I AM
I AM THE EMBODIMENT OF THE DIVINE
I AM LOVE
I AM ENOUGH
I AM
There is something about those affirmations that causes you to smile inwardly to outwardly. To be love is a high calling. To allow oneself to be loved is another high calling. Each time I thought about love and this post, I was reminded of “I love because God first loved me,” -1 John 4:19. That’s where we will begin.
To find love from within takes us back to what it means for God to love us. The foundation of love. What is love? How does God love us? How do we apply that love to ourselves?
What is love?
One of my favorite scriptures is 1 Cor 13: 4-8.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
It has always served as a measurement or a check-up to how I treat others on a daily basis, and it dawned on me one day: this is a check-up for myself, my self-love as well. How you treat others is a direct reflection of how you treat yourself. Do you forgive yourself for making mistakes or other wrongful doings? Are you constantly talking bad about yourself or criticizing yourself? Do you believe that you have what it takes to accomplish your dreams? Are you patient with yourself? Do you allow yourself to make mistakes and lend grace to yourself?
If you are treating yourself wrongly, then we have to get back to the basics of finding the love that’s already inside of you–when you took your first breath. If we take a moment to reflect on how unconditional and everlasting God’s love is for us, then a smile spreads on your face and sometimes, tears may come because the feeling can be overwhelming.
How does God love you?
- Constantly Forgives
- Accepts who you are
- Grants you freedom (FreeWill)
- Patient with your growth
- Pursues you daily
- Listens to you
- Answers your prayers (they may not are answered in the WAY we think they should be answered)
- Died for your sins (for those of the Christian faith)
- Salvation (for those of the Christian faith)
- Gives each person a PURPOSE to live
- Talks to you
- Directs your footsteps
- Releases and heals your pain, guilt, and worries
I could keep going, but I want you to take a moment and add to this list in the comment section.
How can we apply this way of love to us?
Sometimes, we forget that God modeled exactly how to love because in the very essence, God is LOVE. We are made in the image of God, so our core is LOVE as well. The love inside of you is not missing, and you do not have to create it. It’s already there. You may need to unleash it. Look at a few ways below to unleash the love within you.
Give yourself a chance to experience God’s love within you. You will notice that you do not gossip the way that you used to, do not drink the way that you used to, do not smoke the way that you used to, do not criticize others the way that you used to, etc. It’s a transformation that starts with a choice from you. Accept who you are, who God made you to be, and therefore, you will start accepting others and their ways of life. Acceptance does not always mean condoning behavior, but it means I allow you to be you without my preconceived notions of how you SHOULD be in my eyes.
So, let’s practice living a life of freedom, which helps to grant freedom to others as well. Reflect on who you are and give love to that person daily. Look in the mirror and love who you are. If you cannot love who you are right now, then change what you see. Take risks, forgive yourself, think for yourself, live for YOU, stay in divine order, and allow your bright light to shine. The world is waiting on YOU because there is something that only YOU can give/bring to this world. It is time!
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