Devotion to love

[HeIsEnough]

a little devotional on love


1 Corinthians 13

Love

1If I speak in the tongues[a (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20cor%2013&version=31#fen-NIV-28651a)] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.


8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.


13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
[B]Love is patient, love is kind.

Let me serve with a pure heart Father, let your lovingkindness flow through me to everyone Father.

Love is all in all. All fruit culminates in love, and starts in love. We love, because He loved us first. It is hard, when the world curses me, or coarse joking towards myself, to maintain composure and diffuse situations. Many people will come at you for no reason, just to get you to respond in kind. Maybe it is a way for them to make themselves feel better, hearing that you think or say the same things they do or think.

Love does not envy~

He gives me what I need, my hearts desire is for Him, teach me Jesus, Father.

We rejoice in good things for all, we are glad for their just blessing.
Practice graciousness, giving thanksgiving for the good which God gives. Some of this is our conscious choice, to remind ourselves that all is never lost. There is always hope and help in our God. Even when we come close to God, we are not immune. We can envy those who seem closer to God. This is not good, and can send us spiraling down very quickly. Give honor with respect and authority to those who are closer, in that way we may guard our heart from envy or jealousy. Even when we sin, we are quick to repent and draw close to Him.

selah Lord, it is our earnest to desire to not sin against you, and for you to be gracious to us, and allow us to be quick to repent, and draw close to you. Teach us to be content in all that you have given, for the working of your body is your own, and our part is done in rejoicing with a gracious heart. amen

...it does not boast~

All my doings are as rubbish, His ways are delightful, rising all to Him, for Him.

I boast of myself at my own peril, especially after the Lord has brought me to a place where boasting in thyself is no longer an sane option. I see my weakness in all things, I can only survive when I rely on His strength. When I walk in my own, I am hanging in the breeze. I feel the Lord will let me stumble, if I am foolish enough to think I can overcome anything by my own strength. I already know that is a losing life, filled with frustration and striving to please Him for the wrong reasons. As we keep our grounded position, and esteem others more than ourselves, we will fulfill this as best as we know how.

selah Lord, teach me to not look to the left, nor the right, but directly at you. Thank you Father for showing me that my life is not my own, even when we think it is, for we know that when we lose our life, we shall gain life. amen

[HeIsEnough]

...it is not proud~

the broken man knows not but His strength, all is lost within our Jesus.

Pride is a killer. It has been said that our adversary's fall, was rooted in pride. As the pride of life pulled me for many years, it satisfied, but was hollow of any real meaning. It was like wishing for the thing we obsess about, and then when we get it, it is empty. Such is life in this world. Instead, we can take great pride in our God, who is on our side, and will take us when all the world may reject us, He is our faithful friend. But grace! I fear we know too little about it, and know even less what it can do for the beaten and downtrodden. It uplifts, it provides strength, it is the love letter of God upon the soul, written with His very finger that we may not sin against Him. Oh but the grace of God! it is my only hope of fulfilling His purpose for us. We come to a holy mount, empty handed on purpose. For if something is in your hand, the Lord cannot fill it, and if He cannot fill it, you walk without what He can give.

selah Father, you can do all things, I can do nothing without you, teach me that which is everlasting and unfading, and I lay my treasure in heaven, in your account. amen


...it is not rude~

the rotten flesh is exposed upon inconvenience and self seeking.

Rudeness is wicked and evil. It is the outward expression of the lowest self. Using others as our punching bag. I have lived it, it is better to expect to be insulted at certain times. If we are prepared, we can through the Lord, possibly use it in some positive way. Relying and remembering the peace that He gives us, is powerful at repelling the arrows from the wicked one. But kind words and offerings, these flow through us from Him, as we are in step with the Spirit.

selah Lord, give me grace! give me mercy! give me hope! As the hope that is in me, given by you, is expressed to those who do not know you, may they see you Father. amen

[HeIsEnough]

...it is not easily angered~

stern lessons come to me when grace is weakened by my anger.

