In speaking to me about how to love, Jesus said, “Let Me show you how much I love you, so that you can overflow with My extravagant love.” (see my blog The Greatest Question: How do I love Like Jesus Loves?) Part of my life journey has been as a student in His school of love. I have been learning what may impede God’s love for me, and more importantly, how to receive His love. Today, I want to share how God has helped me make choices to readily receive His love.
A Soft Heart Makes us Much More Receptive to God’s Love
“Your choices can also affect your ability to receive My love. While My eternal love is freely available to you, your actions can hinder you from receiving My love. Not because My love isn’t there for you, but because by your actions you choose to not receive My love. Your actions, when they are outside of what is best for you, harden your heart. A hard heart resists–even repels–love. A hard heart rejects love.
Your choices outside of what is good and right build a hedge, a wall that isolates you from Me and My love. However, by your choices you can change your actions. You can repent and go the right way. Repentance produces a clean heart. A clean heart becomes soft and is able to receive My love.”
The longings of King David’s heart for God are seen throughout the Psalms. David’s cry, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10) should be our deep desire as well.
Declarations and Testimonies Make us Much More Receptive to God’s Love
“Experiences open your heart and mind to the full revelation of My love. When you personally experience My loving touch in your life, you see My love in action. When you confess that what you have experienced is a result of My loving intervention, you are declaring My love for you. Declarations have power to alter your heart and your environment!
When you testify of My love and confess My love, you are softening your heart to receive My love. Hearing testimonies from other people of My love at work through healing, deliverance, provision, care, encouragement, and mercy all soften your heart. Testimony of My love at work also increases your ability to believe in My love. A soft heart and increased faith enhance your ability to receive My love. In this way—by expressing My love and testifying of My love—you further increase your ability to receive My love.”
Drawing Near to God Makes us More Receptive to God’s Love
“Negative feelings, actions, and experiences can block or hinder you from receiving My love. Drawing near to Me enhances your ability to receive My love. As you draw near to Me, your heart softens, for a hard heart cannot see God.
These barriers must be removed so you can open your heart to freely receive My love. As you draw near to Me, your negative feelings and actions will pale in the light of My grace. As you draw close to Me, I will remind you of My presence in your life and where you have experienced My love.
So to deeply receive My love, draw near, be close to Me. Together we can walk each day in the fullness of My love for you!”
Receiving God’s love becomes easier as we draw near to Him. This softens our heart so that we can freely receive what He so lavishly gives — His love! I have listed a few relevant scriptures. Take some time this week to sit in His presence, read and meditate on these and the surrounding verses. Ask Him to speak these eternal truths into your heart.
- Psalm 51:10
- Psalm 24:3-5
- Proverbs 8:17
I hope today’s blog has helped you draw closer to our loving Father. If so, I would love to hear from you about it. Also, if you find these blog posts are encouraging and helping you, please share them with your friends.
Wow, this makes me think about those times I feel so distanced from him! Next time that happens I will step back and look at my actions and surrounding! Thank you!
Cyndi
I’m sure that your heart to draw near to Him will be richly rewarded. With your attitude you can’t fail to receive His love.
That’s good Cyndi. As you see the Lord in your everyday circumstances, you will learn how much He is working in your life. This will increase your faith.
Just recently started reading Kingdom Conversations. Thank you for sharing the Father’s heart on how to love like His Son. It has been timely in this season of increased intimacy with the Father. He has been releasing some deep truths and presence that are changing me in amazing ways. Looking forward to drawing even closer to Him!
Thanks for your gracious comments Michelle. I’m glad that these blog posts are helping.
I’m sure you will be much closer to Him in the coming days, Michele. Let me know how it goes.
I found this letter to be profound and practical advise to receive and feel love. Having had a physical and spiritually hardened heart, this advises rings true. I had a willingness to seek, receive and repent, I found God had softened my heart with His Love and Wisdom!
That sounds great George, keep drawing close to Him.