Why on earth do I say God loves me?
Part 3
This experience of God’s love is so unlike me. (I am not a particularly loving person). It seems ridiculous to suggest that I am somehow in charge of this phenomenon – able to give myself such uplifting experiences, while being completely unaware that it is me who is doing it. It seems much more reasonable to argue, and it fits in with the evidence much better, that there is a personal God, who is an active agent, who, from time to time takes the initiative and “visits” us with his love. In fact, this intermittent, haphazardness of the experience is strong evidence in its favour, because it is so theologically incorrect. God is always present with us, and his love never falters. Therefore, if it was a self-induced experience, utilising internalised values about God’s love for us, then why are we not able to “tune in” to the experience whenever we want? Instead, God seems to come to us unexpectedly, just now and then, and in that moment he reveals himself – and his nature is overwhelming love – and then he is gone again. Of course, it is theologically absurd to say, “He has gone again”, but this is how the experience works.
If it is a self-induced phenomenon, then, again, it’s an incredibly impressive one, and if it was self-induced, I would choose to indulge in it more often. Instead, it appears to be beyond my control. Whatever is happening, it certainly appears to be something that someone else is doing to me, rather than me, doing it to myself.
Spiritual Devotion 