Unscripted

Because "the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever" (Psalm 136), there is nothing you can do to make God love you more or less.

Unscripted

This week's devotions are written by my friend Jessica Hermann, former director of our college ministry at Great Hills Baptist Church.

- Pastor Danny

Our camp theme this year was "unscripted," centered around the Lord's prayer. Our speaker taught the teens how the Lord has given us this amazing prayer as an example of how to pray. While we can absolutely pray the exact words of this prayer, we are invited to pray to God unscripted. We can pray from our hearts, just as we are. No special words or phrases required.

I appreciated that our camp speaker focused one day on the grounds for this allowance. He spoke over and over again to our teens the truth that because "the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever" (Psalm 136), there is nothing you can do to make God love you more, and there is nothing you can do to make Him love you less.

Take a moment to consider that truth today. Maybe you've heard it a million times before. Maybe it has turned into a cliché for you. But take a moment to really think about it. God's love is steadfast. It doesn't ebb and flow. It doesn't suddenly change or adjust in proportion to your own faithfulness (or faithlessness). The steadfastness of His love is based on HIS faithfulness and not on yours. How freeing is this thought!? It is hard for us to comprehend because so many of our human relationships operate this way. You do good to me, and I show love in return. You hurt me or let me down, and my love is retracted and held back. This breeds fear and anxiety in so many hearts, as they are worried about losing the love of those they hold dear if (when) they mess up.

The speaker also shared this verse: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23)

I love what this verse adds to the understanding of the steadfast love of the Lord. Because His steadfast love and mercy are ever-enduring, every single morning is a fresh start. If you are in Christ, you wake up today loved and forgiven. The mistakes and shortcomings of yesterday are covered with the mercy of God. Don't sit today grasping onto chains that are not locked around you, as if trying to punish yourself will make you feel worthy of God's love. Remember that God's grace is a free gift. It is not just something that you don't have to earn; it is something that you are totally and completely unable to earn. His grace is not given in proportion to your worthiness. It is given in proportion to HIS goodness.

So come to God today, boldly approach His throne, and pour your heart out to Him—unscripted. He loves you. He has forgiven you. He has made you clean. You can't make Him love you more. You can't make Him love you less. You're simply not that powerful. His grace is based on His steadfast love and His love is the mightiest of all.