Amazing Love
Posted by Danielle Street on Jul 26, 2012 in Blog | 24 comments
Building a lasting relationship without love is impossible. Facing obstacles without love is hopeless. Trying to transform into strong, healthy, and mature individuals without God’s amazing love is out of the question.
This month I celebrated my birthday. Experiencing peace and joy as I turned one year older would have been unachievable without the power of love. I’m very thankful the Lord answered my prayer by surrounding me with people I adored on that special day.
The Bible encourages us, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” (Psalm 118:29). I’m continuously striving to grasp the depth of God’s perfect love and discover how to develop Christ-centered love in each of my relationships. When we open our hearts to our Creator’s extraordinary love, I’m learning we will enjoy His presence and yearn to change into the remarkable men/women He desires us to be. As our passion for Christ grows, we can allow Him to work through us and rely on His genuine love to pour out into our relationships with people.
Do you feel surrounded by God’s amazing love? What are you discovering about His love? How is the Lord encouraging you to practice it with others?
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I think a lot of us base our self-confidence on what other people think, so naturally we work hard at being loved and accepted. You know, we buy things, wear things, join things; all just for the benefit of trying to be loved and accepted by our friends, family, co-workers and peers.
But think about it, does God say we have to earn His love? Would we ever even be able to deserve it? Nooooo!
I like how Ephesians 1:3-6 says “How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.” (Message)
So the Bible says it straight up, God loves us. If we’ve accepted Jesus into our lives, then He loves us unconditionally. However, and this is a BIG however, just because we have God’s unconditional love doesn’t mean at any point that we shouldn’t strive for spiritual growth and have a constant desire to put away the “old man”. We need to always be further developing our relationship with Him, and nurturing our need to become closer to Him through Jesus His son.
We’re never going to get the ultimate love from everyone as we wish we could. But really, we don’t even need it because we are loved by God. We don’t need their approval to be happy. Galatians 1:10 says, “Am i now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” So we only to win the approval of one perfect being, and thank goodness we already have His love!
Josh, thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts on what you are learning about love. I love how you reminded us to focus on pleasing the Lord instead of people. While people may let us down, God’s love is perfect, unconditional, and never fails. Excellent verses you shared, too. May we all build a genuine, deep love with our amazing Heavenly Father and continue to look to His promises!
Daily I rely on The Lord’s Unfailing Love. Unfailing Love is described quite often through the Psalms. To trust in the Lord’s Unfailing Love is to understand and realize that no matter what happens in one’s live, the Lord can always be trusted for a great outcome even during difficult times. He always promises to provide, protect and never fail us. He loves us with an everlasting love. “The Lord is faithful toall his promises and loving toward all he has made”. Psalm 145:13, “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.” Psalm 143:8 “Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him”. Psalm 32:10
Hi Ann, thank you for posting these thoughts about God’s love. What a great reminder! I love those verses you shared in Psalms. May we all trust in God’s unfailing love and promises no matter what we are going through in our lives!
Danielle, It was so wonderful to receive your Very Uplifting msg in my inbox this a.m. Agappe Love and Not Perfectionism in our homes and in ALL of our Relationships is such a wonderful gift from God. Even in our difficult relationships, God’s Grace will bring us Through them, one day at a time IF we show Agappe Love towards ALL others in our lives without FEAR. Lots of women live in FEAR and that needs to be healed with us reaching out to ALL others with God’s Agappe Love. HE will be glorified in all of our relationships. What a Wonderful Love God HAS for ALL of us. Thank you, Danielle for such a wonderful love msg this a.m.
Hi Susan, I’m so glad that the message I was led to write was uplifting to you. Thank you for letting me know. I’ve been praying a great deal that it would touch people’s lives. You brought up an interesting point about fear. You’re right. God’s perfect love can bring freedom to those who live in bondage and fear. Thank you for reminding us that agape love is a wonderful gift from God.
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (I John 4:18).
Hi Danielle,
Thanks for this timely word. I really needed to be reminded of God’s unconditional love and how without recognizing His love, relationships and circumstances will feel empty and meaningless. It really was perfect timing for what I’m dealing with right now.
