Coming to know the Lord in deeper ways, it is natural to express our love to Him. Writing our prayers as love letters expresses our desire and commitment.
Have you ever received a love letter? Maybe in elementary school, the kind that said “check yes or no”? From a first boyfriend that included some attempt at romantic poetry? Or your fiancé or spouse that said how much they love you and couldn’t wait to be with you again because you make their life better? My husband and I used to exchange these types of emotional, gooey, heart-felt letters when we would spend time apart. They would make me feel so warm and special, and still do when I look back and reminisce over them. I still love him so much that I can’t imagine a day without him in my life, even after more than 20 years of marriage.
Love Letters: An Affair with the Creator
Recently, I have started a new love affair that surpasses all of that. This love affair is grander than all of those other lovely, beautiful, essential loves because this love affair is with the Creator of all the others. With all of my heart singing and shouting, I proclaim: “I am in love with God!”
Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Whoever loves is a child of God and knows God.
1 John 4:7
I have always thought of myself as a Christian. I have gone to church, prayed, read the Bible and even talked with others about my beliefs. But recently I have finally begun to understand Agape love – the love of God for man and of man for God. Not just understand it, but feel it. The enormity and pure emotional connection that God has laid out to you and me is awe-inspiring. No one loves us like our God. He loves us before we existed and that love only multiplies.
For God so Loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
My husband, children, family, friends and students have all held pieces of my heart and I’ve doled out an equal piece to God. Seems reasonable, or it did to me. But I’m seeing now how much I’ve been missing. God GAVE me all the other relationships. Without Him, none of the others matter because they don’t exist. He loves us so much, He gave you and I a heart to love people. Why shouldn’t we love Him the most?
We love because God first loved us.
1 John 4:19
Love Letters: A Glimpse of God’s Love
About a year ago I started writing my prayers down. I did this as a way to be more intentional about my prayers and as a way to thoughtfully consider what I wanted to say. If it sounds technical and clinical, it was. Like a check list, I would make sure I had told God what I was thankful for, confess at least one sin, ask for forgiveness, and then ask for one thing for the world (peace, an end to hunger, for safety).
Looking back at it now, I see how clueless I have been in my love and understanding of God. God was right there for me though.
What we see now is like a dim image in a mirror; then we shall see face-to-face. What I know now is only partial; then it will be complete as God’s knowledge of me. Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:12-13
He took my meager attempts at communication and started talking to me, presenting opportunities to have conversations with Him that have grown my love immeasurably.
May the Lord lead you into a greater understanding of God’s love and the endurance that is given by Christ.
2 Thessalonians 3:5
First He put new friends in my path that loved me before I loved them. He showed me His heart through their compassion and love for each other. We have read and studied His word together and every time I see these people I feel God’s presence.
Then he started putting books in my path that spoke to my heart and pushed my head out-of-the-way: Present Over Perfect, Shine, Hurt Road, She’s Got Issues, and The Circle Maker. These books all have been instrumental in my newly awaked love.
There is nothing that God loves more than people who are at home with Wisdom.
The Wisdom of Solomon 7:28
Love Letters: Intimacy with God
Finally, God has opened a life line of hope and joy in my life that I have always searched for. I have always wanted to feel His presence, but quite frankly haven’t except in the rare moments that I would call out from a place of brokenness and sorrow.
This hope and joy has come through prayer. But not just any prayer, love letters. I write God a love letter almost every day.
Dear God,
Thank You for loving me. I need Your love today to be my best self. Help me to hear Your desires so that I can reflect Your love and passion to those around me. I love You! Help me to love others the way You love me. Speak to my heart. I need to step out in faith, believing that You have me tight in Your arms, so I can never truly fall even if I fail. Help me remember to move toward Your miracles.
Love,
Me
Be ready for God to answer you.
He said, “God loves you, so don’t let anything worry you or frighten you.” When he had said this I felt even stronger and said, “Sir, tell me what you have to say. You have made me feel better.”
Daniel 10:19.