Patience through any situation, is a gift of the Spirit. God must be patient to the utmost! He is so grounded and unmovable, He can exercise mighty patience waiting for us to come around to His point of view. The Lord has helped me see this through the forgiven servant and the King. And through Him saying on the cross, "Forgive them Father, for they do not know what they are doing." What awesome patience for the sinner! He sees the end of our days, and the end product of our walk that He has fashioned for us. When I see people caught in the cycle of anger, I think, "ya never know, God may have chosen that person as one of His own, and I'm just seein' the beginnings, not the ending."

selah Lord, I place my trust in you, teach me to be lowly and meek, never expressing my anger with bitter words. Open our eyes Lord, to see the work you are doing, to be at peace when I am not in peace. amen

...it keeps no records of wrongs~

I forgive and He heals completely, preparing for fresh pain and healing


A fact I can scarcely comprehend, and in no way fully appreciate. When the Lord looks to the West towards my sin, He see's Jesus. When the Lord looks to the East towards my sin, He see's Jesus. Make it a very high priority to keep a clean slate to all that it be remotely possible. Forgive them, even for the deep deep hurt, move the thought of the bad, and throw it over the wall of the abyss. Offer them the free chance to start anew with you, then the awesome power of the Spirit will be shown to them, and all praise to our Maker. "He knows our frame, that we are but dust."

selah Help me Father, to never bring an offense to You, give me strength Father, to walk upright before You, to give You my utmost. You know I am but dust, I pray you strengthen me Father, for I can only do what you strengthen me to do. Do not be angered with me Father, but keep me close to your side. amen.

[HeIsEnough]

...it does not delight in evil~

no comfort for the non repentant, an evil thing will not be present before Him, the wicked will not stand in the assembly

The evil that resides in us, may it be purged at all costs. I lay before Him my innermost self, the only thing that I truly have. Purge and refine it Father. For if not, what right do I have to even utter your praise? Or what can be of service to you in an acceptable way when I have held back the seat of my heart! May it never be Father. I offer you my all, everyday, that you may turn the clay into your liking. I shake from my bones, but smite me oh Lord if you feel you must. But save me oh Lord!, for I am weak in all ways, do not cast me off, Almighty God. What glory can I bring you if I be brought to ruin? Remove the evil thought and action from me Father . Let not my soul be destroyed with your mighty hand, but rise me up for your glory.

selah Thank you Father, for removing my heart of stone, and giving me a heart of flesh, now remove the flesh!

...it rejoices with the truth~

He is the truth, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Our adversary would have us be ignorant of the truth. The truth that is Him. The truth of what He has said. The truth is this, He loves us. Can there be any higher thing? Shall we go on and on for days on end of what that is. Let us hold holy hands, in holy agreement, with holy hearts ablaze, with holy mouths, sing holy praises to our holy God. What is it that holds us back? I pray nothing will ever hold us back from singing praise to Him, whether by song, word, or deed. Grant us the privilege of sharing your Son, Father. That we may be used by you to glorify your holy name. That our hearts remain soft and pliable to you, to share the word and hope you have planted within us.

selah Bless us Father, grant us the honor of inhabiting your praise that you move within us. Let our hearts and mouths give you praise, come close to us Father, that your praises be on our lips continually. amen

[HeIsEnough]

...it always protects~

He will not abandon us to sheol, the work He has started, He will complete.

He watches over those whom are His. Every step has been orchestrated by the Sovereign King. With lovingkindess, He protects His children from the terror in the night, our hearts are at peace, for He is our peace in times of trouble. In our coming, and in our going, His hand is ever upon thee. He fashions everything about us ever so carefully, with the utmost care. It is as He sees fit, to fulfill His holy purpose. Whether beauty or reproachful, servant or leader, we are the product of divine choosing. Stand upon the Lord, He has granted us all that He has, as we walk in the Spirit. He will protect us, and see us to the end.


