Category: Living with love

Praying for others

November 7th, 2024

I talk a lot about love on this blog. One great way you can show your love for others is by praying for them. In Christian parlance, it is referred to as intercessory prayer. I will be sharing some prompts supported by Bible verses.

I looked for someone who might rebuild
the wall of righteousness that guards the land.
I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall
so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land,
but I found no one
EZEKIEL 22:30 (NLT)

Who and WHat Can you pray for?

1. Your Country – Jeremiah 29:7, Matthew 9:37-38

2. Your Leaders – Proverbs 21:1, 1 Timothy 2:1-4

3. Your Family (nuclear and extended) – Proverbs 17:17, 3 John 1:4

4. Your Pastor and Church family – Psalm 133:1, Colossians 1:9-11

5. Your Friends – Romans 1:11-12

I would be disobeying the Lord
if I stopped praying for you!
I will always teach you how to live right
1 Samuel 12:23 (CEV)

6. Your Coworkers – Proverbs 16:3, Psalm 90:17

7. Missionaries – Acts 16:14, Colossians 4:2-4, 3 John 1:5 (NLT)

8. Unsaved Loved Ones – Ezekiel 36:26, Mark 9:24

9. War Torn Areas – Jeremiah 30:17, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

10. Persecuted Christians – Luke 22:32, 2 Peter 2:9

Don’t look out only for your own interests,
but take an interest in others, too
Philippians 2:4 (NLT)

Who else do you pray for that is not included in my list?
Witnesses

June 5th, 2023

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a witness is someone that gives evidence or specifically, someone who testifies in a cause or before a judicial tribunal. If you are a follower of Jesus, you are called to be a witness.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth
Acts of the apostles 1:8 (NLt)

In recent times, I’ve been feeling convicted about this. I haven’t been telling people about Jesus as much as I’d like to or rather, as much as I should be. I thought about possible reasons for this and I came up with a few, but I am going to share two here. These reasons may apply to you as well.

The gospel isn’t considered as good news

Now, you may consider it good enough for yourself, but not up to the standard of the world which is why you don’t talk about it much. Look at this: In the book of John, Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends”. I would interpret this to mean that giving one’s life up for someone else (literally or figuratively) is the best possible type (or demonstration) of love that a human can have. I was intrigued to read Romans 5:8 in the same Bible: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. To me, this means that the Creator of the world loves you more than any human possibly can because He gave up His life (literally) while you weren’t friends (in fact while you hated Him). That is truly amazing news and worthy of being shared.

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard
Acts 4:20 (NKJV)

We don’t care enough about others

This may be a difficult pill and I hope I don’t step on any toes. So I was reading some Bible verses (Jude 1:23 and James 5:20) and the references given were very serious. One talks about saving a soul from death and the other about a sense of urgency (similar to saving someone from a fire). I imagine someone drowning and you have a floatation device to help them, but you refuse to throw it to them because you are concerned that the person may reject it. Anyone around witnessing this will most likely urge you to give them the option at least. Your refusal to help after the urges may be considered a mean act and may even be likened to an act of hate. Add this image to the message in 1 John 4:20 and the consequence in Revelation 21:8. If you’re a believer, I bet it almost feels like you’ve been punched in the gut. At least, that’s how I felt when I read them.

What other reasons can you think of?
Proximity

April 10th, 2023

Proximity in simple terms means closeness. My focus will be on proximity to people. This post is especially for those who refuse to have close relationships for whatever reason i.e. they refuse to allow themselves to be loved and to love others truly. You meet someone, you find common ground, you start to grow closer, then you pull away leaving the other person feeling confused. Does this scenario ring a bell?

As iron sharpens iron,
so a friend sharpens a friend
Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)

I understand that there are many risks attached to letting people come close. For one, you could get really hurt if they betray your trust. Also, there could be serious conflict from differing opinions and personalities. In a previous post, I shared about friendships and different characteristics of friends. Those characteristics can really only be expressed when there is proximity (not just physical proximity).

