The Importance of Love

To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. – (Mark 12:33, NIV)

And you must love God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength. And you must love others the same as you love yourself. These commands are more important than all the animals and sacrifices we offer to God. – (Mark 12:33, ERV)

To love God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves are more important than any burnt offerings or sacrifice we could ever give. – (Mark 12:33, VOICE)

The most important things that we can do are love God and love people. No sacrifice or offering compares to the call to love. When we truly love those that God placed around us as we are loved by Him, His heart is made known and His love is evident to all. God’s love for us is not dependent on what we do, how we look, or the company we keep; He loves because we are His creation. Likewise, we are called to love others because they too, are His dearly loved created. The more we get to know God, the more we love Him and are able to see others through His eyes. We are an ongoing work in progress, yet the more we choose to love, the greater our capacity seems to grow. When we seek God to show us how to love, He shows us where love is absent and challenges us to give love in those spaces. Love is far more evident in action than simply in words. Those who have made me feel the most loved are the people whom God placed beside me to come alongside and walk through life together. They see my needs and seek to meet them, and give their time and attention when we are together. In today’s society, this can simply be setting phones aside and engaging in conversation and doing practical things. I’m not sure where I am going with this, other than pondering for myself, what are the ways that I can show love today? As we ask, He answers. May we ever seek the Lord to know Him more, and ask Him to lead us to love those around us as He loves each one of us.

Lord, help us love You,

with all that we are;

and love each other,

both those near and far.

Please show us the ways,

to make Your love known;

as practically,

Your kindness is shown.

With all of our strength,

our hearts and our minds;

may we love You well,

and to all, be kind.

Lead us, Lord Jesus,

to love as You do;

with words and actions,

that show Your heart true.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You show us simply and practically how to follow after You. Thank You that what matters most is that we love You and love people the way that You love us. Thank You that Your love is tangible and practical. Forgive us for the times that we neglect to love. Show us how to love in all things and at all times, and keep our eyes and hearts set on You and how You lead us to love. Grant us Your eyes to see and Your heart to understand how to love those around us as You do. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for who You are and how You love and call us to do likewise. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

We love because He first loved us. – 1 John 4:19

Perfect Peace

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You. – (Isaiah 26:3, NIV)

God, You give true peace to people who depend on You, to those who trust in You. – (Isaiah 26:3, ERV)

You will keep the peace, a perfect peace, for all who trust in You, for those who dedicate their hearts and minds to You. – (Isaiah 26:3, VOICE)

Perfect peace is not having complete calm around us, rather it is knowing His peace within us. The more we trust and rely on God, the more we know and experience His peace in all things and at all times. Whether it is health concerns, relational hiccups, struggles, strife, and more, God is able to provide His perfect peace in the midst of it, which allows us to navigate with confidence in knowing He is with us. The older I get, the more I recognize my need for God and His peace. Perhaps it is the state of the world today, or simply that I teach middle school and tweens get a bit chaotic, but the more I trust in Him, the more I feel His peace and presence, regardless of what goes on around me. God is good, even when our circumstances are not, and He is faithful to show us His nearness and flood our hearts with His perfect peace. May we ever seek the Lord to show us more of who He is and how He loves, for it is in knowing Him that we come to know and experience His perfect peace.

The peace of the Lord,

is perfect indeed;

His grace overwhelms,

the nearness we need.

When storms are raging,

around or within;

He brings His goodness,

as love enters in.

For in Him, we know,

His true perfect peace;

our Help and our Hope,

in love that won’t cease.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that In You, we can know perfect peace, no matter what is going on around us. Thank You that Your presence provides peace within. Forgive us for our frantic heart when we lose sight of You. Teach us to keep our heart and mind set on You, the One who knows our need better than we do. Show us how to love those around us well, so that we may be Your ambassadors of peace in places where peace is lacking. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for the peace that You provide with Your presence, and for Your strength and grace that guides us through all things. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13