Today’s Bible Verse

So this is my command: Love each other deeply, as much as I have loved you.

John 15:12 (TPT)

Loved Back to Life

In the verse above, Jesus says it so simply—love each other the same way He loved us. Sometimes we may think it is impossible to love the way Jesus does, but on the contrary; it is very possible. We have the Holy Spirit, and because He dwells in us, He can work through us. But how does the love of God look when we live it out in our lives? 

I remember a season in my life when I had made a conscious decision to turn from the things of God. I had a word spoken over me by three pastors, on three different occasions, within one week, and they all said the same thing about my future in ministry. I was so nervous about what they said and even more afraid of the responsibility. I tried to run as far as I could because at the time, I did not know it wasn’t me but the Holy Spirit who would work through me; I just had to be a willing vessel to be used. 

I found myself going my own way and doing my own thing. Although I was married with two children, I was more focused on my career goals and my fleshly desires. Nothing else mattered. In this season, although I could hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, I ignored Him many times. My marriage got to a place where it really needed help, and I finally agreed with my husband to speak with a Pastor at Word of Life. 

I already had an assumption of what the Pastor would say: she’d tell me I’m wrong, tell me I’m not living my life according to the Word, tell me I was in sin.  But with these assumptions, I went to speak with her anyway. I had the hardest heart ever, and I went into that meeting with a certain attitude towards her. To my surprise, she just listened to me. She didn’t condemn me; she didn’t point out my faults, my very obvious wrongs; she just listened. She gave me some guidance and recommended that I pray, to which I let her know I would not be doing that. At the end of our meeting, she prayed for me. She and her husband met with my husband and me a few times after that meeting. 

In that season, I remember feeling like every time I walked in the church, people were being nice to my face but talked about my grave sin behind my back. Lies in my mind had me believing that everyone knew my dirt, and everyone was talking about it. In actuality, no one had a clue what was taking place; it was just an attack of the enemy on my mind to convince me not to show up. Because of these feelings, I would make sure to quietly slip in and out of church, attempting to avoid any and all communication with anyone. While this continued for quite some time, people at church still loved on me every single time I showed up. (Nicole Farmer)

Change My Story

It was the consistency of the prayers and love of God that I received through His children that helped my heart to heal. We are called to be an extension of this same type of love that was displayed on the Cross.  When we extend this love to others, we help foster an environment for healing to take place in the lives of those who God places in our path. 

Ask yourself: How can I be a conduit used by God to be an extension of His love?  How can I extend this love in the life of someone He puts on my heart or places in my path today? 

After you ask yourself this, make it a point to act in obedience to the Holy Spirit to be that conduit of the love of God today. 

Today’s Declaration

Today, I submit to You Holy Spirit, to be a conduit of the Word of God in the life of those you place on my heart or in my path today. I surrender my will and my comfort today to be used by You! 

Today’s Bible Reading

• Old Testament: 1 Kings 19-20; Psalms 119:89-96
• New Testament: Luke 4:13-30; Ephesians 6:1-9