This past week I shared this with the men’s group from our church.

Around 2007-08, I came across this devotional during some personal time with God. In a nutshell, it encourages the reader that You are loved by God – that you, (personally) are precious and honored in His sight.
Furthermore, knowing this, make your life an experiment of living in the love of God. (Because) there’s no greater truth than this.
For the past-nearly eight years, this is what I’ve aimed to do–live my life as an experiment of receiving God’s love. Up until then, I knew everything of religion and serving at church, but I didn’t really believe I was precious and honored to God. And this is what I’ve learned: That as I position my heart to receive and trust in his love for every area of my life – by building a friendship with his Word and Holy Spirit, and by surrounding myself with a community of others who want the same, –I’ve found substantial peace about my identity in others’ eyes, peace about trusting God’s voice regarding my future, and really, just confidence in living my faith compassionately, without judgement toward others, even when they don’t return love toward me.
I’m 100% convinced that we hurt and dishonor because we lack awareness of God’s honoring heart toward us. God isn’t mad at you; God has already said how he feels about you in Jesus. Done deal. The question is, will you receive his love over everything else: your past, your hurt, your insecurity, so that you can live free and above it all – in the life that he intended for you in the first place? I love each of you. Just know that you don’t have to lean on what you think is safe–apart from him. Receive your anchor-Jesus, only Jesus, and God-who is a good Father, waiting to keep you safe in the place that you are. Ben