It's amazing that when you allow God to speak to you and challenge you in the areas that needs improvement, He is so faithful to give you the understanding and strength to learn how to walk it out. As you've been reading the biggest lesson I'm learning is how to love people. Not just my boyfriend, not just my family, but EVERYONE. Holy crap it is not easy, but I'm looking at myself and watching the transformation happening and there is no other explanation except for God.
Recently there was an incident where God changed my heart towards a person who I have really been struggling to love for a couple years now. We have very different mindsets and ways of doing things and I've let that get to me so much! It attacked so much of me that I just could not see the good in this person and really struggled to get along with them. Then there was a night when they were talking and immediately my mind shut down into the "criticize" mode and a second later my spirit said "NO Sarah! Find the good!" When I allowed myself to do that, there was a total change in my heart. The way I saw the person was in a whole new light. There was truth in their words, and I was able to pull that out unbiasedly. I know that it wasn't me who was able to do this. It was my choice to change my thoughts but it was the Holy Spirit who opened my eyes to see this individual as just that, an individual.
Love is not associating with someone because our beliefs and thought process's are just like mine. Love is being able to be around that person and love them despite your differences. Jesus hung out with the thieves, adulterers, and all those people who He didn't agree with. They're choices and thoughts and life styles totally went against everything He stood for but He didn't let that affect His love for them. He loved them with eyes that saw past their differences and that's how transformation in their lives was able to happen. Love is unconditional. As soon as we put conditions on it, it's no longer love.
"Show me how to love like you have loved me!" was a prayer that I sang out with all my heart once, God is faithful to answer it!
This was such an inspiring post, and something that I desperately needed to hear! Thank you :) It's funny how God often uses other people to speak truth into our lives. Hope you see you again soon!! Coffee date?
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