Praise Him for all that is good and for all that you do have.  Come into agreement with His plans and purposes from the past, the present, and your future.  God wants you blessed.

This will ultimately bring you to a place where you can begin to expect and experience all of His goodness, AND stand firmly against the lies and of the enemy in your life.

John 10:10 the thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us

 WE MUST BELIEVE GOD’S LOVE MATTERS.

1 John 4:8 “..for God is love”

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?