A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. John 13:34
Jesus, I can’t.
I’m hurt.
I’m sad.
I feel betrayed.
How can I love them like You?
I’m angry.
I don’t want to forgive.
I want justice.
I want them to get it.
Love them anyway.
Jesus, do you know what you’re asking?
To love them anyway, I have to put myself aside.
I have to forgive them.
I have to let. it. go.
It’s too much – I can’t.
Love them anyway.
Lord, You have to do it through me.
I don’t have it in me.
In your weakness, I am strong.
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love – not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, surely we ought to love each other. 1 John 7-11
If I love only those who love me, how am I different from the world? Click To Tweet
Love is a super power that covers a multitude of sin.
It’s messy and inconvenient, it requires a giving up, a sacrifice to give.
Love always gives.
There is no fear in love.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.1 Corinthians 13:1
Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing.
It bears all things.
Believes, hopes, endures.
Love never ends.
I love because I am beloved.
Jesus offered mercy for my mess.
While I was still in sin, He died for me.
He loved anyway.
If I am His disciple, I must do the same.
Even though it isn’t easy.
Even though it goes against my flesh.
I trust the One who loves me best and most to work it out.
Forgiveness is an act of love – one that sets me and the offender free.
There is no love without freedom.
Freedom to choose.
Love is a choice.
When I am disappointed, hurt, let down, I can choose love.
Love instead of holding a grudge, a debt – the debt of you owe me.
Forgive my debtors as my debt has been forgiven.
Love anyway.
Love puts others ahead of me and what I want or hope for.
Yet loving someone doesn’t mean I have to stay in a toxic relationship.
It doesn’t mean I continue to take abuse.
Sometimes loving someone means entrusting them to God.
Trusting He can do what I can’t.
Sometimes love means letting go, walking away.
My part is to forgive, pray and trust God.
Be loving in my responses and actions.
Ask the Lord to guide me.
And love anyway.
Nancy Altic
May 9, 2018I just quoted some of this to a friend and now I read what you have written and it just let’s me know I said the right things to her. I’m guilty of not forgiving. I can forgive someone for hurting me long before I can forgive someone for hurting someone I love. I’m working on it. Thank you Liz. You are a remarkable woman of God. Thank you for sharing and I am privileged to be your friend
Liz
May 9, 2018Awww Nancy you are sweet – if there’s anything good here, it’s all God. I have feet of clay and I get it wrong way more often than right. For whatever reason, He gave me this to do and it’s only through Him that I write anything of value. You are a light in the world and I am blessed and privileged to be your friend. ❤️ Thank you for your words that always encourage me.
Pearl Allard
May 9, 2018Liz, thank you for your Wednesday Words. Love anyway is not a passive plan! Might be the grittiest thing we ever do. So glad we don’t have to have it all together for God to help us do the impossible. Hugs!
Liz
May 9, 2018Hi Pearl! Thank you for your awesome comment! I Love how you say love is the grittiest thing we will ever do- such a great way to put it. And God can work even in my failure. Thank you again for your comment you have so much wisdom to contribute- you are a blessing. ❤️
BJ
May 9, 2018This is no Fun UGH>>> But so rewarding and life changing.
Liz
May 9, 2018It is…you are so good at living people for who they are. God has used you in my life in teaching me more about loving people. ❤️
Alicia tigertail
May 9, 2018Ooo God is so awesome… I do love the people I do ask for God to forgive them for they did not know what they do… it still hurts…
Liz
May 9, 2018Hi Alicia…I love your sweet, forgiving heart. It does still hurt but for me, when I can let go and forgive it helps and doesn’t affect me as much as when I hold onto the hurt. Thanks for a great comment! I appreciate you ❤️
Sydell
May 10, 2018Thank you Liz for this encouraging word. I choose to intentional love in all circumstances! Even when it’s hard Love Anyway! You are the best!!! I love your heart for God and how Faithful you are. Yo shine his truth to others! I love you !!
Liz
May 10, 2018Hi Sydell! I love you back. You are such a bright light and an example of what it means to love well. Thank you for your words of encouragement and blessing. You are a treasure. ❤️