Healing Power of Love
Posted by Danielle Street on Jan 29, 2013 in Blog | 34 comments
It takes a tremendous amount of strength to change. As a result, the transformation process requires God’s unconditional love as well as the compassion from brothers and sisters in Christ who will care, support, and encourage us.
Recently my husband’s uncle received a heart transplant. Through the prayers and love from many people, he gained courage to undergo the surgery and perseverance to endure the pain. I was reminded that growing both emotionally and spiritually involves continuously learning how to give and receive love. The Bible is filled with numerous, beautiful verses that teach us love is essential for maturity. If we meditate on scripture and make the commitment to grow, I’ve discovered God will use us to make an incredible difference in this world and it will always include the healing power of love.
“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us” (I John 4:11-12).
What has God taught you about love? How has the power of love helped you physically, emotionally, or spiritually?
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Danielle,
What I’ve noticed is that many times people who are hurting and need hope/healing/change the most are the very ones who aren’t open to love and kindness. I call them porcupines because they will only allow people to get so close before they scare them off or hurt them. This is a protective reflex.
I’d say that the sweetest encouragement we can offer our friends who are lost, suffering or “stuck” is to take one tiny risk of opening the door to give and receive love. So scary…but so little to lose and SOOO much to gain as God will reveal Himself extravgantly when we crack our hearts open even a sliver.
Thanks for your wonderful words!
That’s true, Diane. I admit I’ve acted like a porcupine at times when I needed help! Thank you for encouraging us to open our hearts to receive love. “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).
As always Danielle, your graceful words are encouraging and gently push us to take the steps of faith needed to grow. Yes LOVE, Gods love is the ulultimately ointment needed to heal the wounds and bring us to the place of maturity in Christ. The best part is we are never far from His love- for NOTHING can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38)!!
Thank you for always being obedient to what God is inspiring you to share and write!!
Thank you, Elisa. I’m so happy you posted your thoughts on the topic. I always learn so much from what God is teaching you on your spiritual journey. Thank you for reminding us that the Bible says nothing can separate us from God’s unfailing, unchanging, and unconditional love! Amen!
God has taught me about showing love to people I love, when they are behaving badly
. He’s made me aware of the stark difference between responding in anger or seeing through the behavior from His perspective.
Thank you for this post Danielle. Also, the picture with this post is beautiful!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Krista! You brought up a great point. I admit it’s not easy loving someone when they acting in an unloving way. I love what God taught you about not responding in anger, but trying to have an eternal perspective on the situation. May we all remember to look to Christ on how He loved others!
danielle,
thanks for the reminder of how much scripture speaks of love – love is IT. i think of 1 john 4:18 “perfect love drives out fear”, matthew 22, the first commandment is to “love the Lord your God” and the second is to “love your neighbor as yourself”…”love never fails”….how great to be given such a singular focus in a complicated world. challenging for me to keep the focus for sure though!
Fantastic verses, Lindsay! There are so many verses in the Bible about love. I’m so glad you mentioned more! The world can often confuse us on the definition of perfect love. I pray that we will continue to look to our Perfect Heavenly Father and allow Him to teach us how to give and receive love.
Here is a song we sing in choir. I like what it says about God’s love.
God so loved the world
Author: John Stainer (1840-1901)
God so loved the world.
God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoso believeth, believeth in Him
should not perish, should not perish
but have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world.
God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through Him might be saved.
God so loved the world.
God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoso believeth, believeth in Him
should not perish, should not perish
but have everlasting life,
everlasting life, everlasting, everlasting life.
God so loved the world.
God so loved the world.
God so loved the world.
Great song! Thank you for posting it on here, Sky! I recognize the words from the verse in John 3:16. I love how the song repeats the words, “God so loved the world.” I think we all need to be continuously reminded of that!
Ok so, I read the title to this blog and immediately my favorite movie of all time came to mind, Back to the Future. If you are a Back to the Future fan then you know why. Hewey Lewis and the News wrote the famous song for the movie called The Power of Love. And yes, I am humming the song as I write this. Ha Ha! But it describes how powerful love is with verses like;
“The power of love is a curious thing,
Make a one man weep, make another man sing,
Change a hawk to a little white dove,
More than a feeling that’s the power of love…”
However, at the end of the course it says, “But it might just save your life,
that’s the power of love!” How true that really is, even though it’s true in a different sense than Hewey Lewis probably intended. Only through love could Jesus climb onto a splintered cross to be nailed and tortured for each and every one of us. He allowed His body to be broken, allowed Himself to be spit upon, and allowed Himself to die, all out of love for us. That’s pretty incredible and so much more than just a fluttery emotion. Knowing love enabled Him to do that, I walk away with the knowledge that when I follow Christ’s example and practice true love, I can change lives. We have the power of love, God’s love, to effect change on everyone we encounter each day.
Josh, Thank you for posting the thoughts that came to your mind after reading my blog! I know that song you mentioned, but I never took the time to really listen to the words. Wow! Thank you for reminding us how Jesus Christ demonstrate His perfect love for us. Amen! “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (I John 4:11).
