¹See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ²Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. ³And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

⁴Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. ⁵You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. ⁶No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. ⁷Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.

• Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
• Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying close attention to the deep breath.
• As you pay attention to your breath, allow your self to hear over and over, “You are a beloved child of God.”
• Continue to hear this as you allow your breathing to slow.  Let your shoulders drop.  Relax and rest in the knowledge: “You are a beloved child of God.”
• There is nothing you can do to change this fact.  “You are a beloved child of God.”
• Remember a time when you did not feel beloved in the world.
• Allow your body to recall the feelings.
• Where in your body to notice these feelings?
• Focus on these feelings.
• Allow your breath to go to this place.  Invite the breath of God into this place.  “You are a beloved Child of God.”
• Allow God to heal you.
• The world cannot heal you as God can heal you.
• Hear yourself say, “I am a beloved child of God.”
• Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
• Share as you feel led in the reply box below.