God loves us. We know that, don’t we? We sing about it, tell each other about it, and even quote well-known verses about how He is love and how He so loved the world that He gave His only Son. The love of God is foundational to our faith because it explains why Jesus died for us and motivates us to demonstrate His love to those around us. The two greatest commandments are about loving God and loving others. Clearly, we are saturated in the love of God—aren’t we?

Truth is, we’re more convinced of God’s love for others than for ourselves. We can say “God loves you” to any hurting, broken person, but when we’re hurting and broken, we wonder why we feel so abandoned by Him. Many hear an internal voice that says, “Yes, but…” after every declaration of God’s love. “Yes, but He has to. That’s His job description. God loves everyone.” Or “Yes, He may love me, but I don’t think He likes me very much.” As much as we declare God’s love, most of us are insecure in it anyway.

Insecurity with God shows up in a lot of ways. Perhaps we don’t want to bother Him with “the small things.” Or maybe we think our desires don’t matter to Him. Maybe we ask for a hundred confirmations when we think we might possibly have heard His voice—because we just can’t believe He might be speaking to us. Whatever the manifestation, the insecurity is real. And we have to learn to get over it.

Sensing God’s love—fully accepting it, breathing it, swimming in it—is foundational to God’s Kingdom. Why? Because it’s the truest expression of His nature. He lavishes love on those who come to Him. His children are precious to Him. If we live as Kingdom citizens, royal heirs, children of the Most High, we have to live not from a place of fear or insecurity but from full confidence of His delight in us. You aren’t worthy of it, you say? Of course you aren’t. No one is. That’s the gospel. He loves anyway. Accept that, and your faith will swell. And that changes everything.

We worry about our lives. But God promises that if we trust in Him, He will take care of us. God is Jehovah Jireh—The God who provides.

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God had given Abraham an odd request—to sacrifice the promised son he had waited years to have. Abraham obeyed and prepared an altar on which to kill his son. As Abraham lifted the knife to kill Isaac, “the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham! . . . Do not lay a hand on the boy. . . . Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.’ Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided’” (Genesis 22:11-14). God is Jehovah Jireh—The God Who Provides.

THINK

The scene with Abraham and Isaac is such an uncomfortable scene. But in its discomfort, it illustrates an amazing point. Because while God stopped Abraham from killing his son, years later He didn’t stay His own hand when it came to His own Son, Jesus. Why? Because in Jesus’ death, God was providing for us. He was providing us with salvation. He was providing the only cure for our lethal disease, sin.

LIVE

And while salvation is huge, that’s not all that God has provided. “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). So what do you need? Food, shelter, safety, friendship, love, rest, courage, patience, purpose, help? God will take care of it all. What are you scared that God will not provide for you? What do you worry about? Remember this: God has never dropped you. He has always taken care of you. Spend a few minutes remembering how God has faithfully taken care of your every need.

NEXT LEVEL

Read Matthew 6:25-34; Romans 8:31-34.

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“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 3:2

“Come back! Come inside! Enjoy the wonders of My realm.”

“Repent” has been thrown around a lot, and usually in a way that feels more condemning than hopeful. If, upon hearing the call to repent, we were to ask why, we might get a response about avoiding sin and hell. While that response is certainly arguable from Scripture, it isn’t the rationale Jesus gave His listeners. No, after telling them to repent, He followed up with a reason: because the Kingdom of Heaven has come near.

That’s a fuller, much more positive purpose than we might have heard before. Repentance—in Hebrew thought, to change one’s direction; in Greek thought, to change one’s thinking—is not primarily about avoiding something; it’s about entering something. It’s a plea to those who are walking away from God’s beautiful realm to turn around and walk into it. It’s not an oppressive command; it’s a welcoming invitation. It is God’s way of saying to those who are about to miss Him, “Come back! Come inside! Enjoy the wonders of My realm.”

If that’s what biblical repentance is all about, who would pass it up? Who forgoes the adventure of a lifetime? Who gives up a front-row seat to history’s most thrilling events? Who wouldn’t want to enter into the throne room of ultimate power and sit at His feet? Who doesn’t want a new start, new eyes, new wisdom? Why would anyone disregard access to the supernatural Kingdom? Only those who don’t recognize what’s at stake. Only those who think their way is the right one and no turning around is needed.

History is full of such tragic mistakes, but we have a daily opportunity to align ourselves with truth, beauty, love, and goodness. We are zealous about repenting— changing thoughts, feelings, words, and actions—in order to see more, do more, and live more fully. The word “repent” may be laden with extra baggage, but the decision is remarkably free of it. Stepping further into the Kingdom experience is always a good thing.

Our God is not only a warrior, but he commands an army—of angels. He is the God of the Angel Armies.

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God is Jehovah Sabaoth—the Lord of Hosts or the God of the Angel Armies. In the Bible, God’s title as commander of the armies of angels appears as Lord Almighty or Lord of Hosts.

When David fought Goliath he told him: “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied” (1 Samuel 17:45).

When Elisha and his servant were surrounded by a foreign king’s army, the servant was afraid. “‘Don’t be afraid,’ [Elisha] answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:15-17).

THINK

Do you ever feel outnumbered? Don’t forget who is on your side! God heads up armies of angels who fight for us. The physical world is what we see and experience every day so it’s easy to forget that a far greater spiritual battle is being fought too. But when evil seems to be prevailing, ask God to open your eyes. There are more on our side than on theirs. Scripture says there are millions of angels (see Revelation 5:11).

LIVE

The interaction of the physical and spiritual realms is a mystery to us. But it’s clear that God used both the armies of angels and the people of Israel, including Elisha, Elisha’s servant, and the Israelite army to defeat His enemies. Your responsibility is to keep doing the next right thing in every situation, to keep following Him, and to keep fighting for His kingdom with every decision you make.

And when you need help, call on the God of the Angel Armies. Then stand firm and with confidence. He and His forces are with you.

NEXT LEVEL

Read 2 Kings 19:35 to see what just one angel was able to do in one night.

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