Father, it is such a comfort to know You are always with me. My prayer is that I would move beyond just the knowledge into more active engagement with You –that I would hear You more readily and that I would feel more compelled to seek Your direction in all aspects of my life. Amen.

1 John 4:7-8 (<<click here)

Lord, as I read through the notes in my study Bible* it definitely makes me think. It says, “Everyone believes that lover is important, but love is usually thought of as a feeling. In reality, love is a choice and an action, as 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 shows.”

“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 loss faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

I have to let that sink in, Lord. It’s like putting on sunglasses on a bright and sunny day. Karen and I have talked about how they cool and relax your eyes. The glare and brilliance of everything seem so sharp and then with our shades on everything is more soft and smooth.

Love does that. Our world just glares with sharpness. It so often brings us pain and discomfort, but Your love changes all that. It’s not just some warm fuzzy feeling. We must choose to love and to act on that love. Leaving my shades in the console of my truck doesn’t help me deal with the glare of the sun – I have to put them on for them to do any good.

Lord, as I read through the 1 Corinthians and the 1 John passages again, I would ask that I would be more compelled throughout the moments of my life to choose love and once I have chosen love to put it into action. Basically, I want to be like You! I can have no better goal. Amen.

*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation

May 9th, Tue, 6:45 am