Devotional for February 15
Learning to Love
"And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you.... But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another." 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 4:9
God is love (1 John 4:16). His very nature is perfect love, but because of sin love does not always come freely and naturally to his children. You may have been raised in a home where love was not expressed. Perhaps you were hurt by someone you loved, and your heart became hardened as a defense against further pain. You may love others but not know how to express your love in words or actions. You may feel frustrated because you have been called by God to love, yet you do not understand how to love others.
Paul wrote to the Christians in Thessalonica to encourage them not to become disheartened as they learned to love each other (1 Thess. 3:7). The did not need Paul to explain to them how to love, for God Himself would teach them how to love one another. God would give them His love, and as they followed Him, He would cause that love to multiply. If they found someone that was difficult to love, God would enable them to love through His Holy Spirit.
God in His grace has made provision for our human weakness, and He is prepared to teach us how to love one another. There are no exceptions. God can teach us to love even that especially difficult person.
Are you struggling to love someone? God will help you. He will enable you to love your parents, your spouse, your children, your friends, or your enemy in a deeper way than you could ever love them on your own. If you do not know how to express your love in a meaningful way, God will teach you how to do this. God is the authority on love. As you relate to others, ask God to make His love overflow to them through your life.
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Yet another devotional that I feel specifically speaks to my heart at this point in my life. I've found it very difficult lately to love a certain person in my life for many, many reasons from things they have done to things that they have said and continue to say to hurt me where they know it hurts most. I know that this person is very important to me, and means more to me than most, but it's been especially difficult for me to continue to love them in the face of all the harmful things they say and do on a daily basis.
I feel this specific devotional is speaking to my heart on that matter and reminding me that even when I feel hopeless and I feel like giving up on someone I should continue to stick it out and pray harder and pray more for God to give me the strength and love I need to continue to care for this person.
There have been so many moments lately when I just want to give up, throw my hands up and say "Sorry God, you know I tried" but I know that those words would never justify my failure. Giving up at this point would be ridiculous on top of the fact that it would be incredibly damaging for my entire family. For myself, my child, my husband, for everyone I have to continue on this path and just continue asking God to give me the grace and peace I need when I need it to get through this fight as He intends me to.
I'm very guilty lately of snapping back with hurtful thoughts and words of my own. Although I pray that I can be the woman God wants me to be, and to react to hurtful words and situations as a Christian woman would, I continuously fail and give in to my hurt and anger. My goal for this coming week is to stand my ground and to remain firm in my faith rather than giving in and allowing my anger to win. I want to be able to be faithful in every manner and I know that I have to do this a little at a time and pray on a daily basis for God's strength and guidance.
Is there someone that you are struggling to love? Just remember that God can help us love anyone, even those we consider to be our worst enemies, all we have to do is ask and pray.
Learning to Love
"And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you.... But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another." 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 4:9
God is love (1 John 4:16). His very nature is perfect love, but because of sin love does not always come freely and naturally to his children. You may have been raised in a home where love was not expressed. Perhaps you were hurt by someone you loved, and your heart became hardened as a defense against further pain. You may love others but not know how to express your love in words or actions. You may feel frustrated because you have been called by God to love, yet you do not understand how to love others.
Paul wrote to the Christians in Thessalonica to encourage them not to become disheartened as they learned to love each other (1 Thess. 3:7). The did not need Paul to explain to them how to love, for God Himself would teach them how to love one another. God would give them His love, and as they followed Him, He would cause that love to multiply. If they found someone that was difficult to love, God would enable them to love through His Holy Spirit.
God in His grace has made provision for our human weakness, and He is prepared to teach us how to love one another. There are no exceptions. God can teach us to love even that especially difficult person.
Are you struggling to love someone? God will help you. He will enable you to love your parents, your spouse, your children, your friends, or your enemy in a deeper way than you could ever love them on your own. If you do not know how to express your love in a meaningful way, God will teach you how to do this. God is the authority on love. As you relate to others, ask God to make His love overflow to them through your life.
***************************************************************
Yet another devotional that I feel specifically speaks to my heart at this point in my life. I've found it very difficult lately to love a certain person in my life for many, many reasons from things they have done to things that they have said and continue to say to hurt me where they know it hurts most. I know that this person is very important to me, and means more to me than most, but it's been especially difficult for me to continue to love them in the face of all the harmful things they say and do on a daily basis.
I feel this specific devotional is speaking to my heart on that matter and reminding me that even when I feel hopeless and I feel like giving up on someone I should continue to stick it out and pray harder and pray more for God to give me the strength and love I need to continue to care for this person.
There have been so many moments lately when I just want to give up, throw my hands up and say "Sorry God, you know I tried" but I know that those words would never justify my failure. Giving up at this point would be ridiculous on top of the fact that it would be incredibly damaging for my entire family. For myself, my child, my husband, for everyone I have to continue on this path and just continue asking God to give me the grace and peace I need when I need it to get through this fight as He intends me to.
I'm very guilty lately of snapping back with hurtful thoughts and words of my own. Although I pray that I can be the woman God wants me to be, and to react to hurtful words and situations as a Christian woman would, I continuously fail and give in to my hurt and anger. My goal for this coming week is to stand my ground and to remain firm in my faith rather than giving in and allowing my anger to win. I want to be able to be faithful in every manner and I know that I have to do this a little at a time and pray on a daily basis for God's strength and guidance.
Is there someone that you are struggling to love? Just remember that God can help us love anyone, even those we consider to be our worst enemies, all we have to do is ask and pray.
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