welcome and thanks for meditating with abide for access to over 1500 meditation sessions download
the abide app for free in iTunes or the Google Play Store so why bet hidden away somewhere in
your attic is a dirty little blanket or a teddy bear for a doll if someone carried with them
everywhere when they were a kid our son had one he was mr. bunny and he carried him everywhere caring
it was a safe secure place no matter how ratty it got he wouldn't let go of it so did you have one
maybe one of your kids have one it wasn't the best looking stuffed animal but he loved it anyway he
loved the unlovable well welcome back to a time of guided prayer and deep reflection on abide as
we consider what it means to love the unlovable from first John chapter 4 verse 20 but join me
first in a time of opening prayer dear Lord God you have every reason in the world to reject me
to ignore me to not love me I'm not the best or the brightest but looking at me through the eyes
of your son I am I am lovable I am desirable and a soul that you crave help me embrace that truth and
it's in Jesus name I pray amen so as we do I want you to sit back and relax for a few moments as we
begin our time just take a deep breath and posture yourself for a loving caring God maybe your arms
crossed over your chest and a posture of love or however that looks and feels for you right now
take a moment to and consider areas in your life where you feel least lovable most unworthy
furthest from God's grace and love consider and confess those areas to Jesus right now
as you quiet yourself center yourself and become aware of God's presence and listen
carefully for a word or a thought or a frame as I read about loving others from
first John chapter 4 verse 20 if anyone says I love God and hates his brother is
a liar for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he is
not seen with your eyes still closed ask him to make you aware what was that word
or thought or phrase that stood out to you let this moment of reflection be your prayer to God
do you remember John chapter 20 when Thomas doubts Jesus he believes after feeling the
puncture wounds in the hands and the side of Jesus and then Jesus responded blessed
are those who have not seen yet still believe how does that compare to this passage is it
easier to believe or love someone you can see ponder that before the Lord in prayer
with eyes still closed listen again as I read from first John chapter 4 verse 20 from the
amplified version if anyone says I love God and hates or works against his Christian brother he's
a liar for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not
seen did anything new were surprising stand out to you spend some more time now contemplating how
it feels to be unlovable who is someone in your life that you're having a difficult time loving
does God love them surrender and confess these relationships back to God right now
how does God see the people you have a hard time living why do you see them
differently than God does that's your answer in confession be your prayer
are you guilty of the same things before god of the friend you have a hard time loving
if God has forgiven you what keeps you from forgiving them ponder this in prayer to God
listen one in final time as I read and you reflect on first John chapter four verse 20
if anyone says I love God and hates his brother he's a liar for he who does not love his brother
whom he has seen cannot love God whom he is not seen with your eyes till closed in your
body postured before God I want you to listen more of John's first letter to the early church
in first John chapter 3 verse 17 he teaches that if anyone has the world's goods and sees
his brother in need yet closes his heart against him now does God's love abide in him pause here
and consider whether there may be someone you are closing your heart to God's heart is open
to you how might you open yours to others confess them consider it to God in prayer
with your eyes still closed listen now from first John chapter 4 verse 12 as we are reminded that
one has never seen God but if we love one another god abides in US and his love is perfected in
us abide means to fill our minds our wills now our affections towards Christ is there someone
in your life that may not clearly see Christ by how you treat them confess this to God in prayer
continue now before the Lord listening from first John chapter 2 verse 9 that says whoever
says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness you crave the light of God
but is there someone in your life that makes you feel dark confess this to God in prayer
and finally take time now to pray a prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God for the
blessing of his love to you even when you feel most unlovable and the opportunity to
bring his love to those in your life you have the hardest time loving do that now
pray with me now in closing dear Lord thank you for loving me in an illogical way thank
you for loving me when I don't deserve your love thank you for choosing to love me but I
am sure there are better logical choices thank you for finding value in me thank you that your
love creates value in me I am worth something because you love me now help me show that same
love to the most unlovable around me whether my mortal enemies or simply those I disagree with
help me show them the same measure of grace and love that you've shown me and it's in Jesus name
I pray amen now slowly and softly you start to open your eyes and take a deep cleansing breath
now with this time with God and before you rush off I want you to stay here for as long as you
can and think of how you can find time to pause and be focused today on loving the unloved whether
it's how you feel or someone else may feel in your life is there a relationship that God is
putting on your heart to heal today consider that today and I hope you do it often and I
invite you to come back here often to connect deeply with God and guided prayer on abide we
hope you enjoyed this meditation and that you come back for more for access to over 1,500
meditation sessions download the abide app for free in iTunes or the Google Play Store