One little word whose power can transform a life. It’s strength prevails in hardships. It’s big enough to cover a multitude of sins. It never dies but is eternal. This little word is LOVE. Song of Solomon 8:7a states “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.” Sometimes we find ourselves saying “I love you” out of habit, but how is true love demonstrated? Do our motives and actions line up with the biblical view of love? Romans 12:9 states, “Don’t pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.” Even with close family members and friends, often we seem to be lacking in the love department.
Here are a few ways to love others deeply:
- Pray for Ourselves- God is love. We need to spend time with God until we are overflowing with his love. This will give us the strength to walk out genuine love. In Mathew 26:41, Jesus says, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
- Pray for Others Next, we need to intercede for others. It’s difficult not to love someone deeply after pouring out your heart to God on their behalf. In Acts 7:60, Stephen who was being stoned to death, but still took the time to pray for the ones hurting him. “Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Often, we just pray for God to change a person, instead of praying to release the offense they committed and then declaring a blessing upon them. Numbers 6:24-26 is a wonderful prayer: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
- Forgive – Choose to Let the offense go. Harboring anger because people got on our nerves or hurt us is not going to help us love them, but can develop bitterness in our hearts. Also, we should ask others to forgive us when we hurt them. Ephesians 4:32 states, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
- Be Kind – If the walls of our homes or cars could talk, we may be embarrassed to see how harsh, irritable and impatient we are with the people that we say we love. Kindness, affirmation and patience goes a long way. Colossians 3:12 says, “God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient.”
PRAY THIS PRAYER – Father, I exalt your holy name. You are the essence of love, and love comes from you. Forgive me of my shortcomings in the love arena. I forgive those who have hurt or offended me today. I ask that you make my love grow and overflow for all people. And I pray that I will be rooted and established in love in Jesus name I pray. Amen.
