4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
This is the Father who picked me out. Because of Christ, he looks at me without fault. I’ve found myself caught under the gaze of haughty eyes and judgment for so long, this kind of vision seems unreal. (It is freeing!)
5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
Generational strain … sometimes family is not a place that welcomes, loves or includes. God tells me I belong. I’m his–with great pleasure. This is family–a place of belonging.
6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.
The world will tell me all kinds of things to devalue my worth–it will chip away at my appearance, my parenting, my ability. Glorious grace? Yes, please! Grace allows for my imperfections, loves me anyway.
7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:4-8, NLT.
This Father who delights in me, so rich in kindness and grace. He showers kindness and wisdom and understanding, like confetti falling down upon me–an eternal celebration, glorious grace. Today I’m looking up to watch it fall and reaching out to catch hold, and I laugh with him at his joy and delight. This love, it gathers me close in the hug.
Father, thank you for waking me with these words, a reset and refocus for starting the week, an infusion of love when my tank runs low, and a glimpse of an eternal celebration of glory and grace–your love and great sacrifice to call me yours.
Courtney (66books365)
Sixty-six books in a year 