Loving With Action
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by Gail Rodgers
Does it seem like everyone in your home is going different directions at different times? Do you feel the need to bring some balance back into your schedule and nurture your busy family?
As women we have a unique opportunity to meet the important need of giving and receiving love as our families grow and change. God reminds us that our love goes much further than our words. We can be proactive in finding ways to intentionally nurture love in our homes in spite of schedules that often see us passing in the doorway.
“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:18).
Seven Steps to Loving with Action in Our Homes
1. Love is a learned response.
Give affection daily and consciously respond to affection given to you.
2. Love your husband.
Visible love to one another provides security and stability in the home.
3. Love must be communicated.
Do your tones and body language reflect love, along with your words?
4. Love takes time to be together.
Intentionally make time for those you love and look into their eyes.
5. Love shares.
Share work and play; thoughts and ideas. Share life!
6. Love listens.
Listen with your heart as well as with your ears.
7. Love thrives within trust.
Keep integrity intact.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to model Your love in my home today. Fill me with Your love by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Give me insight and understanding in the ways my family members need to receive my love. Help me to bask in Your love for me so that I will be equipped by You to love others. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Questions and Application: What does it mean to love “with actions and in truth?” (1 John 3:18) How, in the next 24 hours, will you implement one or more of the 7 steps to loving with action?
Post your thoughts on the blog: How does your family stay connected amidst the busyness of life? http://talk.thelife.com/
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About the Author: http://talk.thelife.com/authors/gail-rodgers/
Todays message about implementing love in our homes with actions as well as with words, made me think more of my daughter and her family…her husband and her son who is almost five..she seems so busy in her everyday life ..I sent her the seven steps in hopes she will find time to meditate on them and decide to make a conscious effort to start paying attention to the importance of prayer and devotion to the family..Although we are over a thousand miles away from each other, each day I start by praying that she will have a good day..she is a cancer survivor and I put her future in God’s hands each morning as the sun rises …and at night I thank Him for giving her another day free from disease…I only hope she knows how much God loves her ..and is watching over her..
I think todays message is so important for us all …it’s never too late to stop and take an inventory of what we need to do in our family lives showing others that love is the way to grow closer to God..Jesus is an active part of this….trusting in Him and having a stronger faith will guide us to follow these steps..
Thank you Lord for this message of hope..In Jesus’ name..
This devotional is so true we need to have love in every aspect of our lives, not just physically, but emotionally and GODLY love as well. In my family, even thou we are all grown I am calling my family a fair amount just to let them know that I love them no matter what happens. This is the way we were brought up.
With the family I have, Us getting together like we are in July for a family reunion is always so special,because we are all in our 40′s and 50′s now and most of us have children of our own. so it’s so hard to get together for thing like this.
I thank GOD everyday for my family and the way we were raised, because not everyone has the love we have as a family
Our children are adults now, but we are still learning about love and growing. They came late to us in our lives..We were in our 30′s when these “miracles” were sent..and am certain we made so many human mistakes..But! We are still learning..all of us daily …about love! My email address has “agape” in it for a reason. I think of how HE loves us so unconditionally no matter our human errors and mistakes ..and “all fall short” and always will! The important thing? To make “time” for one another and that is the greatest love of all…And? To try and see one another as our Lord sees us..Love for our families should be the closest love we will experience on this earth..In a 24/7, intimate relationship of family life, we are certainly aware of each others flaws as few others outside our family circles can be! When we can’t understand human ways? HE will help us through those times and show us “how to love”..and reminds us daily of our own very human shortcomings! Am so very, very grateful ..that when HE sent our miracle pregnancies..He came with them and entered our lives and started leading us! HE came in our 30′s, too! HE is the author and teacher of love..and with HIM, we can love ourselves, those closest to us..and others with His “Agape Love” during human moments..and that includes our own shortcomings!!!
I really appreciate the devotion this morning. My grandaughter is playing in her school orchestra and it is very important to her that her family attends. My first mind was to go to work, but something that is important to little ones (she’s 13) should also be important to the family. This way I can show my love to her today.
God gives what we need when we need it and sometimes loving means to slow down and pay attention to loved ones needs.
Wilma
Thank you for this devotional reminding us that our emotional care is just as important as our physical care. It is so easy to forget in the busyness of our everyday lives. How I speak . . . what I say and how I say it is important to my family . . . what I do within the family is just as important . . . and the thought I put into how I treat my family members is also so important . . . God help me to remember this throughout this day. Annie