Have you ever experienced doing things for God to earn His favor and love?  Oh … I have!  But praise be to our Lord Jesus Christ Who purchased us and paid for all our iniquities by the power of His blood and restored our identity back into being God’s beloved not because of what we do but all because of His finished work at the cross.

One of my powerful experiences lately dramatically changed me.  I have always been surrounded by both learned and professional musicians.  Because I so love music, I tried to study how to read notes and be good at it.  But somehow, my hands just move and flow according to how my heart feels that one day my piano teacher said, “hmmmm … you are flowing and not reading”.  She caught me playing the notes that were already on the next page but I haven’t turned the page yet hahahaha!  It was funny!

To cut the long story short, I stopped studying.  I decided to simply use my love for music and piano as my intimate expression to worship the One Who is worthy of it all, Jesus, in the privacy of my own home.  That way I don’t need to think of what other people think about how I play.  I chose to set my focus on worshiping the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Who accepts me as I am and takes pleasure in me no matter how I sound.  I do not need to pretend.  He knows me inside out and created me the very way I am.

But one day, as I sat on my piano and started to worship, there was a part of me that wanted to do more.  Instead of worshiping in an atmosphere of rest, I was striving to sound better that defeated my purpose of communing with Him.  I was more aware of the physical sound I was producing than getting connected to Him.  But our God Who is rich in mercy and abounding in love spoke in His still small voice into the depths of my heart and said, “You don’t need to impress me. You already won My heart.”  I was undone by what I heard and was so in awe of His goodness.  I was so tenderly touched by how much He is concerned by our every thought and action.  How mindful He is that He never left me the way I was but took me out from that position of trying to please Him and into a place of utmost acceptance that freed my heart to worship Him just the way I am.  Truly, when He SPEAKS, He brings FREEDOM! 🙏😇🙏

Right after that beautiful love encounter, how I worshiped catapulted to a different level. Unspeakable joy so filled my heart. My perspective towards my identify before His eyes changed and deepened.  Indeed, there is nothing we can or cannot do that can make Him love us more. And there is nothing we can or cannot do that can make Him close the door. The steadfast love of the Lord NEVER ceases.

“The mature children of God are those who are moved by the impulses of the Holy Spirit. And you did not receive the “spirit of religious duty,” leading you back into the fear of never being good enough. But you have received the “Spirit of full acceptance,” enfolding you into the family of God. And you will never feel orphaned, for as He rises up within us, our spirits join him in saying the words of tender affection, “Beloved Father!” For the Holy Spirit makes God’s fatherhood real to us as He whispers into our innermost being, “You are God’s beloved child!” Romans 8:14-16 TPT

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank You for always watching over us and changing us by the power of Your love.  Thank You, Jesus, for opening Your arms open wide at the cross, full of acceptance and enfolding us into Yourself that we may be one with You just as You and the Father are one.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for the convictions in our hearts that endear us more to you.  Amen!