You. Yes, you… The one sitting there in a cesspool of shame thinking you’re the only one who has sinned and if anyone finds out your secret you’ll be publicly flogged, kicked out of town, and thrown into a pit of hungry hyenas. I love you.
No, seriously, I do. I love you right where you are.
I loved you yesterday when you snuck to the liquor store to buy a couple of bottles of wine to drown out the pain of rejection.
I loved you yesterday when lied to your boss about why you were late for work.
I loved you yesterday when you bought that pack of cigarettes after 12 years of being smoke-free.
I loved you yesterday when you went back into the arms of an old romance so you could fulfill an empty void.
I loved you yesterday when you looked at porn.
I loved you yesterday when you gambled your last $20 away hoping for a financial miracle.
I loved you yesterday when you stayed late after work so you could avoid dealing with your spouse.
I loved you yesterday when you bought another pair of shoes because you deserved those new pumps after what your boyfriend said to you.
I loved you yesterday when you overstuffed your feelings with food before you took a second thought.
And guess what? I love you the same today. I love you.
Don’t shut me out.
You’ve closed the shades to keep the world out. I’m too bad to let the sunlight in. I have to sit and suffer for what I’ve done. People know what I’ve done and I can’t go back.
Guess what, my child? I know what you’ve done. I knew you were going to do it before you did it, and I still love you. Just the same today as I did yesterday. Just. The. Same.
I know you probably don’t believe me. But I hope one day you will. I hope today is the day.
My child, can you be still for a second? Can you drown out the noise of the television behind you? Turn the radio off. Get away from the busyness for a minute and sit with me.
Just. Sit. With. Me.
I have so much to tell you. So much truth that you refuse to believe because you allow fear, shame, worry, and doubt to take over every part of you, from the top of your head to your toes.
I’m not mad at you.
What you did yesterday doesn’t change my feelings about you. I’m still so in love with you. You’re so precious to me.
If you’ll open your eyes wide enough to see the truth, you’ll see my hand is stretched out to hold yours. If you need me to carry you today, I’m happy to do that. You’re stumbling and it’s hard to balance yourself. Let me help.
If you’ll open your ears to hear the truth, you’ll notice my gentle whisper is louder than the lies of the enemy. Right now you can’t discern the counterfeit voice from the real, so let me cup your face into my hands so you can hear my voice. I’ll repeat myself to you as many times as it takes until you believe the truth.
Your beautiful heart is broken and so is mine. I grieve with you, knowing you’re hurting so much. Hurting so much that you run to things that will never fulfill the voids. Can I let you in on a secret? I’m the only one who will ever fulfill you. But I’ll be patient with you while you try to figure that out.
My beloved, listen to me for a second. That’s one of my favorite things to call you – my beloved. Doesn’t it have a nice ring to it? You’re are not who yesterday says you are. You are who I say you are:
Beautiful ~ Forgiven ~ Accepted ~ Washed Clean ~ My Friend ~ My Bride ~ Lovely ~ Free from Condemnation ~ Justified ~ Saint ~ My Temple ~ Triumphant ~ A New Creation ~ My Heir ~ Holy ~ Blameless ~ Redeemed
Can you hear those words in your heart, Beloved? That doesn’t even scratch the surface. Are you quiet enough to really hear them?
[ctt template=”5″ link=”19y35″ via=”yes” ]You are not who yesterday says you are.[/ctt]
I said you are blameless. Yes.. I know what you did yesterday and I still say you are blameless. I chose you in Christ before the foundation of the world and you are unblemished in my sight. Unblemished.
I said you are redeemed. Yes… I know what you did yesterday and I still say you are redeemed.
Those tears you’re crying right now – can I have them? I’ll hold onto them for you.
That sorrow you’re holding onto – can I have it? I already took it from you once but you seem to keep taking it back. You can stop it now. I’ll always win at that game of giving and taking away. I’m God, remember?
Shhh.. Be still.. You are okay.
You can open the blinds and let the sunshine in. The darkness wants to devour you because shame lives in the darkness. My Beloved, truth lives in the light. Please, open the blinds.
I loved you yesterday. I love you today. I’ll love you tomorrow.
Will you let me love you? Will you truly let me love you?
That thing you did yesterday – let’s bring it into the light. Surrender it to me. Go tell someone else you can trust about it. Because they love me, they will love you through it. When you confess yesterday, it loses it’s power over today.
[ctt template=”5″ link=”A92aa” via=”yes” ]When you confess yesterday, it loses it’s power over today.[/ctt]
Beloved, I love you with an everlasting love. Yesterday can be gone if you’ll let be. I am here today, ready to embrace you.
Are you ready?
I love you,
~God