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.

What are you reflecting?

I want to address the topic of self-image...

Self-image is not something we’re born with it. It is forged through pain, pressure and praise. Pain causes us to become aware of something previously unnoticed. Pressure brings hidden things to the surface. Praise tests what we are made of.

Our self-image reflects how we perceive ourselves, thus it is so important we have a Godly perspective of who we are in Him. God wants to draw us close to captivate us with His love so our image can be fastened into His.

God invites us to come to Him just as we are. In exchange for our surrender He gives us life, an everlasting covenant and faithful, unwavering love. He is calling us to immerse in the river of baptism while He washes away all that is death. It is a rebirth available in every area of our life including our self-image, both personal and spiritual.

We need to know truth with a deeper intimacy and to a greater degree than we have known the lie. The lie only captivates us, but the truth will liberate us (John 8:32). Truth penetrates deeper and reaches further than the lie, dispelling any darkness lurking in our soul. We must become one with the truth to break our union with the lie.

Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). He is the truth that sets us free from the confines of ourselves. He offers each of us the life we long for. He wants to be our companion as we journey from captivity of the lies to freedom in the truth.

He wants us to view ourselves in light of truth… the way He sees us.

For freedom,
Lisa