Two people are better off than one,
for they can help each other succeed
Ecclesiastes 4:9 (NLT)

Proximity is a privilege and should be treated as such. There are certain people that may have given you the privilege of proximity to them. Cherish it. Use it to build them up. Don’t treat it lightly. All in all, I believe the benefits of proximity far outweigh the dangers. We cannot live this life alone. We need others, but we cannot get the related benefits without proximity.

Final Thoughts

You should be careful who you give your gift of proximity to. Not everyone needs to be that close to you. By being prayerfully selective, you can guard against some of the risks of proximity.

Do you have people you can truly say have proximity to you?
Love is hopeful

January 19th, 2023

In recent times, I’ve been learning about the power of hope. I want to attempt to explain it in this post even though I doubt I will do a very good job of it. I have needed to remain hopeful in certain situations in my life and I will admit that it has been tough, but I encourage myself with this: Hope is available.

Anyone who is among the living has hope;
even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!
Ecclesiastes 9:4 (NIV)

I recently visited home in Nigeria and while it was a joy to be reunited with family and friends, and enjoy the warm weather, I was saddened by some of the issues I witnessed. To be honest, I felt like some situations in the country were hopeless, but I was amazed (and humbled) to find hope in the hearts of many people. I began to realize that the reason many people got up to go about their day and are eager to vote in the upcoming elections is hope. Hope that that day and the next will be better than the previous ones. As a result, my hope was rekindled.

To them God has chosen to make known
among the Gentiles
the glorious riches of this mystery,
which is Christ in you,
the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:27 (NIV)

Life brings challenges with it and not a single person is immune to them. I read recently that among the top reasons given by people who attempted suicide or have suicidal thoughts is the feeling of hopelessness. What is profound to me is the fact that hope, though just a belief that things will get better, is so strong that people hold on to it and want to continue to live. Now you might say, Lovelyn, I know some people whose situations never changed till they died. Why should I keep hoping that this relationship will be restored? As a person of faith, I will respond with the Bible verse below where the writer speaks of another life. Not everything can and will be accomplished in this life so your hope should extend beyond this life. With that mindset, you hold on to hope till the end of this life until you can get to a place where hope is no longer needed.

If only for this life we have hope in Christ,
we are of all people most to be pitied
1 Corinthians 15:19 (NIV)

Final Thoughts

If hope is powerful, a love that is hopeful is therefore a powerful type of love. My word of encouragement to you today is this: DON’T LOSE HOPE! As usual, God is able to uphold you when it gets difficult to continue to hope.

What are you hoping for this year?
Trophies

January 10th, 2023

Photo by Nikita Grishin on Pexels.com

Trophies are symbols of victory. They look different for different individuals. The designations people put after their names are types of trophies signifying their triumph in the examination and coursework required. I like trophies and have a few myself. Literal trophies and figurative ones.

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended;
but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind
and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God
in Christ Jesus
Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV)

I recently read a story in the Bible that got me thinking about trophies and what kinds of trophies one should hope to acquire and hold on to. The story can be found in the book of 1 Samuel from chapter 4 to chapter 6 verse 8. It is a lengthy read, but I encourage you to do so for proper context. In summary, the Philistines attacked and defeated the Israelite army and took the ark of God. The ark was a symbol of the presence of God for the Israelites, but a symbol of victory for the Philistines.

The Philistines held on to this ark for 7 months as the story says and they had so much pain while doing so. From tumors to the destruction of their idols to death. During these months, they passed it around from city to city (chapter 5) until they sat down and asked themselves what to do about it (1 Samuel 6:2).

Nevertheless do not rejoice in this,
that the spirits are subject to you,
but rather rejoice because your names
are written in heaven
Luke 10:20 (NKJV)

A rational listener or reader of this story would ask themselves why they held on for so long. Did they not know it was causing them all the pain they were experiencing? I think they did because as they passed it along from city to city, they saw patterns which caused them to continue passing it along. My guess is that they held on to it because it was a symbol of their victory against the Israelite army and letting go would mean they may have ‘won the battle, but they lost the war’ as the saying goes.