And thanks to Josh and Ann and Susan, too, for your words and scripture reminders of the same thing. It all was very encouraging.
Sometimes it’s hard to “feel” that love, though…I don’t like that. I wish I felt it all the time. I know what I’m asking God for after I get off of this computer.
Thanks everyone.
Hi Meghan, I agree. Sometimes it’s hard to “feel” that love especially when we are experiencing pain. When I was praying and asking God to guide me in writing this next blog entry, I was amazed at how many verses are in the Bible about love. I thought, “God knew we would frequently need to be reminded of His love here on earth!” Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I always learn so much from you and what God is teaching you in your life.
“neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
What are you discovering about His love?
Very Good Questions, Danielle
What am I discovering about God’s Love?
Well, His Love is undeniable, unfailing and has no conditions
My love may deny, may fail and is not always unconditional
BUT when I surrender my feeelings and my life over to God’s will and direction, when I follow His directions through drawing near to Him and His Word then I stretch and grow filling my life with His Peace
Sounds great, right? But oh so hard to stay in “HIS mature love” – I’m still taking baby steps and stumbling – I’m not giving up and I stumble along as He fills my life with His Grace
God Bless
Hey Susie! I loved reading your comment. I’m guilty of stumbling many times, too. Thank you for reminding us to turn to God’s unfailing, unconditional love and let Him direct our paths.
“May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God” (Ephesians 3:19).
Love your website. It’s always nice to find another part of my Christian family! I grew up in church, and got saved as a child, although I struggled through my life. Several years ago, I sat down and realized that I loved what I knew about the Lord, but wasn’t ‘in love’. And this is why my walk with Him was so difficult. Even though God knew already, He wants us to be real with Him. So I sat down and told Him, and then I asked Him to help me fall in love with Him. This can be hard because we associate love with what we see, hear, touch, feel, and all of those wonderful things. One day, while looking out of my window praying, and it was a still day, no wind at all…a breeze blew in and wrapped itself around me; though this was no normal breeze. It had this smell that I can’t describe except to say ‘fresh’ and the feeling was beyond ordinary. To me, it was the gentle wind of the Holy Spirit..the Lord saying, “I can touch you!” Since then, no matter what heartaches I face, it’s easier because I am so in love with Him. I find I want to please Him more, and spend more quality time with Him. Instead of talking “to” Him, I talk “with” Him…and He does talk back! How great is His Amazing Love! I hope you might stop by and visit my website sometime..I enjoy yours, and I’m sure you might find some articles you enjoy too! God bless you! -Lyn
Wow! Praise God! Powerful story and message, Lyn! I’m so happy you shared this. It encourages others to fall “in love” with our amazing Savior. I grew up in a Christian home and it took me a long time to understand what it meant to truly love God and build a deeper relationship with Him. I look forward to checking out your website and learning more about what God is doing in your life. Thank you!
Intellectually I know, believe in and trust in God’s inexhaustible love, but my behavior does not always line up with my stated belief. When I worry, fear, or doubt I am behaving like someone who is not secure in the Father’s love. So, I am learning (or at least trying to learn!) to live in the love of God along with knowing the love of God.
Thanks for promting me to think this through, Danielle.
Judy
Hi Judy, I love how you explained that our behavior needs to line up with what we say. I agree. We can keep saying we love God, but our actions and responses to situations will reveal what we truly believe. Thank you so much for posting your thoughts!
Recently I’ve been learning about how to love those who can’t give me anything in return. After all, Jesus didn’t always receive things from the people he healed — not even a thank you! As I study God’s unbounded expressions of love towards people in the Bible and towards me, I can’t help but let that love transfer to my interactions with others.
What a fantastic goal to have, Aimee! Often our motives or intentions for trying to show love include expectations for something in return. I love that you mentioned we have Jesus as the perfect example on how to display love. I pray that the Lord will continue to give you the strength to show Christ-centered love towards others.
“Love one another… (John 13:34-35).
My love towards others has required a lot more patient lately. I have a special needs sister who is unaware of her mood swings, which makes it impossible to reach her at times. She sometimes has a discipline problem which literally makes me want to run the other way. To make it even more frustrating, our mother and I have different views on how to approach the matter. I am not my sister’s mother, but I understand by watching my mother, she can love my special needs sister in her most awful moments. I often see her (our mother) as an enabler, but when I see the tears flow from her face, I can grasp the pain and see the patience it takes her to deal with these mood swings of my somewhat delicate sister.
