Charity Nelson TV

Joyce Meyer once said, “First, you must learn to receive God’s love for yourself. Until then, you can’t truly love anyone else.” I read that in her book Healing the Soul of a Woman back in the summer of 2023, and that quote has been embedded in my mind ever since. I often ponder on it. How can I actually receive it? What does it even look like?

Recently, I’ve been studying 1 John 3:1 which says, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”

This led me to a bigger question: what keeps me from experiencing this love? I’ve realized that first you have to be in a relationship with God to truly experience it. Think about it like dating. In order to see someone’s character and their love for you, it takes time. You go on dates, you ask questions, you meet their family, and you learn all the things that make them who they are. Only then do you begin to experience the fullness of that person. If you don’t spend that time, you’ll never truly know their heart. It is the same way with God.

A mistake we often make is thinking we have to be “perfect Christians” to feel His love. We think we have to perform, but that is simply not true. Nothing you do will make Him love you more, and nothing you do will make Him love you less. His love for us is unconditional even when our love for Him feels conditional. We are a loved and chosen people. Through Christ, we will not fail. Because the Father loves us, the scriptures tell us that no good thing will pass us by when we are in His will.

So how do we start? Let’s take small steps. Invite Him into your day. Whether you are meditating on His Word, sitting in total silence, or actively reading your Bible, God is pouring out His love on you. Your only job is to receive it.

What does receiving God’s love look like in your daily routine? Do you find it hard to stop “performing” for Him? Let’s talk about it in the comments.