“LOVE”
The world has taken the word "love" and twisted it and misused it very much like the world has perverted sex. Remember it's God's creation and it all started with love. But to understand what love truly is, we need to look into the Word of God.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
So to perfect this LOVE you have to know this love.
You have to have Intimacy with Christ.
The apostle Paul perfectly expresses the purpose of every true follower of Christ:
"That I may know Christ"
Philippians 3:7-11
I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
"How can I have a personal relationship with God?"
While many people believe that God is real, many also believe that He is only "watching them from a distance" and has no real desire to know them personally.
Actually, God is very interested in you and desires for you to have a personal relationship with Him.
Psalm 139:17-18
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!
So how do you draw near to God in a daily relationship?
Here's 5 Ways:
1. Pray without ceasing.
Do you have a designated "prayer time" each day?
Do you pray while still lying in bed in the morning or during your daily drive. Maybe you routinely take a couple minutes each day or a few minutes before bed.
Having a designated prayer time has its place in the life of a Christian, but it can become a routine and can cause us to lose the sincerity of our intimate moments with God.
So try talking with Him throughout your day. Share your thoughts with Him while getting ready in the morning. Talk with him while you walk through your day. Ask Him to speak to you. Thank Him for the beautiful weather. Spend time alone with Him while you drive. Spend those same moments listening for Him to speak. Prayer can be simple. Challenge yourself to hold loving conversations with God all day long.
Any time you talk with someone honestly and openly, the results will always be a deeper relationship!
2. Go on a "God Watch".
Watch what God is doing around us and get involved in His work. Take a few days to watch God moving and working around you. Keep your eyes open for opportunities He creates for you to share the love of Christ with friends, family or strangers. When you adjust your will to God's will, and you do what He desires, He will use you in ways you never imagined! Matthew 7:7 says "...seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." If you look for Him, you will find Him working all around you. And when you get involved in what God is doing, it will draw you closer to Him.
3. Sing His praises!
The Psalms say that the Lord inhabits the praise of His people, so sing His praises and watch Him draw nearer to you! Spend some time everyday in praise and worship. While driving in your car, turn Klove on or put in your favorite worship CD, and intentionally lift up your voice to the Lord. For just those few moments, give Him your undivided attention.
Psalm 100:1-5
Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
4. Read His Word.
In order to deepen any relationship, you must get to know the other person.
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
So if you want to get to know Him, you must read His Word! Learn His likes and dislikes, His ways and His desires. Familiarize yourself with His promises and His principles.
Take a few moments each day and truly focus on the Word of God. As you read the scriptures, pray and ask Him to reveal Himself to you through His Word, and the Holy Spirit will help you to understand His Word. Then you will be able to apply his Word to your life and share it with others.
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you,' says the LORD. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
5. Show Him Some Love!
How do we love Christ? By keeping His commandments. It's that simple.
Matthew 22:37-39
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. 'This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
And no, its not always easy but what Christ did for us wasn't easy either! So reach out to your friends and family members. Volunteer in your community, your world.
There's no doubt about whether or not this will deepen your relationship with Christ. As a matter of fact,
John assures us it will.
"Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
James 4:8
Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
…”you sinners” we all are sinners
Romans 5:8
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
1 John 4:9
"God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him."
This process does not have to be difficult; it just has to be sincere and consistent. Each day, throughout the course of your day, give of yourself to Him, and just as the Word promises, He will respond and you will draw closer to God.
God desires a relationship with you.
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