I may not be mentally handy-capped like my sister, but perhaps at times I can be spiritually handy-capped with God. I feel that there have been times where I have not prayed over decisions, and others where I, like a spoiled child, all but had a fit over how things were not going my way. Then I remember my sister with my mother; how she behaves in a manner that frustrates me. How they both do!
I began to realize that this is what I have done with God. I have asked for things and without waiting for an answer, impatiently taken what I thought I needed. God is a forgiving God. He is patient and loving and forgiving. Instead of approaching things in frustration, I am learning to take the God approach in patience (a virtue I use to pride myself on, but God showed me I still have so much more to learn).
Though it can be difficult dealing with a special needs sibling who acts out, I have always loved her for her. God is like this with us all the time, though He wants for us to grow. He loves us for us. His love is free, but sometimes we are defiant and very undeserving. Nonetheless, God loves us and blesses us abundantly over and over again, because He is good.
As I watch my mother and sister, I imagine how I can better serve, not only my sister, but my mother as she patiently works at being a great mother to her. Everything my mother does for my sister is in love. Discipline and sternness…well that is a completely different subject! But love? Love never fails.
Ana,
I admire your desire to love your sister who has special needs as well as your mother who has different needs. God has taught you a great deal about love in these two relationships. Through your writing, I notice you love your mother and sister because you recognize each of their strengths as well as their weaknesses. Through your frustrations with their weaknesses, I love how you are listening to what the Lord is teaching you in your own life. Thank you for being so real and honest in your testimony. It’s not easy admitting to areas we need to grow. I am so thankful for a loving and forgiving God. I pray that you continue to become the mighty woman He wants you to be! May you also continue to write and record what you are learning in your relationship with God and others!
God’s love is so great and available but I often forfeit the joy and satisfaction it brings by taking my eyes off its prize and focusing my gaze on things of this world. As a blogger wrote, God’s love wraps around us like a satisfying and cool breeze and gives comfort, confidence and peace where there was none. Why I think anything/one on this earth could ever compare?… Beats me! I do know how easy it is to become undisciplined in my daily walk with Him. Allowing the patterns and routines of life to slowly germinate and overgrow the path toward spiritual maturity is a common error/struggle for many believers, however, this year is different. This is the year, by God’s grace, I purpose to be more disciplined and committed to the voice of God in my life. I want to use my time wisely for Him and better understand His love for me. I want to grow and learn ( regardless of consequence) to share His love with others. Still a work in progress for sure… Thankful God’s love will never run out!!!
Hey Marcus,
Amen! Thank you so much for adding your thoughts. I always learn a lot from what God is teaching you in your life! I agree. It’s very easy to get caught up with our patterns and routines of life which can take our eyes off of Christ and our spiritual growth. We are all still a work in progress. I admire your determination to make this year different. Praise God! May you rely on God’s promises and love as you try to fulfill this goal! I leave you with one of my favorite verses…
“And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God” (Ephesians 3:17-19).
I am constantly amazed by God’s unconditional love. It’ sobering to evaluate how as a human, without even knowing it, I measure love. When those close to me hurt me, my head says, “that’s it, I’m done” but then the Holy Spirit reminds me daily of God’s amazing and perfect love. I am reminded of the times, I ignored God, behaved in a less then God honoring way, in short, Failed. My Savior does not measure by man’s standard (Praise God) and he expects nothing less from me. His love empowers me to show Grace and Love towards those around me who can at times be “unlovable”
Hi Karen,
Beautifully written! I can relate to a lot of what you wrote. Loving the unlovable is not easy. I often want to quit and give up when I’m hurt in a relationship. You’re right. If we listen to the Lord speak to us, then He will remind us of His unfailing love when we experience pain from people. Then when we continuously become filled with the Spirit, we can rely on Him to show us exactly how to respond to individuals with Christ-centered love.
Good post. God is LOVE.
Thanks, Dicky. Amen! “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them” (I John 4:16).