Thanks Danielle, here goes my first post.
So many great verses were mentioned above that directly speak of God’s love. Whats neat is that there are so many more verses that portray his love for us that do not use the word love. When Jen and I got married one of our favorite verses together is Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Looking back at this verse it just radiates His love.
At times we have all faced situations involving kids, marriage, family, careers, life that makes look up and ask God, why did this happen? When you are able to step away from these typical thoughts that Satan puts in our minds to distract us, you quickly realize that God is in ultimately in control. He says at the end of the verse, “plans to give you hope and a future”, but all to quickly we jump into the game of blaming God. If we take a minute and put this in the forefront of our thoughts, we will be able to see His love and His plan. Although at first it might us stretch and be uncomfortable we know that its God’s plan for us.
One of my favorite songs to listen to for when you go through those times that make you question God is by Casting Crowns – Praise You In This Storm. Just a reminder that He is always there even during the storms of life.
Thank you for posting a comment and sharing what God has taught you, David. Excellent points you brought up. I’m very glad that you wrote, “there are so many more verses that portray His love for us that do not use the word love.” It reminded me how many people refer to the Bible as God’s love letter to us! Jeremiah 29:11 is an awesome verse. I’ve learned we can demonstrate love for God by trusting Him with our future. The Lord has shown me over and over again in life that His plan is much better than mine! Great song you mentioned by Casting Crowns. Sometimes we don’t “feel” loved when we are going through a storm. However, we can praise and rejoice because God promises to “never leave us, nor forsake us” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
Great verse, Dave. That’s one of my favorites as well!
NOTHING transforms people faster and deeper than LOVE.
Selfless Love is irresistable. If we love someone the way Jesus loves us, he/she won’t be able to resist it that long.
Let’s be genuine lovers. Let’s not be too quick to criticise. Because love covers multitude of sins!
Amen! I agree, Pastor Surya. Thank you for posting these powerful words here and motivating us to love God and one another! “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8).
Amen
Danielle,
I see the healing power of love flowing out of FAC every other friday night from a group called Snow Den:).
Special needs adults 18 and up meet together to hang out with friends and the volunteers. It’s a night of connecting, hugging, serving, encouragement, and laughter. There are many needs going on in the group but the connections with each other, the love and friendships bring healing in many ways to everyone involved. Parents often comment on how impacting the night is for their son or daughter and for themselves. The love shown gives the parents and caretakers a healing break of their own.
My Larisa was born with down syndrome almost 18 years ago and has taught me so much. It’s a tug at a mother’s heart from the day a special needs child is born for them to have acceptance, love, and a purpose in life. Things we all desire yet for them it’s a larger issue. During the younger years it can be easier to have connections but teenage years and adult years are different. Having places for Larisa to have friends who are so excited to hang out with her and love her unconditionally bring~ emotionally healing.
Like you mentioned Danielle ~ love gives “courage and strength to persevere” and for many of these adults with the challenges they face daily, the love shown at snow den can be emotionally and sometimes physically healing for them.
Watching my oldest daughter Leah and her husband Matt run the group is an added blessing to my heart personally. What God has accomplished in our family by giving us Larisa is amazing. My heart of despair after hearing the diagnosis of having a special needs child has become a heart full and overflowing because of God’s amazing love ~ spiritual healing:).
Snow Den is a beautiful ministry of loving special needs adults and teaching them to “hope in His steadfast love” ~ Psalm 147:11
Thank you for sharing those beautiful words, Michele. I’m very happy I get to be a part of creating an article about SNOW Den for FAC’s Connection. I love how you explained the way the ministry provides love, encouragement, and support for numerous people. You have a powerful “God at work” story and I’m so glad that SNOW Den is place where Larisa and many others can receive Christ-centered love. I admire the leadership roles Leah and Matt took on in this wonderful ministry, too. May you and your family continue to be a testimony of God’s amazing love!
Great post, Danielle!
As I wrote in my New Year’s Resolution post, I committed to reading the following passage every day before reading the Bible and look for how it applies – “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ “The second is this, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)
It’s really changed how I read God’s word; I’m discovering that virtually the whole Bible is about loving God and loving others. God is love!
Thanks, Bill! That’s fantastic! I truly enjoy following what God has been doing in your life. What a great goal you’ve committed to doing this year!
“…God is love” (I John 4:8)!
Danielle,
Thanks so much for bringing us all together! As always, I love to see how God moves in people’s lives especially God’s Love!!! I can totally relate to everything that has been posted…… It’s beautiful to see how we are connected. Praise God!
One of my favorite verses is “We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19.
I’m so glad you joined in on the discussion and added your thoughts, Ann! Excellent verse you shared! Thank you for letting us know you can relate to what’s been posted. I pray that my blog continues to be a place where we can read and write about how God is moving in people’s lives.
