For real intimacy, we first need to feel loved

For us to experience true love in relationships we need to first experience God's love for us. You can't consistently demonstrate true love toward someone if you've never experienced being loved in the way of God. God, who knows you, who knows everything about you, loves you perfectly.

God tells us through the ancient prophet, Jeremiah, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; and I have drawn you unto Myself" (Jeremiah 31:3). So God's love for you is never going to change.

God loved us so much that He allowed for Jesus Christ to be crucified (an ancient form of execution) for our sins so that we might be made clean. We read in the Bible, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). When we turn to God and accept His forgiveness, then we begin to experience His love.

God tells us, "If we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Not only does God forgive our sins, but He forgets them and cleanses us.

What if you experienced love like this?

Love is more than emotions, and it is much more than a good feeling. But our society has taken what God has said about love, sex and intimacy and changed it into simply emotions and feelings. God describes love in great detail in the Bible, especially in the Book of First Corinthians, chapter 13. So that you catch the full weight of God's definition of love, let me present verses four through seven (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) to you this way. How much would it meet your needs if a person loved you as God says we should be loved:

-if this person responded to you with patience, kindness, and was not envious of you?
-if this person was not boastful or prideful?
-how about if this person wasn't rude toward you or self-seeking or easily angered?
-what if this person didn't keep a record of your wrongs?
-how about if they refused to be deceitful, but always were truthful with you?
-what if this person protected you, trusted you, always hoped for your good, and persevered through conflicts with you?

This is how God defines the love He wants us to experience in relationships. You'll notice that this kind of love is "other-person" focused. It is giving, rather than self-seeking. And there's the problem. Who can live up to this?

See Who Is The Devil

In cartoons and comics, the devil appears as a cute, benign tempter, pushing you to do something that's fun or a little bit wrong. In reality however, Satan is anything but cute.

Who is the devil? He is not God's counterpart, because God has no equal, no opposite. God has always existed, and everything else that exists now, including angels, were created by God.

The devil (sometimes referred to as Satan or Lucifer) is an angel who rebelled against God. He is the enemy not only of God, but also of humankind, relentless in his mission: to kill, destroy, or enslave us. We're warned, "...be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."1

The devil's power is laughable compared to the power of God. Yet, he is a real threat to humans, and has the capacity to ruin a person's life.

Satan has one primary tactic: to deceive us. He seeks to deceive entire nations, the world, and individuals. He twists and distorts what is true, and there is power in his lies.

Dr. Neil Anderson made an astute observation. He said the Bible describes Satan in three ways:
- The tempter
- The accuser
- The father of lies

Dr. Anderson noted, "If I were to tempt you, you would know it. If I were to accuse you, you would know it. But if I were to deceive you, you wouldn't know it. The power of Satan is in the lie. If you remove the lie you remove the power."
In what ways does the devil lie?

Here are just a few examples.

God created Adam and Eve with free will to choose and make decisions, just like humans can today. The Garden of Eden contained perhaps hundreds of fruit-bearing trees. The only instruction God gave to Adam and Eve was to not eat from one particular tree. It was a straight-forward instruction to follow. Just don't eat from that one tree or you will die. Simple enough.

Yet Satan persuaded Eve, "You will not surely die." That's the initial lie. Now he lies further, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."2

Satan deceived Eve, convincing her that God was withholding something wonderful from them, that this fruit would make them like God. And wouldn't that be a good thing? The problem was, it wasn't true. Adam and Eve believed Satan's lie, rather than what God told them, leading to horrible consequences. That's exactly how the devil operates. He distorts the truth in order to harm the person.
How the Devil Accuses God

Satan's greatest desire is to keep people far away from God. He will seek to either cause you to deny God's existence or to slander, lie about God's character. Here's an example.

God repeatedly affirms his love for us. "I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."3 "...not that we loved God, but that he loved us..."4 "See what kind of love the Father has given to us..."5 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life."6

But what does Satan say? "God doesn't love you. Look at all the problems you have. If God loved you, you wouldn't have these problems." Sounds convincing.

Yet all people face problems. It's part of life. What Satan neglects to tell you is that if you have a relationship with God and depend on him, God can lead you through those problems. You do not need to shoulder or solve them on your own. God can give you wisdom and real strength in the midst of those problems. Not only that, but he says while we face difficulties, "...my peace I give to you..."7 Why? Because the person knows that God can be trusted.

Without God, a person is described as "without hope in this world." That is not God's desire for anyone.
How the Devil Accuses You

Not only does Satan try to deceive you about God's goodness, but Satan also slanders you to God. Satan did this with a man named Job. Satan said if Job suffered, then Job would curse God to his face, which Job never did. Satan seeks to undermine you and condemn you before God.

But not only that. Satan turns his slander and condemnation toward you.

He convinces you, "God wouldn't want you. You could never be holy enough. Look at all the junk in your life, all the ways you've failed, the things you do, the addictions you have. God would never accept you or want you. You'd never make it."

Again, all lies. God is very clear that none of us need to become "good" in order to be accepted by God, nor to become sinless in order to maintain that relationship with God.

