{"id":105,"date":"2023-08-17T11:22:19","date_gmt":"2023-08-17T11:22:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/encounterpgh.com\/blog\/?p=105"},"modified":"2023-08-17T11:27:50","modified_gmt":"2023-08-17T11:27:50","slug":"how-to-recognize-gods-affection-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/encounterpgh.com\/blog\/how-to-recognize-gods-affection-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Recognize God&#8217;s Affection for You"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"105\" class=\"elementor elementor-105\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-863d2fe elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"863d2fe\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0415f7e\" data-id=\"0415f7e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff0a7e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ff0a7e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.15.0 - 02-08-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<h1><b>How to Recognize God&#8217;s Affection for You<\/b><\/h1><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>It&#8217;s vital to understand the depth and nature of God&#8217;s affection for us. God&#8217;s love isn&#8217;t solely expressed through the absence of suffering or worldly pleasures.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cb11593 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cb11593\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-68c74b3\" data-id=\"68c74b3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b02f715 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b02f715\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.15.0 - 02-08-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"832\" src=\"https:\/\/encounterpgh.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Absolute_Reality_v16_Jesus_loves_0.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-99\" alt=\"God loves you\" srcset=\"https:\/\/encounterpgh.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Absolute_Reality_v16_Jesus_loves_0.jpg 640w, https:\/\/encounterpgh.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Absolute_Reality_v16_Jesus_loves_0-231x300.jpg 231w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1b54155\" data-id=\"1b54155\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f0e172 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8f0e172\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><b>The Essence of God&#8217;s Love<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His love is not confined to the temporal alleviation of pain or the accrual of wealth. God&#8217;s love is about imparting His very being and everything He stands for through Jesus Christ. Through His love, God extends Himself to us, allowing us to intimately know and delight in Him. Just as Jesus loves us by giving us Himself and everything that God represents, we are loved when we receive and embrace this revelation.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">God&#8217;s love is His revelation of Himself to us. His love isn&#8217;t a static concept &#8211; it&#8217;s a living, breathing connection. It&#8217;s an ongoing journey of unveiling the layers of His character, His wisdom, and His boundless compassion.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His love is a reality that surpasses human language. This divine affection isn&#8217;t centered around granting us a life free from challenges. It&#8217;s about aligning us with His priorities \u2013 revealing Himself to us so that we might grow, learn, and thrive in our spiritual journey.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When we grasp this truth, we begin to see that His love isn&#8217;t something He merely does &#8211; it&#8217;s something He is. It&#8217;s a love that never wavers, never diminishes, and never fades.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2de0bda elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2de0bda\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-caad9ad\" data-id=\"caad9ad\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-62d6281 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"62d6281\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><b>Measuring God&#8217;s Love<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our world often measures love by the comfort it brings, the possessions it provides, and the ease it offers. God&#8217;s love defies this superficial equation. It&#8217;s about molding us into the individuals He envisions, guiding us to spiritual growth and eternal significance.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apostle Paul life was a testament to the depth of God&#8217;s love. Amidst trials, persecution, and adversity, Paul&#8217;s experience was far from a smooth journey. It was precisely through these hardships that he felt the profound embrace of God&#8217;s love. If God&#8217;s love was solely about circumventing suffering, Paul&#8217;s life would be a paradox. His journey exemplified that love often shines most brightly in the crucible of challenges.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">True love lies in the spiritual riches, joy, and fulfillment found in understanding and knowing God deeply. His love remains steadfast, unchanging, and unwavering, even in the face of life&#8217;s unpredictable storms.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h3><b>Understanding Eternal Life<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The gift of eternal life, as illustrated in John 3:16, is not about a perpetual existence of mundane activities, but about knowing God and Jesus Christ on an ever-deepening level. This truth is emphasized in John 17:3, where Jesus defines eternal life as unceasing knowledge and communion with the Father and Himself. It&#8217;s not merely an intellectual understanding, but a personal, heart-to-heart connection that grows and deepens with each passing moment.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eternal life it&#8217;s a perpetual adventure of discovery, an eternal pursuit of understanding and delighting in the heart of God. It&#8217;s a journey that goes beyond human comprehension, a journey where we continually learn, adore, and experience awe in the face of the divine.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By understanding eternal life, we unlock the door to a love that never fades, a connection that never breaks, and a journey that never ends.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h3><b>Shifting Our Perspective on Love<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jesus&#8217; words in John 14:21 reveal a profound aspect of love \u2013 the manifestation of Himself to those who obey His commandments. This divine revelation is the epitome of love, a love that transcends worldly notions. As Christians, our perspective on love needs to be distinct from the world&#8217;s view. Instead of seeking fleeting pleasures, we should yearn for the manifestation of God in our lives, recognizing it as the ultimate expression of His love.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sacrifice is the foundation of God&#8217;s love. It&#8217;s about what He&#8217;s willing to give to us. His love led Him to send His only Son into the world, not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom. This sacrificial love showcases the lengths God goes to express His affection for us.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">God&#8217;s love takes us beyond the surface. It&#8217;s not just a feeling or a moment; it&#8217;s a revelation. It&#8217;s an invitation to encounter the very essence of the Creator, to witness His glory, and to be transformed by His presence.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you shift your perspective on love, you open yourself to a love that&#8217;s enduring, transformative, and utterly unique.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h3><b>Embracing God&#8217;s Love in Suffering<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The true depth of God&#8217;s love often reveals itself during times of adversity. Rather than erasing pain, God&#8217;s love shines brightly when it sustains us through suffering, loss, and darkness. Testimonies abound of individuals who, in the midst of heartache, encountered God&#8217;s presence and were transformed by His love. It&#8217;s a love that does not eliminate trials but provides solace and strength amidst them.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is easy to feel isolated as if we are walking a dark path alone in times of suffering. God&#8217;s love offers an unexpected companionship. It&#8217;s a companionship that brings solace, strength, and hope.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Suffering can become a catalyst for spiritual growth. It&#8217;s through adversity that we&#8217;re refined, our character molded, and our faith deepened. God&#8217;s love accompanies us through this refining process, nurturing us into individuals of greater resilience, compassion, and wisdom.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Embracing God&#8217;s love in suffering isn&#8217;t an easy journey, but it&#8217;s one that transforms us. It takes courage to lean into His presence, to find solace in His promises, and to believe that even in the darkest moments, His love remains unwavering.<\/span><\/p><p><br \/><br \/><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">True love lies in God&#8217;s self-revelation, His manifestation of Himself through Jesus, and the eternal journey of knowing and enjoying Him. As we shift our perspective on love and seek God&#8217;s presence even in suffering, we can experience a depth of love that transcends circumstances and leads us to everlasting communion with the Creator.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to Recognize God&#8217;s Affection for You It&#8217;s vital to understand the depth and nature of God&#8217;s affection for us. God&#8217;s love isn&#8217;t solely expressed through the absence of suffering or worldly pleasures.\u00a0 The Essence of God&#8217;s Love His love is not confined to the temporal alleviation of pain or the accrual of wealth. God&#8217;s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":99,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-105","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/encounterpgh.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/encounterpgh.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/encounterpgh.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/encounterpgh.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/encounterpgh.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=105"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/encounterpgh.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":110,"href":"https:\/\/encounterpgh.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105\/revisions\/110"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/encounterpgh.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/encounterpgh.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=105"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/encounterpgh.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=105"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/encounterpgh.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}