Reflections4Life
September 15th, 2013
“Who
Do You Love?”
“We have come to know and have believed the love
which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love
abides in God, and God abides in him.” 1 John 4:16
Scripture Contemplation: Genesis 22; Genesis 29;
Proverbs 3; Matthew 5; John 3; 1 Corinthians 13...
Who do you love? You really don't have to answer that. Your actions will speak for you. Your actions will tell the story of what and who resides in your heart. Some people can hide the truth for a while; but eventually all light stands out from darkness, and the truth about how you really feel will come to light.
I declare and decree that this week's Reflections
will be a continued source of encouragement and enlightenment for
your heart, mind, and soul. Let the love of God fill you and
penetrate every part of your soul, so that you may know how to love
the way the Father loves. And know how to receive love, as well.
Many use the word love frivolously. I love this. I
love that. I love movies. I love dessert. I love. I love. I love.
Yet, our actions are speaking volumes concerning who we really love. Love is more than just an emotion. It is a force. It is power. It is the embodiment of God here in this earth. And when we really understand how precious and powerful love is; we'd be less likely to be frivolous in its use. And we would honor love by showing and giving love as God has commanded.
People are making choices every single day based upon
how they feel at any given moment. They are saying with their mouths
how much they love. How much they love their families, their spouse,
their children, their career. Yet, the actions they are putting forth
does not speak of love. Their actions are not reflecting the love
they say they have in their hearts. Instead, what is being reflected
is a spirit of selfishness, low self-esteem, resentfulness,
animosity, sorrow, shame, and sometimes hate.
Matthew 6:20-22 “20 but lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys
and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
We are making life choices based upon what is residing
in our hearts. What we treasure the most will be found in the core of
our hearts. And that is what will occupy our time, energy and
efforts. What do you treasure today? What is it that has a hold of
your heart, that you will be willing to lay down your life if it came
to that?
Many can walk around and speak words that sound lovely
and correct. They may even be able to fool some people for some time.
But you can never fool God. The Father knows our hearts. He knows
where our treasure lies. He knows what is on our priority list. He
knows how weak or how strong our love is. And He reaches towards us
each and every day. Every day when we arise, it is a gift from God,
and Him reaching toward us, so that He may fill us with Himself.
But we have rejected the Father. Our actions have
dismissed the hand of God. Many have assumed that they can walk in
this earth and do what they like, and no one would be the wiser of
who they really are and what they really believe. Not true. Because
the actions we take today have consequences for others tomorrow.
Whether we see it or not, or acknowledge it.
Who do you love? Do you love God? Do you love your
family? Do you love your friends? Do you love yourself? The truth is,
many of us cannot give love or receive love or reciprocate love,
because we do not love ourselves. How can you love anyone else when
you have no love for yourself? How can receive or accept love, and
believe in love, when you have trouble loving who you are? And that,
my Beloveds, is at the core of so many who profess to love, but
actions speak otherwise. This is why so many people can hurt their
loved ones, and make poor decisions, because they lack self love. And
without self love, you do not have the ability to recognize what is
best or good for self. You make poor decisions that can have
devastating consequences for those we you say you do love.
1 John 4:15-16 “Whoever
confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in
God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.
God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in
him.”
Beloved, if we confess
that we believe in God, and that God is in us, then we must know that
love is within us. And if God, who is love, resides in us, then how
can we not love ourselves? God has poured His love in us. He has
poured into us who and everything that He is. And because of this
love; regardless to what life we have lived before accepting Christ,
that love, God love, is residing within us. And if we open ourselves
to that redemptive and healing love, then we will be able to not only
love who we are, but love others the way God desires us to love.
Who do you love? Love
is powerful. Love is healing. Love is delivering. Love is consuming.
Love can change things in a moments time. Love is long-suffering.
Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is selfless. Love is forgiving.
1 Corinthians 13:1-2 “Though
I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I
have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have
the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge,
and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but
have not love, I am nothing.”
Let the love of God
fill you today. Let God fill you. Let Him pour Himself into every
part of you; restoring your heart and soul. Healing the wounds of
your past. Bringing deliverance to those areas you have never spoken
about or shared with anyone. Let the Father into your secret place of
pain and shame, so that He may bless you with beauty for your ashes,
and double anointing for your shame. Let love in today so that you
may be free to love the way God has ordained you to love. And that
you may love yourself and God that is in you.
I decree that the
spirit of peace and of prosperity has found permanent rest in your
life: spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, and
financially. Let God in. Let Him pour Himself into your heart and
soul, and fill you with that love that consumes and restores and
redeems, so that you may love yourself, and others unhindered and
completely, just as God loves. You are Blessed. Now go...and Be a
Blessing!
©2013. Ruthe
McDonald. All Rights Reserved.
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