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| ((image from: http://cristinahaines.blogspot.com/2012/03/four-greek-words-for-love.html) |
Over these past few months, I have been brought into a spiritually tugging, & immensely stretching growth-spirt, pertaining to spiritual things of the Lord. I have been brought down to making decisions & choices that impact not only me, but others around me & those around me which whom I love with an unending love. In these times of decision-making, I have wrestled through the following; will I remain obedient to what the Lord would have me to do, no matter what the sacrifice may be? My response after spending immense time seeking the Lord's will for my life in my prayer closet, and by waiting on Him, I have been brought to the conclusion indubitably of, yes, of course Father. In Philippians, Paul comes to this conclusion by stating:
"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;"
This song by Rend Collective called The Cost perfectly displays Paul's conclusion:
https://youtu.be/E2TxahqbSbU
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A few conclusions I have come to & feel led to share: 1) allowing & accepting the unconditional love the Lord possesses towards me (meaning for me, spending time praying to view myself & love myself as the Lord loves me), 2) God will NEVER leave nor forsake any of His children (stated in Hebrews 13:5), 3) the Lord's plans supersede anything I could have ever planned or desired for how I thought my life would unravel to be, 4) having faith the size of a mustard seed will truly move the mountains we see too high for us to reach on our own (Matthew 17:5), and 5) experiencing God's promises through agape.
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance defines 'agape', stemming from the Greek word agapao, as, "charity, love, benevolence..." (http://biblehub.com/greek/26.htm). 1 Corinthians 13:2 says, "...and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." (KJV)
Some may not know what true love is like. Not just saying the words, but truly putting them into action. Lately, I have been experiencing an abundance of agape, through blossoming friendships. I think it is precious that the Lord has shown me that I do not need a "relationship" (per se) to experience the fullness of God's love for me. God is all I need at this place in my life. Although my desire is ultimately relationship with the man God has for me, but I have chosen to abide in Christ's love for me waiting for the things the Lord is completing in me before that relationship. But meanwhile being blessed with fellowshipping with new, old friends, my brothers & sisters in Christ, family, & with whom the Lord has brought into my life.
Today, I am grateful for God's unending love for me. I am thankful for the friendships I have in my life right now which direct me back to the Lord when I'm in need of clarity or comfort, when I need sharpening, as iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17), pray for me when I am in need, and share clean laughter with.
My prayer for you is that you will accept the agape Our Father graciously gives to those who call upon His name, through His Son Jesus Christ.
May the Lord bless you & keep you,
Hannah
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