Over to you now, what are you holding on to that you need to let go of? Did you give someone a piece of your mind and put them in their place and are now left with a severed relationship as your ‘trophy’? Or have you built a standard for yourself that is preventing you from interacting with certain individuals? I mentioned earlier that I have accumulated some ‘trophies’ in my life so far and I learnt that while job searching, especially when changing career paths, certain trophies need to be excluded as they are irrelevant to the role.

Final Thoughts

Celebrate your wins. Remember this though: As great as trophies are, one needs to know when to lay it down or one risks experiencing hurt.

What are some trophies you’ve acquired over the years?
Proactive Love

December 31st, 2022
According to Merriam Webster, to be proactive means to act in anticipation of future problems, needs, or changes. For any relationship to flourish, work is required. These days, I see that many people take the reactive approach in their relationships. They wait for the other person to make a move so they can reciprocate.

What if you make the first move? I admit that it may be a vulnerable position to place yourself in, but you will be in good company because you know who else makes the first move? God! Time and time again, God reaches out to humanity in love before humans even realize their need for Him.

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Spirit and with power.
He went about doing good and healing all
who were oppressed by the devil,
for God was with him
Acts 10:38 (ESV)

I believe God also expects us to be proactive in our love for others. He tells us to love our enemies (people that do not like us) and to pray for them. Someone doing this is not waiting for the enemy to have a change of heart, but is being good to them before they have a change of heart. In addition, He has shown us what true love looks like and His behaviour should be emulated.

I have stored up Your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against You
Psalm 119:11 (ESV)

Benefits of being proactive with love
- You can set the tone of the relationship
- Potential for reduced stress because needs are usually prepared for
- Potentially makes you more observant
- Your creative skills get sharpened
- You can set boundaries
How are you going to proactively love henceforth? What are some other benefits of being proactive with love?
Love runs deep

December 14th, 2022

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Pexels.com

I read this article by John Piper which discusses the depth of God’s love for us. I encourage you to read it.

Our ultimate example of love shows a depth that is yet to be exhausted so why should our love end? I think any love that has no depth is not worth it. Love requires a lot from an individual; time, resources, energy and so on, to really make an impact on another individual. Without depth, love runs out quickly.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge
Ephesians 3:17-19 (NIV)

If you feel like you’re running out of love, draw from Christ. When some people hear my name (Lovelyn), they respond by saying that I must be so full of love and I laugh. I do love people, but I still struggle with it. There is room for growth in love. I once heard a mother say that she didn’t know if she was capable of loving a second child until she laid her eyes on the child and suddenly realized that her capacity for love had increased.

An article by Powell, A., in Harvard Gazette actually speaks of some positive health benefits in married couples who share deep (eros) love. For example, they have increased immune function, tend to live longer and have higher survival rates from major surgeries.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord
Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

Final Thoughts

The kind of love that runs deep takes time to build. The key though is for you to stay rooted in Christ’s love and that love is reproduced in one towards others.

What does deep love look like to you? Do you think that love needs to run deep? If so, why? If not, why?
Available?

December 4th, 2022

Availability is important, especially in one’s relationship with God. God qualifies those He calls. I believe God is pleased to use ordinary people and ordinary things. In his book, Side by Side, Edward T. Welch writes this: “If you feel quite weak and ordinary–if you feel like a mess, but have the Spirit of God–you have the right credentials.”

In the Bible, we see numerous examples of individuals who accomplished great feats. One commonality with all of them is that they made themselves available to be used by God first of all. Many had doubts and fears and God worked with them through all of those till they got to the point of success. Being used by God is such an honour because He does such amazing work. Can you imagine what would come out of a partnership with God? Also, His words give life and hope and I know I need that on a daily basis.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:
“Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”
Then I said, “Here am I! Send me”
Isaiah 6:8 (NKJV)

On another note, the world is full of people and one can’t ignore them. It is important to be available to other people. Life is busy for many people, but love makes time. Recently, I was reading through posts about grief and things people remember most in their early stages of grief. Some things mentioned were kind gestures like meals, sentimental gifts, and so on. One thing I noticed was mentioned more than others was the presence of someone. Someone who was there to simply listen or cry along with them or help out with household chores or even just be there because they didn’t want to be alone in that period.

