First Part Series: Do You Know HOW to Love?

Hey ladies!

I hope your week has been going well! I think it has been about a week since I last talked to you all but this week, I want to talk about the meaning of "love." What is love? I mean, what does it really mean? Alot of times we use this word but without any real insight to what love is suppose to bear.

This week, I am going to go to the book of 1 Corinthians 13:4-13 which describes love as the following:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. . .And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Now, if you say you love someone, are you bearing the fruit mentioned above?

Let's just take the sentiments of patience and kindness. How are you being patience with the ones you love? Take two minutes to think about it. What are the times in your life that your patience was tested with your loves ones and you endured and didn't become irritable or frustrated? There are going to be situations in all of our lives where our patience is going to be tested but how we react is what really says alot about us and our level of love for the individual or individuals that may be involved.

Some of you may be saying, "Great, I got this. My patience level is off the chart!" But some of you may be thinking, "Wow, I really do need to improve on being a more patient person."

Well, this is what it says in the book of Thessolonians on patience.

1 Thessalonians 5:14
14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

Sometimes, we encounter experiences with other people who we may not have a relationship with directly as far as love BUT Jesus tells us in the new testament to "love your neighbor as you love yourself." So, even if you don't have a personal relationship with them, you are still to try and show them the love of God and be patient with them. Maybe it is someone on your job who has been working your nerves. In those situations, meditate on Thessalonians 5:14 and remind yourself that you are to be patient with everyone. You might have to get up, go to the bathroom and say a short prayer; just try to continually renew your mind so that you will gain more and more patience.

In James it says, "James 1:3–4
3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." When people do things to upset you, be slow to anger. Remember, in these instances your faith is being tested;your faith in God, his word, etc. Show that you truly do believe and have faith in his word when he says that you should love your neighbor as you love yourself by having patience with people because there are times when other people demonstrate patience with you! And when you love your neighbor as yourself, wouldn't you want someone to show love to you and be patient in your shortcomings.

Does this mean that you have to accept any and everything that a person dishes to you? No, of couse not. I am not saying this at all. I just received a word from the holy spirit. He says to "guard your heart above all things." The word can be found in Proverbs; "Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil." - Proverbs 4:23-27

Wow, I'm on a roll today! Glory to God cause' I just receive another word from the holy spirit. But let me finish the last verse with saying, when you guard your heart you are able to discern what to do in certain situations. When you keep your eyes straight ahead, you are only looking towards God and when you are looking towards him he is telling you what to do, how to react when you have someone in your life who is doing you wrong. They may be throwing "darts" at you or doing other things and God might say, "Go, down this road and turn here." The road he may be leading you down could be a road where this person may be taken out of your life for a specific season or reason in order for them to grow and develop or maybe a time for you to grow and develop also. If this happens, let it be because this is the time that you can use to pray for them and their shortcomings as well as yourself.

Okay, the next verse I just received is in Luke.

27"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.


I know this is hard to do but this is what God instructs and we both know that he knows wayyyyyy more than us and there is a reason he tells us to do this. After all, we were once enemies with him and he loved us FIRST so why wouldn't this principal follow in our lives? Maybe I will expand on this more next week cause' this is hard for a lot of people to do.


Last verse I received, "All things work together for the good of those who LOVE God and are called according to his purpose." No matter what happens things are going to work out good for you if you love God. I'm not talking about religion, I'm talking about relationship; attempting to show your love for him by obeying his commandments, spending time with him, etc. When you show your love for God, he is going to tell you what to do and how to do it. When you pray, have an open ear and listen for his sheep know his voice. He will tell you how to deal with the people in your life, whether through profound dreams, the holy spirit, his Word, other Christians, etc. And if you need patience, find and meditate on scriptures that speak about patience and he will show you how to deal with certain situations.

Be blessed sisters! Muahh!