Thanks to my gracious and generous husband, I was able to have a few hours of relaxing and resting with God this morning, while he took the girls out on a Daddy & Daughter Date. I sat on my patio with the Bible laid open before me and a pen awaiting its use. It was my precious time with God. There we were, engaging in a life-enriching (and sometimes playful) conversation through the pages of His Word and my prayers. He is my Friend. He is my Savior. He is my God. As usual, this time of year I seek Him as to an area of my life that He feels needs to change or that I need to grow in. As will ever be the case, until I meet Him face-to-face, He kindly and clearly pointed to a specific area of my life - love. As I was praying, this is the word that kept coming to my mind. Passage after passage, verse after verse flooded my thoughts. Love God. Love my husband. Love my daughters. Love my extended family. Love my neighbors. Love my enemies. Love.
Paul exhorts those of us in Christ to "pursue love" in 1 Corinthians 14:1. So it is something that we can pursue. Jesus tells His followers that "all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" in John 13:35. God's Word tells us believers to be like Christ in our love, "be imitators of God...and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us." Ephesian 5:1. So, I can imitate His love (even when I don't feel like it).
So in 2012, I am seeking to love with a love that is bigger, stronger, and deeper than my own. A love that is based in truth and not merely emotion. This most certainly will be a battle at times (daily!), as undoubtedly there will be times that I don't feel like or want to love someone. There will be times when, sadly, I will want to be angry, or want to be left alone (moms, can you relate?), or want someone else to serve me - I'm a sinner in need of grace...daily! But praise be to God that He is greater than my heart and my flesh (Ps. 73:26)! Loving like this will indeed be a fight - but a worthy one. Only "because He first loved {me}" 1 John 4:19, can I love like this. It is by Him and through Him alone...it is the fruit of His Spirit, not my own. I anticipate falling flat on my face and failing many times (again...daily), but instead of giving up, I will choose to repent, seek forgiveness, ask God for His help to stand back up and try again...and He will provide the strength - because He is faithful.
May they be drawn to His love as I seek to love like Him...as His Word says, His "love never fails." (1 Cor. 13:8). What encouragement!!
Happy New Year!
1 comment:
A good Word for the new year! I keep going back to that Fruit of the Spirit study we did and realizing that, though I may fail at love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, & self-control, HE never does. I want my life to bear Spirit fruit...and I know the only way to bear that fruit is by being in His presence and living by His Spirit. It's a practice that is easier said than done - I like how you said that rather than give up when you failed (daily), you'd repent and seek His strength to try again. Amen, Sistah! You've encouraged me to be intentional and do the same this year.
Happy New Year Kirkwood family. We love you and thank God for you all! Here's hoping we get to re-connect one of these days in Jakarta...or Bali. ;)
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