I was recently listening to 94.3 Positive and Encouraging K-LOVE radio when I heard a song by artist Jimmy Needham. He was talking all about how we need God’s forgiveness and love and for him it started when he became a Christian his sophomore year of high school. Up till that point he grew up in a non-Christian family. At a young age, he was caught up in an addiction to porn. He said that when he met Jesus and started believing, he realized how much of a struggle it really was and how desperately he needed the healing power of Jesus to over- come this addiction. When he finally found a church home, he joined a men’s accountability small group and through prayer and help from his Christian brother’s was healed by God’s hands.

Jimmy Needham’s song Forgiven and Loved from his album Not Without Love is all about his struggle to accept God’s forgiveness and love, during that time when he struggled with his addiction. He said he felt like he was not worthy of God’s love and did not understand how a good God could love him. He had this crazy notice that he had to work really hard to put smile on God’s face. It took him a long time to realize and truly understand that there is no condemnation for those in Christ and that no matter how hard we work at it, God’s love is based on His mercy and grace for us.

Just like Jimmy, how many of you have ever felt that way? Have you ever felt like you are unworthy or undeserving of God’s love because of something you did or didn’t do? I know I have at different times in my life, but like Jimmy I realized even though I don’t deserve it, God still loves me.

If the theme of this song resonates with you, check out Jimmy Needham’s newest album Not Without Love and listen to Forgiven and Loved at http://www.jimmyneedham.com/bio.php.