iShineInMinistry

Deuteronomy 6:5 (NKJV)

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner (two days, yay!) I have love on the brain and I bet you do too. Some of us may be thinking about someone we care about, perhaps a husband, best friend, parent, child, someone we disciple, a sibling or anyone else that means a lot to us. I know that we enjoy certain people because of their lovely qualities, character or if we are honest…some of the perks that come with being associated with them (ouch, but it’s true, let’s be real)! While this is the case a lot, we must remember that we are called to love, fully, sincerely, unconditionally and with a heart of mercy and grace. My question is…are we truly doing this? Are we even truly doing this with the Lord?

Let’s be honest here, we are such fair-weather people sometimes. When we get our way and the praise reports are coming in, we are all about feeling the love. However, when we see things turn south or disastrous due to our own actions or because of this sin-filled, fallen world, how does our perspective on love re-route? Are we quick to demand, get revenge, ignore, un-friend or do something else to assert ourselves and show that no one takes our love for granted? Are we quick to stop paying attention to the Lord as much? Do we even realize how much we take others’ love for granted ourselves? Do we mention how much we take God’s love, grace, mercy and loving-kindness for granted almost daily?

This Valentine’s Day, I want each of us to take a self-inventory of our hearts, our motives and our actions. Let’s ask God to search our hearts so that we can really show true, devoted love to Him and His people this week and all the days of our lives.

Psalm 139:23-24 (NKJV)

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

And see if there is any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting.