WHOEVER HAS MY COMMANDS AND OBEYS THEM, HE IS THE ONE WHO LOVES ME. HE WHO LOVES ME WILL BE LOVED BY MY FATHER, AND I TOO WILL LOVE HIM AND SHOW MYSELF TO HIM
(John 14:21).

Do you sometimes feel unloved and unlovable? I have discovered that when someone is rude and inconsiderate towards me, I feel unloved and unlovable. However, if I really come to think of it, it is not the person’s rudeness and inconsideration that make me feel that way, but the BELIEFS in my heart that result from the person’s rude behavior—that I am not worthy to be loved and that I am too bad to be lovable.  Usually, in times like these, I start defending myself to prove that I AM LOVED AND LOVABLE.  That usually just makes matters worse.

Beautiful One, I want you to know that these negative, destructive beliefs come from the father-of-lies and that these painful beliefs trigger sinful patterns of defense in you. Together, these beliefs and the vehement reaction they elicit from you form the sinful nature in you.

Child, I have come to set you free from the sinful nature—from the oppressing beliefs from the father-of-lies and your sinful reaction to them…but you need to turn to Me whenever you feel unloved and unlovable. I want to SHOW you that you are worthy to be loved and that you are capable of being lovable, even when someone is rude and inconsiderate toward you, but I need your participation—TO BE WILLING TO BRING YOUR OWN HEART TO ME.  This obedience means focusing on YOUR OWN HEART when someone is rude and inconsiderate towards you, instead of focusing on the person who displayed this unpleasant behavior.  Admit that you feel unloved and unlovable, turn your focus on Me, and ask Me to help you feel loved. Then, I will honor your obedience!  I will show you how much I love you!

HE WHO LOVES ME WILL BE LOVED BY MY FATHER, AND I TOO WILL LOVE HIM AND SHOW MYSELF TO HIM.

Know that it will not help to repay evil with evil, because this will not solve the pain in your own heart of feeling unloved and unlovable.  What WILL help is to love and obey God by inviting His Presence and Participation into the oppressing BELIEFS of your OWN HEART. Then, choose to love yourself and the other person with HIS LOVE.

PRAYER: Thank you, Lord Jesus, that You show Yourself to us whenever we love You enough to turn to You.  Most High, lead me into this obedience of focusing on my own heart when someone disrespects and dishonors me, to admit that I feel unloved and unlovable, and to turn to You for Truth. Keep me from running away from my own heart, and blaming my pain on my offenders.  Remind me, often, that if I turn to You, You will show Yourself to me…and I will know that I am loved and lovable, despite the circumstances.