I’ve always loved the book of Ephesians, especially the first chapter. I’ve read these words dozens of times, seeking to grasp the depth of Paul’s meaning as he writes about us being chosen, predestined, redeemed “for the praise of his glory.”

Reader, do you get what he’s saying here?

To be “chosen” isn’t about being elevated or better compared to those who don’t know Him.

Because the praise doesn’t come from what we do.

We still carry our sin nature for which Christ’s blood was shed. Although we’re redeemed, we’re not yet perfect.

We still need a Savior.

So the praise comes from what He did.

And it comes from who we are IN HIM.

Letting that soak in is at the center of ​this week’s Devoted Dreamers podcast episode​.

And I'm sharing it because it changed something big for me.

You see, I’ve spent the last 25 years learning about the God who has shown me incredible, undeserved mercy. Coming to Christ as an adult, I've had a lot of un-learning to do. And at first I didn’t understand the being chosen bit.

As I grew in faith and trust, I began to understand that His love for me is secure; however, that understanding has often been an intellectual experience.

Like a lot of relationships, mine with God has ebbed and flowed over the years. You know the saying that if you feel distant from God, “He’s not the one that moved; you are.”

While this may be true in concept, platitudes like this can produce shame, which, to the performance-driven among us, sounds a lot like this:

“You haven’t done enough.”

“You haven’t done it the right way.”

“If you just had a stronger faith, you wouldn’t feel so far from Him.”

Over the years, I’ve taken these broken thought patterns, or tapes that play on repeat, back to the Lord to seek His help and healing.

So when I met Kari Eliza on Instagram earlier this year, her perspective on God’s love for me took healing to a whole new level.

She helped me experience God in a new way, and we want to share it with you—it takes just 10 minutes a day.

And here's a bonus: spend a few weeks doing this and it will change how you partner with Him to go after your God-shaped dream.

At first glance, the posts on Kari Eliza’s Instagram are about helping young children experience God as a loving father. Though my youngest is nearly 8 years old, I found the suggestions fascinating and something I’d never considered before.

But there was something else I noticed about her.

She exhibited a joy in Christ that I felt like I’d lost.

You know it when you see it. The people who are always so warm and gentle. So very kind and compassionate. They move through the world with ease. It’s so extraordinary that you almost do a double-take. And to hear them pray, it’s like they’re having an intimate conversation with a trusted friend. It’s not a performance; it’s sincere.

And it’s attractive.

I can look back through my prayer journals and see that this has been a clear desire of my heart: to know God as a Father who delights in me and to experience freedom in how I live as a result of His love.

It’s the picture in Zephaniah 3:17:

The first time I read this verse, it took me by surprise. “God takes great delight in me? He shouts for joy over me?”

I had never experienced Him in that way before. But I wanted to.

So when Kari Eliza mentioned the practice she’d begun doing every day to allow God to pour His love over her and to feel His delight, I was in!

If you’re just joining the conversation, here’s where you begin:

(Looking for Spotify links? Try this one for #359 and this one for #360.)

If you've listened to those and you're ready for this week's conversation, episode #361 is How to Feel Loved by God in a Way That Changes You.

Goodpods Top 10 Christian Women Podcasts Listen now to The Devoted Dreamers Podcast

In our third segment together, Kari Eliza teaches the simple steps of experiencing God’s delight over you in a very personal way.

This practice is what helped move my experience of God’s love from my head to my heart.

Initially, the practice might feel a little strange to you. I’d never done anything like this before, so in case it’s helpful, you’ll also hear me share my questions with Kari Eliza in the episode and what it was like for me the first few times.

The change, for me, didn’t happen all at once; but over time I’ve noticed subtle differences in my attitude and behaviors throughout the day.

It was little things at first...

like wanting to engage with strangers in the grocery store or not feeling irritated by an interruption of my work by a child or my husband.

I’ve become more aware of admiring something about someone and not keeping it to myself but sharing it to encourage them.

I’ve also experienced a general lack of anxiousness in situations when I previously would’ve been a ball of knots (or tears).

​​Kari Eliza will talk you through it in episode #361.​​

I try to do this once a day (maybe twice in a particularly intense or demanding season). It’s helped me grow in my awareness of what’s happening in my physical body and also made space for conversation with the One who knows me deeply, loves me fully, and invites me to dance with Him each and every day.

Sound like something you might like to try?

I wonder what differences you might notice in yourself after a week or two of taking time daily to pause, let go of striving, and just allow God to love you.

I hope you’ll give it a listen and then try it out; and if you do, I want to hear how it went.

Until next time, I am with you, in the dream

~ Merritt

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