Tuesday, August 26, 2014 we are dealing with 'Love'. How's it going? I wrote this devotional and today I must be honest and tell all of you that I stumbled while reading. It's amazing how one can write a book, a blog, or an article and return to read it days or months later and get slapped in the face. I am humbled by my own written words. I must yell out, "OUCH!"
I encourage you to write a love letter to yourself as instructed in the section "Walk it out." Put it in an envelope, take it to the post office and mail the letter to yourself. Once it arrives do not open it. Wait until a time you are stressed, weary, worried, feel hopeless, or not loved. At that moment grab the envelope and read your love letter. Trust me it will give you new insight and perspective.
Love is sacrifice. It's about letting some things go.
Here's what I (Gail Dudley) plan to sacrifice ~ I plan to sacrifice my wants and allow the Lord to have His way in my life. Yes, I'm letting go. You? What do you plan to sacrifice?
I am letting go of myself as well. I get in my own way all of the time. If I would just listen.... It amazes me how many times God says distraction (a man)and I think that I that I can handle it, like I won't be distracted. It is now that realize how self absorbed I am with me and not with the Love of God.
ReplyDeleteI read and re-read, the devotional on Love, I cried as I read the words! Allowing myself to fully receive Gods love, wow...I honestly, wonder if I have ever done that... Is my view of love tainted? Do I think I always have to give God something or behave a certain way to receive His love? Has my view of love been shaped by past experiences or even by what I have been told or heard love preached as? Is my love of God based on what others say it should be? These were all the questions that have been going through my mind since reading todays devotional. Transparent Moments; took me to a whole new dimension today, transparency in my love relationships! There was so much Holy Spirit spoke to me today through this devotional, I am overwhelmed. Mareesha, Birmingham, England
ReplyDeleteI have tried to write this three times today hit home for me. Love is and has been a touchy subject see I was that person that did not love herself and felt that one truly loved me. Emotions tried to take over as I read the devotional and I had to stop and pray and allow the Holy Spirit to take over. Funny thing is what was shown to me is that is a wound that still needs some work.
ReplyDeleteI haven't finished writing my love letter to myself yet see how can I love myself and treat myself the way I do. I am going to sacrifice wasted time I waste so much time on things that are not necessarily bad things but take away time I could spend in prayer or reading my word I take better care of my virtual farm than I do my home.
ReplyDeleteHow many times did I sing the words, "My life is not my own, to You I belong, I give myself, I give myself to you." Several, now I am living in the presence of The Lord daily through increase prayer life, my bible study participation, and now Transparent Moments devotional. Day 3 taught us that we are to give up ourselves for the LOVE of another. It says Love is a sacrifice and that it surly is. But the experiences I have had, opportunities given to me, and the connection I have had over these three days is hard to explain, but such an amazing feeling. I have given up entertainment that takes time away from me being a wife, a friend, a mentor. The entertainment that consumes my time with Zero added value. Doing this has allowed me to be more available to God and do as He needs me to do.
ReplyDeleteOkay... This one LOVE hit’s close to home. I can really relate to much of this. In my opinion Love is one of those things that can either lift you up or tear you down. There are a lot of mixed emotions encapsulated within those 4 little letters. This one is Definitely going to take some revisiting and soul searching...Will be more than a day read for sure. This is where I need to dig deep with all my being.
ReplyDeleteThis quote from the reading stands out to me. “ Love is not what you feel. Love is what you do - sometimes in spite of what You’re feeling!” WOW!!! That’s Powerful.
It is so easy to say I Love You! That’s easy right. However, it is difficult to show it. Especially when some People are difficult to love. I long to be more like Jesus. I do. I want to be delivered and set free. However, It is hard for me to reach out to someone else... When I don’t quite have it together myself.
I think about “You Paid it All” by Wes Morgan... Brings me to tears every time I hear it. I keep thinking about the Ultimate sacrifice God made and I feel that I fall short in giving back to Him. I so need to spend that quality time with Him, I need to dig deeper in His word. I plan to take a step back... put away the distractions and invest some quiet time alone with the Lord.
This is what will be included in my letter to God!
Lord “ Here is my Heart, my Mind, my Life, my Everything!
Take it... It’s Yours! I Rededicate my Love to You!”
Please open up my heart to allow me to love the people
in my life/circle that are sometimes difficult to love. Including myself. Make me Better, so that I can invest in someone else!