February is the month for LOVE and I hope this month's blog empowers you to embrace and understand the Love of God, to learn the power of Loving yourself, and to Love Others.
LOVING GOD
Deuteronomy 6:5 says, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength. Jesus also repeats and labels this the most important commandment of all. The first step is to grow in the love of God with our minds, bodies, spirits and souls.
Loving Christ means realigning your thinking away from the things of the earth and focusing on eternal values. Examples of spiritually growing our minds is by “setting our minds on the things above, not on earthly things” (Col 3:2-3), and by “being transformed by the renewing of our minds” (Rom 12:2). Reading, memorizing and meditating on the word of God is essentially the path to “dwelling on whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, and whatever is commendable” as stated in Phil 4:8.
Our body, is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we therefore show our love for God by honoring God with our bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to the Lord. (1 Cor 6:19-20 and Rom 12:1). When we accept God into our lives, we enter into salvation and covenant and with God. By the power of God’s Holy Spirit, he leads, and guides us giving victories in our lives on our daily basis. Lastly, as our love for Christ grows deeper as our love for things of this would fades and all aspects of our soul is transformed to the rule and reign of Christ.
LOVING YOURSELF
By Jaclyn Durnil, MSW – Dec. 3, 2019
If you can learn to love yourself and all the flaws, you can love other people so much better. And that makes you so happy.” – Kristen Chenowith
Why is it so difficult to love ourselves?
Basically, the short answer to this question is that we were raised in a society that didn’t teach us about self-love. Looking in the mirror, most of us see a lot of different flaws and remember too many past experiences and failings to love ourselves. Self love is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Loving yourself provides you with self-confidence, self-worth, and in general, you feel more positive. If you can learn to love yourself, you will feel happier and will learn to take better care of yourself.
Unfortunately, self-love isn’t always easy.
Accepting the pain and allowing yourself to be honest with who you are is a big step to loving yourself. Forgive yourself for past actions and things you are ashamed of doing.
Carrying a lot of negative emotions like jealousy, disgust, and rage can have a negative impact. We need to learn how to accept not only the emotions that create love, joy, and happiness but also the ones that cause fear, insecurity, and anger in our lives.
Learning to love yourself leads to better self-care. Examples of this could be taking a break from time to time and accepting that no one is perfect and things happen.
Another example could be saying no to others when you really don’t have the time or energy to say yes. We often do too much for other people because we want to please everyone. We can forget to look after ourselves and then we become overwhelmed.
Today is the day you can love yourself completely with no expectations. Making the choice right now to choose your own love is the most powerful healing force you have.
LOVING OTHERS
"This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you” (John15:12) Loving One Another is doing life together with other believers such as, participating in a healthy small group.[2] (pg.84). “The second is this, love your neighbor as yourself, there is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:31). Love your is being a light and sharing the good news with your neighbors and praying for them.
God's love is a gift to us; it's in us, but we need to release it to others through words and actions. Honestly, The act of loving others is one of the most complicated things I had to do due to many past hurts, being taken advantage of and mistreated. That's why walking by faith and trusting the word of God is needed when he says in Matthew 5:44 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute
you; " Forgiveness my love, will be freedom for you, it's not for them but it's for you! Think of three people you know who could really use a gesture of God's love. Then think of creative ways you can express His love to these people—and do it! I guarantee you will feel a wonderful sense of fulfillment and joy afterward.
I hope that you loved this month's blog on Loving God, Loving Yourselves, and Loving Others Expand your heart and LOVE(Live Openheartedly Victoriously and Empowered).
Happy Valentines Day!!
