But God demonstrates his own love towards us in this:

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

I asked Jesus to be my Savior at a young age. I went to church and learned all the Bible stories. I memorized many verses and participated in Bible quizzes and grew up having family devotions at home…I even went to Bible College, and yet I didn’t know the love of God. It had not broken through for me. I thought there was something wrong with me. When depression hit and God gave me Jeremiah 29:11-14, I didn’t realize the words were for me to hear. I was surprised I had never heard these verses before, but honestly, I still didn’t believe them. In many ways I was like a Jewish leader in Jesus’ time.

In John 4, Jesus heals an invalid at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath. When the Jewish leaders saw the now healed invalid carrying his mat, they told him the law forbids him to carry his mat on the Sabbath. He said, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk’’’ (v. 11). It took a while, but finally the leaders found out it was Jesus who had healed the man. They didn’t like this at all and persecuted Jesus. Jesus responded back by claiming to be equal with God, the Father. He told them that the Father had granted Him the authority to give life to whomever He wanted to. Father also gave Jesus authority to judge. Jesus said, “By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgement is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” (v. 30). Later on Jesus tells the Jewish leaders that they have never heard the Fathers voice nor seen Him, and His word didn’t dwell in them. They prided themselves in knowing the Scriptures. But they didn’t see the Scriptures as testifying about Jesus. Their minds were closed. This was me. As an adult, I didn’t think I needed to read the Bible for myself…and prayer was too much work. I knew enough. I didn’t understand that the Scriptures were living and active and contained truth I knew nothing about…namely God’s love. And it resulted in me thinking I was better than others who didn't go to church as often as I did or struggled with some sin I didn't struggle with. Or when I deemed that I knew Scripture better than someone else who claimed to be a Christian. I was unable to see that this was pride. God had to bring me to a point where I would recognize my own sin and would seek Him with all my heart.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and bring you back from captivity…”

Jeremiah 29:11-14

Neither did I understand that God was speaking to me. These verses were what God was saying to me. It would be many years before I understood this and before I would receive the freedom I needed to be able to acknowledge God’s love was what I needed. Even after I recognized that I wasn't better than anyone else, I still needed to seek Him and let His love break through. I can look back now and say God was always there. He loved me in my lowest point. And when His love broke through to my heart, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. As long as I resisted because of pride, the word of God didn’t dwell in my heart.

Remember, I was saved as a young child. I remember the whole experience. I believe it was real. I never outwardly rebelled. Not many people knew the depths of my depravity or my desire to be free apart from seeking God with all my heart. Now I don’t completely understand this, but because I was born again, my name was written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, God saw me through the righteousness of Jesus. I was dressed in His robe of righteousness. I was clean, forgiven, a child of God, redeemed, righteous, justified…and yet I was living completely unaware of my position. For so long I was angry at God and blamed Him for making me the way I was with my inability to know Him. I blamed Him that I didn’t want His love. And through it all, I was righteous in the eyes of God. Amazing grace, how can it be?

This is where our prodigals are if they have been born again. It doesn’t matter what it looks like to us, God sees them as redeemed, righteous, set apart. They are living completely unaware of their position; they don’t know who they are in God’s eyes, but God knows who they are. And just like He never left me alone, He will never leave them alone. He will fight for them and draw them to Himself. He loves them so so much. There is nothing that can separate them from His love. When His love finally breaks through; when they finally see God for who He is, watch out world! God has a plan for them that is good…a plan to prosper them and not to harm them…a plan to give them hope and a future. But pride is keeping them from seeing any of this. It’s the pride that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and blinds them to the truth. Pray for this pride to be torn down. Can you see your prodigal the way God does? Do you see them dressed in righteousness? Let that be your hope as you continue to pray for God’s love to break through in their lives.

Love Broke Thru by TobyMac

I was feelin’ that, feelin’ that breeze Singin’ like a song thru the tall oak trees It was just another summer night Had to be the last thing on my mind Yeah, I was all but lost in the moment I was young and runnin’ wide open It was just another summer night Had to be the last thing on my mind When love broke thru You found me in the darkness Wanderin’ thru the desert I was a hopeless fool Now I’m hopelessly devoted My chains are broken And it all began with You When love broke thru And it all began with You When love broke thru I did all that I could to undo me But You loved me enough to pursue me Yeah, You drew me out of the shadows Made me believe that I mattered, to You (You) You were there, You heard my prayer in that broke down dusty room It was the first time I said, “I’m Yours” The first time I called You Lord When love broke thru You found me in the darkness Wanderin’ thru the desert I was a hopeless fool Now I’m hopelessly devoted My chains are broken And it all began with You When love broke thru And it all began with You When love broke thru Yeah, it was late in the summer when the northeast breeze Sang like a song thru the oak trees Pennsylvania She kind of caught my soul Which had me a little more open than closed Walls I built Opinions I learned Covered in the ashes of bridges I burned Blind to the arrow that headed to my heart But You hit the mark When love broke thru You found me in the darkness Wanderin’ thru the desert I was a hopeless fool Now I’m hopelessly devoted My chains are broken And it all began with You When love broke thru When love broke thru You found me in the darkness Wanderin’ thru the desert I was a hopeless fool Now I’m hopelessly devoted My chains are broken And it all began with You When love broke thru And it all began with You When love broke thru I did all that I could to undo me But You loved me enough to pursue me

Priceless by for King & Country

Mirror mirror, mirror on the wall Tellin' those lies, pointing out your flaws That isn't who you are That isn't who you are It might be hard to hear, but let me tell you dear If you could see what I can see, I know you would believe That isn't who you are There's more to who you are So when it's late, you're wide awake Too much to take Don't you dare forget that in the pain You can be brave, hear me say I see you dressed in white Every wrong made right I see a rose in bloom At the sight of you (oh so priceless) Irreplaceable, unmistakable, incomparable Darling, it's beautiful I see it all in you (oh so priceless) No matter what you've heard, this is what your worth More than all the money or the diamonds and pearls Oh this is who you are Yea this is who you are So when it's late, you're wide awake Too much to take Don't you dare forget that in the pain You can be brave, hear me say I see you dressed in white Every wrong made right I see a rose in bloom At the sight of you (oh so priceless) Irreplaceable, unmistakable, incomparable Darling, it's beautiful I see it all in you (oh so priceless) Sisters, we can start again Give honor till the end Love, we can start again Brothers, we can start again Give honor till the end Yea, we can start again I see you dressed in white Every wrong made right I see a rose in bloom At the sight of you I see you dressed in white Every wrong made right I see a rose in bloom At the sight of you (oh so priceless) (You're) irreplaceable, unmistakable, incomparable Darling, it's beautiful I see it all in you (oh so priceless) I see you dressed in white Every wrong made right I see a rose in bloom At the sight of you [x3:] I see you dressed in white Every wrong made right Oh so priceless