Definitely! And the story Pam shared below is so beautiful….. Thanks Pam for bringing us into your heart and sharing such a amazing experience
Danielle, your blogs are thought provoking and I’ve been spending so much more time with God–mediating on how His Love grounds my life…… Thanks again!!!
Pam’s story that she recently added below is very beautiful! I agree, Ann! It brings me great joy to know that the Lord is using my blog to touch people’s lives. May you and others continue to rely on God’s amazing, unchanging, unfailing, perfect 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 is” (Ephesians 3:18).
Hi Danielle,
Thank you so much for encouraging me to share! The healing power of love was never, ever more evident to me than when I had the privilege and opportunity to go on a Missions trip to Camp South Africa with FAC. The healing power of the love of Jesus absolutely and totally transforms lives and gives a hope that is supernatural. The circumstances in the lives of the children at camp may not change but souls are saved, spirits renewed and hearts transformed through the healing that takes place when a child understands that Jesus loves them and they are safe in His arms. We can share the love of Jesus and demonstrate that love by loving on others and then showing them through the love we demonstrate that Jesus can bring healing to their precious hearts and their souls. The children would dance and sing and smile and be filled with joy as they worshipped Jesus and felt the healing power of being loved! Just to know that someone cared and paid attention to them and believed in them was life changing. The healing power of love was demonstrated by Jesus death on the cross and now that we have that love poured into us, we are called to share it wherever God is leading us. There are three things that remain — faith, hope, and love — and the greatest of these is love. I find that as we reach out and love others, God also heals those broken places in our own hearts and fills them with His love. What an amazing God we serve and love!!
Pam, your beautiful story is proof that God’s love never fails! Praise God! It also reminds us that no matter what age we are or what country we are from God loves us. I truly admire how you were willing to follow God’s call and allow Him to use you to meet the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of the children at Camp South Africa. You helped spread the good news and encouraged more people in this world to experience the healing power of love! Yay! “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (I Corinthians 13:13).
Danielle,
I’ve seen the result of no love in the children of Cape Town, South Africa. There is no one to believe in them, encourage them, show them how they should live according to God’s Word. They are lost and desperate for the hope and love of Christ. When we go into a township they come running. They flock to us, they want to be held, any affection at all is craved because they are so void of it. It is a completely open door to share the love of Christ with these children who have nothing and no one to care for them. Jesus makes all the difference.
There is one boy in particular, named Jermaine, who was a street kid. He came to the very first camp they had there and Jesus got a hold of his hardened heart. He is now a counselor in the very same ministry that changed his life. He is full of the joy of the Lord and Jesus’ love just overflows from him to all he comes in contact with. It’s the perfect picture of how sharing Jesus love changes a person from the inside out. He is now a 22 year old who is serving as the pastor of his township and has earned the respect to be able to share his faith with the people in his community. Talk about maturity!!
Love Never Fails!!
Tammy, I’m so happy you and many others noticed the needs in the children of South Africa and desire to show them Christ-centered love. I love how God used the ministry and worked in Jermaine’s heart! I agree that it’s a “perfect picture of how sharing Jesus love changes a person from the inside out.” It’s amazing how this young adult’s faith grew and His love for Christ deepened. As a result, God is using Him in a powerful way as a counselor and Pastor now! Wow!
Thanks for posting, Danielle! It’s been amazing to see God’s love through our uncle’s heart transplant. Not so long ago, the idea of being given a second chance, in that way, would have seemed impossible. God is so good.
When it comes to love, the verse that comes to my mind is Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
It’s hard to understand why God would chose to love us, even through all of the mistakes we make. We sin day after day, but I know God still loves each of us, and is always ready to forgive when we ask Him to! The older I get, the more I see His amazing love!
The greatest way He showed His love was through Jesus dying in our place! God, in flesh, came to earth to die. I’m so thankful for His sacrifice, so we can have salvation through faith and repentance. Those who repent and truly believe will be with God one day.
Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Hi Diane! I love what you wrote. You reminded us again just how amazing God’s love is. I’m so thankful our Heavenly Father is loving, forgiving, and merciful. I agree the greatest way He showed our love for us is by sending His Son to die on the cross for our sins. Excellent verses you mentioned that remind us to accept the free gift of salvation! “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
Love is the only thing that we carry with us into the next age. Love heals, empowers, strengthens and makes us secure. Jesus commanded us to love him completely, love ourselves and to love others. It’s a big deal. The love of God is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. We must intentionally seek for a daily infilling of God’s spirit in order to grow in love. As we consistently create space for Him, he will increase our capacity to love. As we become more perfected in God’s love, he will remove every trace of fear in our life. This liberates us to freely give and receive love! Thank you for posting this Danielle!
Wow! Amen!! Thank you, Theresa, for that powerful reminder. I love how you explained we need to be continuously filled and controlled by the Spirit and He will increase our capacity to love. I agree that this is a something we need to do everyday. May we all remember to make room in our hearts for the Spirit and be perfected in God’s amazing love!