Jesus said of Satan, "He was a murderer from the beginning...there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."8

The contrast between the devil and God is stunning. Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."9

Jesus says of those who believe in him, "If you abide in my word...you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."10

Instead of being deceived by Satan, there is an opportunity to know what God says is true about himself, about your life, about relationships. While Satan would like you to be enslaved by his deception, God wants you to know what's true, to be free and experience real life.

In addition to being a liar and an accuser, Satan, through his lies, tempts people toward slavery and addictions. "Oh go ahead. One more won't hurt you. No one will find out. You're not really hurting anyone. And you'll feel so much better."
How to Deal with Satan

If you decide to begin a relationship with God, you will still be tempted by Satan. You still have free will, making whatever decision you'd like to make. However, in many situations you would also know what's true and be less likely to give in to Satan's lies, less likely to feel helpless, confused or fearful. Further, God offers his help.

We're told, "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure."11

Who is Satan? A tempter, slanderer, and liar. His intent is to keep people isolated from God, so they will listen only to Satan, joining in his rebellion and experiencing destruction. Nothing he says about God or your life is true.

God desires a relationship with you and for you to experience his love. He created you not to live in darkness, confusion, but to know what's true. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

The Word Of God By Myles Muroe

There is so much that can be said about the Bible. However, there is not very much analysis given to the Word of God as a constitution. People think of the Bible as a religious document, a book of rituals, laws, and guidelines for living. All of these descriptions have their merit. However, to get to the heart of the message, we must consider the heart of God. The message of Jesus Christ during His time on earth was the kingdom of God. His purpose for coming to earth centered on accomplishing the work of the kingdom and restoring the authority of humanity that was lost in the beginning. The heavens and earth are made by the words of God. He spoke His creation into being. The declaration of God has the power of life and death. Therefore, the earth is governed by the very thing that sustains it—God’s word.

The government of the world comes by the management of God’s word and the work of the Holy Spirit. It can be used for reproof, correction, or instruction in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16). Moreover, the Word of God demonstrates His will, purposes, and intent through the ages. He created humanity and gave a mandate of dominion. He revealed Himself to the prophets throughout history. The Word became flesh and dwelt in the midst of humanity, and He sent the Holy Spirit. God demonstrates His will in the Bible, and these words give humanity authority to manifest His will in the world. Scripture is truly inspired by God. It has the power of life that sustains His creation.

DISCOVER YOUR ENEMY:NOT FLESH AND BLOOD

Life and death. Heaven and hell. Truth and lies. In the turmoil of a broken marriage, my thinking started to become confused. I wallowed in despair and bewilderment. Things that were once certain in my mind – i.e. marriage is forever – were now uncertain. Everything in my world was upside down. All I knew for sure was that my marriage was slipping through my fingers and I was powerless to stop it.

READ THIS MESSAGE: IF ONLY YOU CAN BELIEVE

I teach a Bible study at a nearby assisted living facility on Wednesday mornings. We've been discussing various women of the Bible, and this morning we had a look at Mary and Martha.

As I was reviewing the lesson to get ready for the class, two words jumped out at me: if only. Mary and Martha had sent for Jesus when their brother, Lazarus, became ill. They knew Jesus loved them and fully expected him to rush to Bethany and heal his friend. But he didn't. He waited two days until he knew Lazarus had died. Then he headed to Bethany.

Martha came rushing out to greet Jesus. Tearfully, she despaired, "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died" (John 11:21 NLT). A few minutes later, Mary arrived. She fell at Jesus' feet and said, "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died" (John 11:32).

If only. If only Jesus had come when they called. If only Jesus had answered their plea the way they had expected. If only.

But Jesus had a better plan. A plan that would meet their need - and would glorify God. A plan that would lead many to believe. In front of all the people who had gathered, Jesus spoke life into Lazarus. Lazarus had been dead for four days - but now he was alive! Jesus raised him from the dead!

How often do we say, "If only . . ." Maybe not aloud, but in our heart. Lord, if only you would do it this way. Lord, if only I didn't have to go through this. Lord, if only you had answered my prayer earlier.


But God has a plan. He had a perfect plan - and time - for healing Lazarus. It just didn't line up with Mary and Martha's expectations. God's ways are above our ways. We may not always understand why he is doing what he is doing, but we can always understand this: He loves us. He wants what is best for us. He knows the best way to accomplish that. We need to stop saying "if only" when God doesn't answer a pray when we think he should - or how we think he should. Instead, we need to say, "Lord, I don't understand but I don't have to - because I trust you."

21 Ways to Pray

Prayer can be rich when it’s simple and spontaneous. In fact, we can pray anywhere, at any time. It doesn’t require lofty language in a sacred space. All we need to do is see our ordinary moments as the perfect occasions for communicating with God, then speak from our heart.

Pray on the Move: Take a few minutes to explore this gallery for some plain and simple ways to pray your way through an ordinary day. While driving to work, to school, or chauffeuring your kids, use familiar landmarks to remind you to thank God, ask God, seek God, and listen to God

Pray Over Your Favourite Foods: God loves the delightful things he has created; and when we enjoy them, he enjoys them with and through us. Savour it; as the Bible says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good!”

