Tag: Love of Christ

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Love, Quiet Time

The Love that Makes it Happen

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God’s love for us passes knowledge; it is vast and complete, and yet He urges us to lean into its impossible dimensions and to rest there.

Michele Morin / Living Our Days / August 9, 2018

One of the prayers I learned to pray for women in my life years ago, specifically those who have been/are in my life-groups, is found at the center of this nugget of gold I’m sharing today, borrowed from the archive of Living Our Days. The prayer comes from the pen of the Apostle Paul and is found in chapter three of Ephesians. – I pray it for all who come upon this post and read the words within – that you may understand that God’s love for us not only passes knowledge; but that it is vast and complete. May you learn to lean into its impossible dimensions and find rest there.

My Prayer for You  
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:14-19

The following blog was originally posted on August 9, 2018

Big Pizza Love and the Recipe that Makes it Happen

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time

Be A Good Listener

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Modeling the love of Christ through Good Listening [Part 2] – if you missed part 1 please click here –

Yesterday – we focused on listening to God first. This is the first step because it helps us to develop and sharpen our spiritual maturity – which is a necessary component of being a good listener. It is also vital to not just listen to others but we must learn the art of listening and practice it faithfully. Which, as we will see today, requires humility. I also believe it is helpful to have a faithful friend – or two – that will hold you accountable to this end. I can tell you the skill most definitely takes humility and can be frustrating and humbling – but God is faithful and able to accomplish in us what He has purposed for us to do. Me – from the inside-out🦋

2. We Must Humble Ourselves to Be Good Listeners

Listening requires humility. Have you ever found yourself formulating an answer while the other person is still speaking? Pride causes us to focus on what we want to say instead of really listening to the words of others. Listening shows respect for others’ thoughts and ideas, affirming them as valuable in God’s eyes. We are to clothe ourselves in humility (1 Peter 5:5), and following the example of Jesus, consider others as more important than ourselves (Philippians 2:3).

In the book of Proverbs, we find the terms “word” or “words” more than forty times; “mouth” appears at least forty-six times. This shows us that how we use our words is a key indicator of whether we are wise or foolish, righteous, or unrighteous. Pride speaks in haste; humility shows restraint. The wise man will humble himself to hear and increase in learning (Proverbs 1:5).

Proverbs 18:2, 13 – “A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own mind. … He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.”

Proverbs 17:27-28 – “He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.”

Proverbs 29:20 – “Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”

Make it personal:

I don’t know about you but this step is quite difficult for me. Seriously, I am totally the person that formulates an answer while the other person is still speaking. – Sad thing is, I thought this was a good thing – YIKES!

  • What about you? Is this step easy or difficult for you?