5 keys to a deeper love walk

Love. Just the word invokes thoughts of hearts and flowers, confused feelings, and warm hugs. I remember those notes in elementary school, “I love you. Do you love me? Yes or no?” It seems sad to me now that we had to wonder if we were loved. Shouldn’t love be obvious?

Jesus said that everyone will know that you are my disciples: if you have love with each other (John 13:35). The Amplified Bible describes it as ‘selfless concern for one another’. Jesus hoped that selfless love and concern would be evident among his followers. It is supposed to be the benchmark that distinguishes Christians from the rest of the world.

Unfortunately, it is not. We can’t seem to get along with our parents, siblings, co-workers, or the world at large. We have ‘problems’ with almost everyone and everything: the government, the person in line to pay who takes too long, the distracted driver who crosses too close to us, and the person who interrupts our plans with their problems. We complain about our government, our boss, our neighbor, and even our pastor. You could probably make a very long list if you thought about it. You could too.

However, love, God’s kind of love, is not confused feelings or happily ever after. It’s not a Hallmark movie with all the problems solved in two hours or less. Love is a choice, a commitment to live at all times and in all situations as God who is Love. The apostle Peter, perhaps the disciple who struggled the most with his motives and emotions, described it this way: For even to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, so that you may follow in his footsteps. (1 Peter 2:21).

Jesus showed God’s love throughout his earthly life, healing, providing, blessing, and forgiving. He did not back down from uncomfortable situations, he did not refuse to help those who asked him, and he never hesitated to do the Father’s will. He himself said: “I have come so that you may have life and have it in abundance!” (John 10:10). That is the desire of Love for everyone.

God wants you and me to live up to the standard set forth in I Corinthians 13, the Chapter of Love. You might wonder how it is possible to be so ‘loving’ with all the world’s problems. I’m glad you asked. Here are five keys to help you develop a deeper path of love.

Fill your spirit. – Pray … and desire that you be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual intelligence (Col. 1: 9). But the fruit of the spirit is love … (Galatians 5:22). You cannot emulate God if you do not know Him. You need to be connected to His heart by spending time with Him through prayer and His Word. You keep your car full of gas so you can go when and where you need it. You need to keep your spirit filled with the love and wisdom of God so that you are ready to dispense His love to the world around you.

Forget your feelings. – you will forget your misery, and you will remember it like the waters that pass (Job 11:16). It’s easy to get sucked into the world’s confusion, tension, dissension, and anger. They always have something to be upset or angry about. It’s harder to curb those negative emotions and remember to walk in love. Love does not gossip or encourage ill will. Love does not react to hurt feelings. Consider the feelings of others rather than your own. Feelings are fickle. Don’t trust them! Choose to give love in every situation.

Forgive every hurt. – Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who abuse and persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5: 44-45). Some of the last words that Jesus spoke on earth were towards his tormentors, when he said: “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” Forgiveness is a hallmark of walking in love. Love does not take into account the evil that is done to it. [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong] (I Cor. 13: 5 AMPC). When you put aside your hurts and give them to God, He can make all things work together for the better.

Take out the fear. – There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has torment. He who fears is not perfected in love (I John 4:18). Fear is the opposite of faith. It plunges you into anxiety and pain. When they told Jairus: “Your daughter is dead”, Jesus immediately responded by saying to him: “Do not fear, just believe!” Fear cancels faith, love, and God’s blessing. God works in the realm of faith. Don’t let fear take over you! Use the Word of God as a weapon (the Sword of the Spirit) to ward off all fear, anxiety and worry.

Flow with faith. – Faith works through love (Galatians 5: 6). The Bible says that love never fails, so if you stay in love, your faith won’t fail either. Faith is an abiding confidence that what God says in His Word is Truth. Faith casts all concern on Him, believing that He not only can, but will make testimonies of your tests. You can always respond with love because God has your back! He is looking for those who through faith and patience will receive his promises.

A deeper walk of love means a deeper commitment to the things of God. It requires faith and patience, knowing that Love is the Rule of the Kingdom. Grow in spirit; be quick to forgive. Don’t let the little hurts (or even the big ones) short-circuit the rewards of walking in love. Instead, believe His Word that promises that if you stay rooted and grounded in love, you will be filled with all the fullness of God Himself. Totally and completely filled with Love!