Pray Holding Your Dog or Cat: God loves animals even more than we do. In fact, our relationship with them in many ways mirrors our relationship with God. As we are with the creatures under our care, so God is with us. Thank him for your pet, and that you can trust God as they trust you.

Pray Through a Family Photo Album: Use pictures as an opportunity to thank God for the precious people in your life. Ask for God’s blessing on them to fulfil their destinies. Ask God to heal relationship rifts, and to help you heal from the grief of loved ones lost.

Pray During Household Chores: As you tend to your cleaning responsibilities, ask God to tend to his by cleaning out your heart of anything that would compromise His blessed best.

Pray While Brushing Your Teeth: Our words create things and tear things down. Pray that your words today would honour God, and that the things you say might cooperate with what God wants to accomplish in your corner of the world

Pray to Your Favourite Song: God loves music: it’s all over the Bible. Happy songs, sad songs, love songs, and cause songs all reflect aspects of God’s heart. Sing your prayer as a celebration, an appeal, a complaint, a yearning or hope expressed to God.

Pray the Ancient Words of the Bible: The scriptures are our precedent for living, and what was true thousands of years ago remains true and relevant today. When you echo ancient words you connect with the wider human experience and with our never-changing God. Pick a passage like Psalm 23 or Romans 8 and read it slowly. Your words make it a prayer– a familiar prayer – to God.

Pray On a Solitary Walk in Nature: Creation is a window into God’s heart. In the woods, by the sea, beside a stream, or in a garden we find aspects of God’s nature reflected to us in tangible ways. As you walk, talk with God about what you see; then listen. God will respond!

Pray Gazing at the Stars on a Dark Night: We are small and seemingly insignificant in this vast universe. Yet praying as we look out across the galaxies gives God a chance to show us how special, powerful, and specific his love can be. On a dark night, share with God your “biggest challenges.” In that context, God will grant you peace that he is big enough to care for you!

Pray Out Loud: In fact, pray loud! There’s a great tradition of speaking up – even shouting – to God. Try it. Go off somewhere where no one – no one else but God – can hear you. Speak aloud to God. Let your words ring out so that you can hear them. If you’re really bold, give a shout of the things welling up in your heart. The Bible says it: “Shout to the Lord!”

Pray with A Friend About a Secret You Have Carried: Having someone to pray with is a powerful spiritual principle. God cares about relationships and honours it  in a special way the agreement of his children. Share your private concerns confidentially with a friend, then together take those concerns to God. In the comfort of two will come the power of three!

Pray While Reading the Newspaper: God cares about the world and the pain and suffering affecting all people. Learning the news may make you want to wring your hands, but answer that instinct by leveraging the opportunity to ask for God’s intervention in the specific crises at hand.

Pray While Exercising: Use the rhythms and cadence to prompt prayer routines and patterns. With every other step on a walk, for instance, recount the name of a friend who needs prayer, or a gift your thankful for, or a fear you need to release. Pushing your body creates a parallel for pushing your soul.

Pray with Silence and in Stillness: Our days are filled with rushed activity. Finding a few moments to sit still can be a great catalyst for prayer. Try sitting still and being silent, allowing

your thoughts to move toward God. The Bible says, “In quietness and trust is your strength.” In quietness you express a healthy passivity, releasing activity to God, inviting his action.

Pray Over a Good Meal with Family or Friends: Fasting can be a great spiritual discipline to help us focus on prayer, but feasts can help us pray as well. There’s a long tradition of feasts and worship. Use either an ordinary meal or a special occasion to create a kind of edible prayer, perhaps saying, “Lord, we eat this in your honour…”

Pray On a Special Day: Every day is designated with some special meaning. Check an almanac to find what today recognizes, then use that as a platform for prayer. Perhaps today is the birthday of someone you know or the anniversary of an important event. Use any of these remembrances to focus and prompt your prayer for the day.

Pray Through Written Words: Whether through a journal, a hand-written letter, an email, a “Tweet” or blog post, or a card given to a friend, putting prayer into written words is a powerful, ancient – and enduring – practice. Write your prayers, then over time go back and review what you’ve written and consider how God has responded over time.

Pray with Emotion: God can handle our feelings. The stories of great souls always include accounts of their emotional connection with God. We are passionate creatures and God welcomes our anger, sorrow, frustration, fear, and celebration. In fact, he wants it! We’re to love God with all our heart. God can handle your emotions. Use them as a booster rocket for prayer. Laugh out a prayer. Weep out a prayer. Connecting with God at this level is the very best place to find emotional wholeness.

Pray with Simple Triggers: “Triggers” are memory tools that help direct our minds. We can strategically help our prayer practices by placing triggers in our day to remind us to pray in the middle of our ordinary activity. A Post It on your bathroom mirror, an hourly alarm on your watch, a small stone carried in your front pocket, it can be anything. Get creative and deliberate to place these hallmarks along the regular paths you walk. God will meet you there.

Pray Now: God is down to earth, here and now. He comes to meet us, where we live, to prepare us to meet him, where he lives. Communicate with him now, simply, directly, personally.