At the end of the day,
people won’t remember what you said or did,
they will remember how you made them feel.
MAya Angelou

Final Thoughts

Priorities need to be in place. In making oneself available to others, one must be careful not to lose oneself in the process such that one starts to experience burnout. One needs to make oneself available to God first who gives wisdom and strength to be available to others around us.

Who are you going to make time for this week?
According to His riches…

November 26th, 2022

I once heard a preacher say that one can either give from one’s riches or according to one’s riches. In its simplest form, it’s person A giving 100 pens from the 1 million in their reservoir and person B giving the same 100 pens from the 1 thousand in their reservoir. Another way of stating this is giving in proportion to what one has.

“Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him?

Everything under heaven is Mine”
Job 41:11 (NKJV)

The Bible teaches that God created and owns all things so He is extremely rich in all things. One thing that encourages me about that is the fact that God has chosen to love us and bless us… according to His riches. For a God who has everything we can and cannot see at His disposal, giving according to His riches I believe will be in mega proportions.

He provides

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus
Philippians 4:19

He strengthens

That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory,

to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man
Ephesians 3:16

Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and long-suffering with joy
Colossians 1:11

He redeems

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
Ephesians 1:7

See what great love the Father has lavished on us,

that we should be called children of God

1 John 3:1

Final Thoughts

Finally, God is love and He is rich in love. He shows us this over and over again. Let us show love greatly because we have been shown great love. Let us also do things according to our resources. Don’t be stingy. If you have been blessed with time, bless others with it.
Love is patient

November 21st, 2022

To be honest, patience is something I still struggle with. It’s so easy to lose your patience when dealing with other people and things too sometimes. I also think our society doesn’t help with promoting this virtue. The messaging we see around us is faster, more efficient, instant, time saving, etc and when you are constantly bombarded with these, you could forget that many things need time to grow and mature and are worth waiting for. The Bible teaches us to love God with all of our being, and love others as we love ourselves. Patience is a way of showing love.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes
Psalm 37:7 (NIV)

Be patient WITH God

God doesn’t run with our timing. If He did everything we wanted, when we wanted them, that would mean He wasn’t God, we were. The fact that He runs on His own time based on His knowledge of all things must be respected. God is patient with us so we must be patient and trust His timing. Read God’s word and be reassured of His promises and His love for you.

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise,
as some understand slowness.
Instead He is patient with you,
not wanting anyone to perish,
but everyone to come to repentance
2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

Be patient with yourself

Loving one’s self means loving every part of one’s self. Darling, you may not be where you want to be, but are you working towards it? Yes? Then, be patient. Look at the progress you’ve made so far, keep your goal in front of you and keep going.

And patience produces character,
and character produces hope
Romans 5:4 (NCV)

Be patient with others

Being patient with others means giving others room for growth and error. When you find yourself being impatient with others, maybe try to put yourself in their shoes. Think about this: Does your impatience produce the result you desire? If not, why do you continue in it?

Patience can persuade a prince,
and soft speech can break bones
Proverbs 25:15 (NIV)

Final Thoughts

Patience is not sluggishness or waiting and complaining. It is a virtue. It is something to be desired. However, it is not something that we can do on our own; we need God’s help to be patient.

How are you going to show patience this week? Do you have any story of a time your patience paid off?

Category: Living with love

Who and WHat Can you pray for?

The gospel isn’t considered as good news

We don’t care enough about others

Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts

Benefits of being proactive with love

Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts

He provides

He strengthens

He redeems

Final Thoughts

Be patient WITH God

Be patient with yourself

Be patient with others

Final Thoughts