Scripture for Memory and Mediation #16

1 John 3:1 NIV

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"

I just love this verse. It has always made me feel so precious when I read it, almost like a princess. I'm honestly not the princess type, but this verse makes me feel that way.

Our Father, Heavenly Father, loves each one of us so much that His desire is to lavish His love on us. Lavish meaning, abundant, profuse, generous, excessive. Synonyms: extravagant, liberal, shower, heap on, unsparing, magnanimous. Are you starting to feel it? He wants to shower His love on us excessively, extravagantly.

I used the phrase above indicating that this was His desire, but in fact this scripture says, "He HAS lavished His love on us." He has already and continues to lavish His love on us. Sometimes we just get so wrapped up in our world, our problems (and granted many of the problems people experience are tragic and heart-breaking), our busyness, and even ourselves, that we tragically miss seeing this lavish love. Our pain has calloused our hearts, our busyness has swept right passed it, ourselves have been all-consuming and didn't allow room for Him.

I'm encouraging you today to stop where you are and focus on His love that He is lavishing on you...His love in the gift of salvation, in the spiritually abundant life He wants to give you, in those relationships of those close to you, in nature, in your needs being met, in the precious gift of the indwelling presence of Holy Spirit. I could go on and on and on...but I hope you get the point.

He has and is lavishly pouring His love on you and on me. Sometimes, we just have to take the time to refocus-stop focusing on the negatives and even legitimate pain, and focus on Him. I speak/write from experience.

I hope you begin to feel like a princess (or prince, if any guys are reading this) today as you recognize the extravagant love that has been lavished on you.