Maybe it will be with a feeling of calmness, words from a friend or family member that come at just the right time, or a Bible verse that just pops up. He loves you beyond all words – let Him hug your heart today.
All scripture used is from the Good News Translation.
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No one loves us like our God. Click To Tweet
but God… loved
This is where our stories change.
Believing the truth that you are fiercely loved by the Creator changes everything.
Hey, Thanks for these book recommendations. My reading list is a bazillion miles long, but they sound so good!
My biggest love struggle is loving other Christians who fail to love. I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but it’s the cold hard truth. When another Christian comes along with a self-righteous attitude and gets in the way of me sharing God’s love with someone else, my own self-righteousness outgrows my desire love that Christian like God does. Admitting you have a problem is the first step towards healing right?
God is always by your side. He will meet you right where you are. I recently was very angry at someone that I had to see several times a week. I talked with them about why I was upset, and things did not get better. I did something I didn’t want to do…I prayed for them. I drew a circle around our relationship and asked God to take care of it. I kept talking to the person and found a resolution to our differences. I can see them now and not be filled with anger, but I keep praying for them everyday. I’ve found God loves me enough to guide me in difficult relationships.
How wonderful! Isn’t it amazing how our relationship with our Lord can blossom into something so beautiful and new? I am so excited for you.
Lord, may the relationship that you and Heather’s relationship grow stronger spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally day by day! Amen!
Thank you Kristi! I appreciate the beautiful prayer.
I love writing to God. It makes prayer so much more relational and real. I feel better after and the time with Him is more intentional. Thank you for this reminder today. I need to slow down and have more time with Him
In our hustle and bustle of life it can be hard to take care of our relationships. Our relationship with God is the most important one though. I have discovered how important it is to slow down and give Him the time he deserves. It helps center the rest of my life and puts things into perspective.
I love this so much!!! I already do tons of writing and a whole bunch of that is writing to/with God. It adds such a beautiful layer to our relationship. 🙂
I agree Sarah. Writing my prayers has opened up a whole other layer to my relationship with God.
I write my prayers every morning. I find it to be easier for me to focus and I enjoy the intimacy of the connection with God. I also enjoy the ability to look back and reread my prayers so that I can see how God has moved in my life. It’s such a blessing. I love the bracelet by the way!
I reread my prayers too, Melissa. On those days when I don’t know what to say, or am feeling run down, going back and reading what I wrote and then reflecting on the ways God has answered gives me a boost. He is always there!
I write out my prayers too. I have been doing what you said you did. Thank Him, ask for forgiveness and ask for something. I’m going to try and write a love letter!
The books look great! My wishlist is so long right now!
My wish list for books is so long….these books were never on my wishlist. They were dropped in my lap by a friend, an online recommendation, or by my small group. I found them to all be answers to very particular prayers I had been praying for. Funny how our Heavenly Father answers 🙂
You have inspired me to write a love letter today. Oh, how he loves us! There is nothing better than God’s unconditional agape, love.
Keisha I’m so glad you are writing a letter. I prayed as I wrote that my words would inspire others as God inspires me. You are the answer to that prayer.
Oh I love this! I am going to aim to start writing out a love letter to God at least once a week. Writing things down always makes them stick better and puts them into reality, I’m so excited to see how this practice strengthens my relationship to God!
Zahra you are in for an incredible ride. I have found just what you describe. When I write it down I remember it better and then I notice more of God’s response. Even when the answer is no or not right now, there is always an answer.
Wow, what a great post first of all. Intimacy with God is where Christianity stands out from all other religions. We have a living God we can connect with.
Amen Crystal! Our loving father is real and present. I love how He answers me and walks with me through life’s journey.
Amen!!! Beautiful. I have been meditating on the 1John 4: 7 for the past few days now. Learning how important it is to surrender to love and not to self.
May I suggest, since you have kept a white background for your blog, could you choose another color to highlight your quotes, a much darker one? Since its not clear. Kindly moderate, if you don’t want this to appear on the comment section. Thank you.
I love the idea of meditating over a verse. Thanks for the suggestions. I will pass them along.