Wednesday, February 11, 2009

remember love

Everything of value in this life carries with it some form of risk. There is the threat of losing control and failing, but there is no fear in love. Why?

Love can never fail.

When love is found it should be protected at all cost. It should be the driving force behind all we do. Once we have love, it cannot be separated from us without causing great injury. I realize that I am painting a picture of what should be rather than what often is. But in this picture, I believe you will glimpse the power of what could be and move from the domain of disappointment to the realm of hope.

Once love is openly declared, there is no going back. This happens between Christ and His beloved bride. For with Him, there is no coming back from the promise of the love that propelled Him to risk it all. It is not possible for Him to fail you. Men and women love, but God is Love.

If we are to move beyond survival in our relationships, we must allow our hearts to remain open to the transforming power of love.

If I . . . have not love, I am nothing. - 1 Corinthians 13:2, NIV

We can be a part of many things, but without the motive and preservation of love, they all eventually become nothing... Money without love is empty. Sex without love becomes nothing. Relationships without love are shallow and ultimately lonely.

Love transfers legacy as surely as it creates life. Fear is the enemy of love as certainly as love has the power to overcome and displace fear.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear. - 1 John 4:18, NKJV

It is when we learn to love fearlessly that we will find ourselves loved perfectly. Don’t be afraid of these words. Those around you may not magically change, but you can. You can be free again. The world trembles before the people who choose to fearlessly love. Love is not only one of the weapons and forces we fight with; love is our domain to protect. Like the Word of God, it is both our sword and our promise.

Take a moment and ask yourself why you might find it hard to give your heart fully to those you are in relationship with. Our need for each other was never meant to be a weakness to be exploited, but a dynamic to be celebrated. We can love others because Christ first loved us. Let’s surrender to the power of love and let it remove all fear from our relationships.

Heavenly Father,
I come before You in the name of Jesus. I want to know the power of Your love. I want my life to exhibit this power in every aspect and relationship. I want to awaken strengths, not criticize the weaknesses in others. I want to use my words to build and plant lives, not tear them down. I receive Your life and love and believe I am chosen for You. I believe You have the power to build up my life. I give You every broken, torn-down place. Have Your way as I submit my weaknesses to You, Father. Cover them with Your strength. By the power of the Holy Spirit, reveal Your love in and through my life.
Amen.

14 comments:

Ami said...

Amen!
This makes me excited to ask...
"What would happen to this world if we all began to love fearlessly?!"
To actually love beyond ourselves with an active, genuine, and true love... This kind of love really could revolutionize our cities, nations, and even our world!

jrskaalerud said...

Wow! This hit a bulls-eye with me! Thank you so much for the engouragment. This has encouraged me so much! Praise God for how he answers prayers!

ccasanova said...

WOW! This is incredible!!! You wrote it JUST FOR ME!!!!

love, love, love,
Sally

Doug Robinson said...

Thank you..........and Praise God!

Omah's Helping Hands said...

Amen! His timing is always perfect! I love how He works through the two of you. Thank you.
Tammy

Christopher said...

I prayed for years to find love. Now, I am 45 and very single, and incredibly lonely. God has not answered my prayers, God has not given me any solace. Your article was 'Nice', but it bears no relation to (my) reality. My life is evidence that God is not concerned with an individual's hopes and dreams.

Heather said...

What a confirmation of what God is teaching me in my own life, personally. I guess part of maturing in Christ is to become more effective and intentional about loving others. My eyes are opening to the fact that our primary motivation for friendships and relationships needs to be loving others, not getting love from them! Seems so simple. Whether others receive it or not, I need to pour out what Christ has freely poured into my heart!! My motivation w/people has often been fear and that is NOT love.

filipbunches said...

WOW, WOW, WOW! I had to print this to read it everyday! Such deep and powerful statements, like they were plucked right out of Gods' heart. THANK YOU!
Very deep to understand, comprehand, and accept! You have to be swimming in deep faith to pull this in your being. It's something to strive for wholeheartedly! WOW! WOW! WOW! thank you!

spamynetwork said...

Encouraging. Love, real love, is the only lasting thing. Imagine what it would be like if all who have God's love would freely love like He loves. How please our Father is when we operate this way!

Thank you.
Amy

mimi said...

thankyou for your faithfulness.your ministry blesses me immensely..would love to follow your blog..can i put your link in my blog so that my friends and family can be blessed too?.

Jacqueline said...

Dear Mr & Mrs Bevere, servants of the Most High God. May your hearts and ministry be blessed beyond measure, may your hearts continue to be filled with love, joy and happiness. I love you both so deeply and I am eternally grateful for the wonderful blessing that God has given me to hear from your ministry. I have 8 of your books already and buy them as gifts for my family. Also have 2 of ur curriculumns & have Affable. I just can't get enough and am filling my heart & my bookshelf with as many of your materials as possible. My husband and I are greatly impacted by you and ur ministry. My heart shook with Affabel & my relationship with God has gone from loving HIM to being completely and totally head over heels in love with HIM. He is the lover of my soul. May God bless you. I love you. Never before has my heart cried out for the salvation of the world such as this time - I wish I could share ALL the glorious testimonies with you... Your Faithful South African Seed...

Jacqueline said...

Dear Mr & Mrs Bevere, servants of the Most High God. May your hearts and ministry be blessed beyond measure, may your hearts continue to be filled with love, joy and happiness. I love you both so deeply and I am eternally grateful for the wonderful blessing that God has given me to hear from your ministry. I have 8 of your books already and buy them as gifts for my family. Also have 2 of ur curriculumns & have Affable. I just can't get enough and am filling my heart & my bookshelf with as many of your materials as possible. My husband and I are greatly impacted by you and ur ministry. My heart shook with Affabel & my relationship with God has gone from loving HIM to being completely and totally head over heels in love with HIM. He is the lover of my soul. May God bless you. I love you. Never before has my heart cried out for the salvation of the world such as this time - I wish I could share ALL the glorious testimonies with you... Your Faithful South African Seed...

China Freckles said...

This touched my spirit, I am at work sitting at my desk with tears flowing down my face, because Of the love I feel right now. God is love and if we are truly saved and beleivers, We have to walk, run, jog skip in love all the time! I just had the pleasure of listening to a Teaching by John Bevere called "God's fit army", and I loved it, I cant wait to hear more teachings and I will be on the lookout for when he comes to Sacramento,CA, I will be there!!! God bless

Caribbean Shulamite said...

how i needed that reminder that loving is worth pursuing, even when it's difficult. thank you.