“I love you.”

Three words a parent says to their newborn as they hold them in their arms for the first time. Three words we hear from that special someone and realize this is for real, this is the one. Three words we heard from our Heavenly Father when we heard of the sacrifice of His Son on our behalf.

I am very thankful that after that first time my parents said those three words to me, they never stopped saying them. Forty years later they are still telling me of their love. I am thankful that my husband has continued to say them to me for the last eighteen years. And he has heard them and will continue to hear them from me.

There was a day when I heard for the first time about God’s love for me. As I read what His Son had done for me, along with the written words, I heard that still small voice say those three little words. “I love you.” His love changed everything in my life. His love changed me. And I am very thankful that every day since, I hear those three little words from My King.

As I read His word, I hear Him say, “I love you.” As I hold the communion elements, the bread and the cup, I hear Him say, “I love you.” As I see my prayers answered, I hear Him say, “I love you.” When I see His work in my life, through protection and provision, I hear Him say, “I love you.”

When fear or anxiety over a situation tries to rise up in my heart, I hear Him say, “I love you.” And all fear melts away.

When the enemy says I will never have my heart’s desire, or that I won’t be healed this time, I hear Him say, “I love you.” And all shadows of doubt fade in the Light of His Love. He is for me. So what or whom shall I fear?

As a parent we will forever be saying, “I love you”. As a wife or husband, we will forever be saying, “I love you.” For eternity He will hear me say, “I love You.”

And for eternity we will hear Him say, “I love you.”

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love… (Song of Solomon 2:4, Amplified)

…love one another [just] as I have loved you. (John 15:12, Amplified)

I love You fervently and devotedly, O Lord… (Psalm 18:1, Amplified)