"I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart. I will enter His courts with praise. I will say this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice for He has made me glad"


selah Lord, protect your servants! We run to you in our distress, give your ear to our trouble Father. Turn your face to us, your servants, for we are but dust. See to it, that we walk in your way, ever~obeying and praising your holy name.



...it always trusts~

I give you my very life, I can trust it in your hands.

Psalm 31:1
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust;
let me never be ashamed: deliver
me in thy righteousness.




He has put His trust within me. No evil shall come upon us that is unseen, unknown, unheard of nor unfruitful. He can and will fashion all things for the good of those who love Him. In our grief, in our longing, in our anger, sin not. Stand, and know that He is God. When all the world is against you, cast your lot with God, He will save and protect you. The Spirit looks to testify to God, that we are children of the King, trust Him to do the work within you. As the Spirit leads, follow.

selah Lord our trust is in you. That what you say is more firm than the earth we stand upon, more trustworthy than the universe itself. Your Son is my Savior, He will never cast me off, and He knows my sorrow. I trust you Lord to bring me to you, unblemished and with praise for you in my heart. amen

[HeIsEnough]

...it always hopes~

we revel and delight in our own hope He has given us, all of our hopes are also for those He makes cross our path.

Are you running? Do we go to the Lord first in all things? He never leaves us in the lurch, flailing at the wind for answers. He quietly waits for us to wait for Him. All power in heaven and earth is His, we have access to the throne of glory to act on our behalf. Some things are simple and profound at the same time. Jesus often asked the person, 'do you believe?' He wants to move, He desires to gather, yet we refuse. I will maintain my hope He has given. My hope for each person to bow their knee to the Son. I don't know when it will be for each of us, and I refuse to say it is too late for that one, pick one. The word of God goes out, it affects a change none can quantify except God Himself. My hope for the lost lies there, where God's word, backed by the exacting work of the Holy Spirit, creates. My hope for the saved is that we show the love letter of God upon our hearts to each other. It will edify, and it will partly answer our 'test' which each must give to oneself, 'am I saved?' My hope for myself, is to hear 'well done faithful servant'

At the proper time, in the proper way, He will act, and we will sing praises. Prayers are our hope in love, for the will of the Father to be done, for His glory to be revealed.

selah Lord, Let our desire be for you, let our hope be in you, let our thoughts be on you, at all times. As we gaze upon your face, let our hope remain strong, that your hand will move for us at its proper time. amen



...it always perseveres~

I can do all things through Christ Jesus, even unto death, for my life is His, it is no longer mine.

I once had a notion that life was rosy, that it would get easier as time went on. I was right, and I was wrong. It is not rosy, and it does get easier. Wave upon wave strike will strike the shore of our lives, but each wave becomes just another wave. It was not me who stood my ground, it was the Lord who brought me through. As each wave crested and crashed down, I could see the Lord at work. The Apostle Paul was an incredible man. Is there one of us who could withstand even one 39 stroke lashing? Yet He did it at least twice more. Such is our God who used Paul to show us what we may have to suffer for His name. But He is faithful to the utmost, never leaving nor forsaking us. Cry out to Him in your pain, your fear, your day of distress. He is faithful to see us through, and our reward will be a harvest of righteousness, and peace which surpasses all understanding. The scripture is true: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I have made a covenant with my soul. That God be praised and glorified at the cost of myself if need be. Though He slay me, His name be praised.

selah Father, gives us strength to persevere, to stand by you when all else fails us. To be still when need be, to run when we have to, and to always look for your face. amen

[HeIsEnough]

...Love never fails~

God never fails, in all that He does, He accomplishes what He sets out to do. He is faithful to His word, the word that we have been given. Call upon the name of the Lord, and you shall be saved. There is not one thing, or all things put together, in this universe, which can thwart this promise of the Almighty God. Awesome in power and Majesty.


Lamentations 3:22-23
It is of the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,
because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning:
great is thy faithfullness.




Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not Thy compassions they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

Summer and winter and spring time and harvest
Sun moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy greatfulness mercy and love.

Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness , Lord unto me.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.

Great is thy faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness , Lord unto me Amen.