I was in the middle of writing part 2 of my latest blog when God put this blog on my heart.
We all want to feel loved and nurtured. It’s a desire we are born with. When we feel those closest to us don’t love us, it hurts. When we feel they don’t love us it sometimes makes us bitter toward them and we may start feeling less love towards them. It comes natural to want to return love that is given. It’s much harder to love those that don’t love you.
Have you ever been in a relationship where you felt your needs weren’t being met? How did that make you feel? One way to show love is to meet the needs of those around you. If your needs aren’t being met you probably won’t feel loved despite what words they might say or other actions they might do. To meet the needs of those around you, you must put others before yourself. You may have heard it said you can’t love others unless you love yourself. I say you can’t love others if you are too busy loving yourself. Love is not self-seeking.
In marriage, we often try to meet our own needs and give whatever is left to our spouse. We know from the Bible that the marriage between a man and a woman represents the marriage between God and His church. Is it any wonder that we do the same thing with God? We often put our own interests first and give God whatever is left. A quick look at divorce rates and we can see how that usually works in a marriage relationship. Do you think it works better with your relationship with God?
Since we know that the marriage between a man and a woman represents God’s marriage to His church, do you think marriage might be a target of satan? There is no doubt about it. Satan will use husbands and wives against each other. Have you ever followed the Holy Spirits lead and done something that really impacted people for the good only to come home to some crazy conflict that has come out of left field? Well I promise you it didn’t come out of left field. It came out of hell. When you do something to glorify God, satan will attack you. If we love God we will be persecuted.
We all want to feel loved and nurtured. It’s a desire we are born with. When we feel those closest to us don’t love us, it hurts. When we feel they don’t love us it sometimes makes us bitter toward them and we may start feeling less love towards them. It comes natural to want to return love that is given. It’s much harder to love those that don’t love you.
Have you ever been in a relationship where you felt your needs weren’t being met? How did that make you feel? One way to show love is to meet the needs of those around you. If your needs aren’t being met you probably won’t feel loved despite what words they might say or other actions they might do. To meet the needs of those around you, you must put others before yourself. You may have heard it said you can’t love others unless you love yourself. I say you can’t love others if you are too busy loving yourself. Love is not self-seeking.
In marriage, we often try to meet our own needs and give whatever is left to our spouse. We know from the Bible that the marriage between a man and a woman represents the marriage between God and His church. Is it any wonder that we do the same thing with God? We often put our own interests first and give God whatever is left. A quick look at divorce rates and we can see how that usually works in a marriage relationship. Do you think it works better with your relationship with God?
Since we know that the marriage between a man and a woman represents God’s marriage to His church, do you think marriage might be a target of satan? There is no doubt about it. Satan will use husbands and wives against each other. Have you ever followed the Holy Spirits lead and done something that really impacted people for the good only to come home to some crazy conflict that has come out of left field? Well I promise you it didn’t come out of left field. It came out of hell. When you do something to glorify God, satan will attack you. If we love God we will be persecuted.
IF WE CHOOSE TO L, O, V, AND E DESPITE HOW WE ARE TREATED WE ARE EMULATING JESUS CHRIST.
When we realize that we are not fighting against our spouses but against spiritual forces, it makes it much easier to love people despite their faults, failures, and hurtful words. Ephesians 6:12 “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” What do we do if those that are supposed to love us attack us? Love them more. Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Of course I am not saying if your spouse says something mean to you they are evil. It only takes a tiny crack for satan to slip in and cause destruction. That is why it is so important to always be in prayer and always be seeking God.
When you don’t feel loved by those that are closest to you, love them anyway. When someone mistreats you and is undeserving of your love, love them anyway. Love is not a feeling. Love is a condition of your heart. You can’t fall out of love. Those that say this don’t know what love is. Love is not lust. Love is not romance. Love is putting others before yourself despite what you do or do not get in return. Love always forgives and always forgets past mistakes. Love is a choice.
When you don’t feel loved by those that are closest to you, love them anyway. When someone mistreats you and is undeserving of your love, love them anyway. Love is not a feeling. Love is a condition of your heart. You can’t fall out of love. Those that say this don’t know what love is. Love is not lust. Love is not romance. Love is putting others before yourself despite what you do or do not get in return. Love always forgives and always forgets past mistakes. Love is a choice.
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