Do you see God as angry? Standing with arms folded, looking down waiting for you to mess up so that He can send correction and judgment, ready to turn His back on you until you get your act together?

Or do you see God as loving? Standing with His arm extended, cheering you on, picking you up when you fall, eager to extend forgiveness, favor, grace, when you mess up, drawing closer when you fail.

For most of my life, I saw God as the former. It did not make me live Holy. As a matter of fact, as long as I viewed God as a righteous judge, the more I sinned.

It wasn’t until I realized God was not angry with me, that He longed to be gracious to me, longed to pick me up when I fall, kiss my boo-boos, forgive my mis-steps, and remind me I am righteous that I was empowered to live Holy. Love is a better motivator than fear.

I wish and pray that God’s people would have a greater revelation of the completeness of our forgiveness. I pray that we would learn to forgive ourselves and stop rehearsing past transgression, stop wondering if those past transgressions are causing the trouble we may be experiencing  today. I wish we could see ourselves as God sees us, holy and blameless. He longs to be gracious to you. Receive His grace.

“And yet the Lord is waiting to be merciful to you. He is ready to take pity on you because he always does what is right. Happy are those who put their trust in the Lord. You people who live in Jerusalem will not weep any more. The Lord is compassionate, and when you cry to him for help, he will answer you.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭30:18-19‬ ‭GNTD