Is there anything that stands in the way of God’s love for me, stealing my joy?

Could it be anger that has been allowed to brew deep down? It can stop the flow of love for myself and others.

After all, in James 1, the apostle states that “man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires”. #rightrelationshipwithGod

In order to realize God’s love, we must give up what we feel is ours to hold. Jesus has taken the accusation and the punishment that was rightfully ours. #surrender

That means it is no longer mine to hold. There is no need to justify myself. There is no need to seek recompense.

Who is it that justifies? It is God alone!

As I rest in God’s love for me, I remember the One who is able to deliver me from a joyless existence, providing a righteous life.

Who brings me freedom from angst and showers me with intense joy? His love can begin to overflow in me. Love for myself and love for others is what Jesus will never stop providing. He knows me and helps me realize with confidence that I am loved. #letgoandlove

This passage amazes me over and over.- Teresa #loved

Romans 8:31-39 (NET)

31
What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, freely give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is the one who will condemn? Christ is the one who died (and more than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we encounter death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers,39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

James 1:19-26 (ESV)

¹⁹ Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;²⁰ for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. ²¹ Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

²² But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. ²⁴ For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. ²⁵ But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

²⁶ If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

*photo credit, Gabby Trint Buule