Tough Love – Beloved Women – March 3, 2020
READ: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7 ESV)
TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: We often hear how we should love people. It’s the “right thing to do.” However, it’s not the easy thing to do. Depending on the amount you’ve been hurt, the level of betrayal, or your overall relationship with a person, you may find it impossible to genuinely love people from the heart.
I call this tough love.
Nonetheless, Jesus calls us to do it. I’ve often heard people say, “But you don’t know what they did to me.” If we are honest, people can do some downright heartbreaking things! Yet still, God says love your enemies and He knows EXACTLY what they’ve done to you.
Here’s what I’ve learned. The God-kind of love sees beyond the circumstance. The God kind-of-love is relentlessly kind, forgiving, genuine, and can overcome every obstacle. The God kind-of-love is gentle enough to move forward (when necessary) and pray always.
Today, I encourage you to ask the Lord for a heart to love when it's not easy. With prayer, you can love the most difficult person, not because you have to but because you want to. When in doubt, let love be your default setting.
PRAY: Lord, help me to love like You. Give me compassion for those who I see as difficult. Help me to view them as Your children and not a bother. Teach me ways to be intentional about those You’ve placed in my life. Use me to love people beyond what they feel they deserve. Teach me how to pray for them even when I hurt. Thank You, Lord, for using me as a vessel to share Your heart. In Jesus’ name, amen.
REFLECT: Do you struggle with loving people well?
SHARE: When in doubt, let love be your default setting.
CONNECT: Find more encouragement from Victoria at www.victoryspeaks.org and take a look at her book “The Victory Walk: A 21-Day Devotional On Living A Victorious Life.”
MAKE MORE TIME FOR GOD
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© 2020 by Victoria Riollano. All rights reserved.
For more Beloved encouragement including Daily Devotionals, practical advice for everyday Christian living, Bible Studies, and more be sure to visit us at www.belovedwomen.org.
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