Are you hurting from having been misunderstood? We want to pray for you.

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).

In those moments when you have a fresh appreciation for a friend; a surge of fresh love for someone dear; or a warming of your heart to someone new in your life… how do you express it?

Sometimes we give gifts, write a note, call or spend some extra time together. We find ways to say, “You are important to me”.  And it feels good to express it. In February we hear much about love. Valentine’s Day love sentiments are all around. Yet God calls us to love in a practical way every day and to pour that love on those around us.

Cultivate fresh love in your own heart today, as an offering to God, and determine to abstain from criticizing.  You just might break a bad habit in the process.

Determine to find the things to be thankful for daily. Thankfulness is a tonic that will refresh your day. Offer it to God even as the sacrifice it will, at times, be.

Give up complaining. Bite your tongue when you are tempted to grumble and find something to give thanksgiving for instead.

Cease from judging others and offer grace instead. Remember, judgment is simply seeing yourself as superior. Stop it in its tracks.

Put others first. Abstain from the selfishness that dresses itself in many disguises.

Ask God to show you what you can do to refresh your love and appreciation for Jesus as you remember …

•    He is the well from which you can draw living water that refreshes your heart.
•    He is the strength you find in the middle of your weakness.
•    He is the peace that blankets your heart when anxiety wants to swallow you.
•    He offers everything you need for life and for godliness as you seek to please Him with your life.

What will your offering of “fresh love” look like today? It is our witness to the world around us that God is real.

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).

Father God, thank you for Your lavish love for me. Help me today to be thankful, to pour out Your grace to those around me and to zip my lip when I am tempted to criticize or complain. You are all I need today and I love You. Flow Your love through me to those around me. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

TAKE THE NEXT STEP: 6 Ways to practice gratitude

Questions: What are some steps we can take in order to keep a fresh love in our hearts? Are there some things that you need to do away with in order for others to see your love for them?

About the Author Gail Rodgers

It’s easy to be negative about it. That calendar flips over and suddenly humanity swells with good intention. Intention that rarely ever sees February.  But maybe this year, instead of making a top 10 list of vague resolutions – lose weight, pay off debt, quit smoking – you could sharpen your pencil, get real, and ask yourself one question.

What is it that I want?

You want to play guitar, swim off the island of Santorini, Greece, help protect leatherback sea turtles or learn Spanish? Well how much do you want it? Because you are the only one who can take the necessary steps to make it happen. You can decide to do these things on any day of the year, but what better time than at the brink of a fresh, clean slate.

Instead of moping about new year’s resolutions, take some advice from H.L. Hunt,

“Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work.”

What’s on your list of things you want to accomplish, places you want to see, people you want to meet? Are you trying to tackle that list proactively or are you whining at the thought of resolutions?

Image credit: moni