To Love Your Own Life

Jul 7

You are my dearest one. My love for you is without end.

* * *

Trust that He quiets your heart–the Father covers you with His love and peace at this moment.

Yes, this moment now.

Stay here with Him. Relax into your chair–or even find a place to lie down. Close your eyes, hands empty and open, for a few minutes and hear Him speaking this over you:

You are my dearest one. My love for you is without end.

What do you say to Him back? Stay here with your eyes closed, letting the conversation continue. (Or you may want to write the conversation in your journal.)

Next, spend some time contemplating the following verses, John 14:4-6:

“‘You know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:4-6).

Imagine that you are present in this scene. Perhaps you are Thomas–or perhaps you are another disciple observing. What words and lines are you most drawn to? What are you feeling and thinking?

Continue the conversation with God as you consider your response to these verses for a few minutes.

Next, take out a blank piece of paper (or use a blank sheet in your journal). We will pivot a little and consider how we feel about our lives.

Specifically, consider this question:

What defines a good life?

So many people and experiences have shaped our definition of a good life. Keeping these influences in mind, create your definition of a good life through words or phrases, sentences or doodles, pictures or poems. Use the whole page.

Ask God to help you be honest as you create this definition. It’s just between the two of you. You won’t have to share it with anyone if you don’t want to, so don't censor yourself. Below are some questions you might want to ask God as you create your definition:

Lord, what do I believe makes up a good life? (Certain relationships? Career? Home? Body? Attitude? Possessions? Experiences?)

Next, get out a second piece of blank paper–or use the same one, for we are now going to ask God to show us His definition of a good life. He might encourage you to use the same piece of paper. Or He might suggest you use a new piece. What does He want to show you? Use drawings or words or graphs (or whatever) to depict, on your paper, what God is whispering to your heart.

Conclude your conversation with God by engaging with Him about these two definitions of a “good life.” How are they similar or different? What edits did He make to your original definition?

How do you feel about His definition versus yours right now? Tell Him–either through a conversation in your heart, out loud, or in your journal.