We Experience More When We Love Him More
We say we love God. We do, we really do. Yet, we still long for more.
Why?
What are we missing? Where is our peace? Why are we not content? Why do we feel defeated and alone?
For the past 5 weeks we have been talking about the steps we should take if we want to experience the MORE God has for us. It doesn’t matter how deep our relationship with Him is, He has more, and more still, for us. His hand is outstretched, and He is inviting us into more with Him.
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10
If you are thinking that I am not talking to you – then you are exactly who I am talking to. I remember a time in my life where I thought I knew everything I needed to know. I loved God. Jesus was my Savior. I was doing all the things that good Christian girls do. But I didn’t know what I didn’t know – and that is that there is more.
Here’s the deal – none of us know it all, none of us are perfect, and none of us are surrendered completely. If we were, we would not be human. Satan is doing all he can to distract us and keep us from stepping into more and living the abundant life Jesus came to offer. And one way he does that is to convince us that we are good, we have enough Jesus & God in our life and that we already know all we need to know.
But now we know – there is more. Ready for it? Here are steps we can take…
1. Seek Him First (blog post)
2. Trust Him (blog post)
3. Obey Him (blog post)
4. Love Him / Love People - today’s post
Today, we are talking about the 4th step – We experience more when we love Him more.
From our perspective, it may seem hard to imagine loving God more. One way to look at it is to see it from His perspective. Personally, I feel loved when someone values me enough to see me and want to spend time with me. I want them to know my heart and love who I am. When they do, I know they will trust me and invite me into their life. Hmmm… if I am God and I am looking at Pam and asking… Does Pam value Me and spend time with Me? Does she see My hand in her life - My presence, My provision, and the fulfillment of My promises? Does she know My heart? Does she trust Me? Does read My word and walk in obedience to it? Does she invite Me into every detail of her life?
It is not our resounding YES when asked if we love God that matters. It is the answers to the above questions that reveals the depth of love we have for Him. And I believe our love grows for Him and for His people when we take the steps we have been talking about.
He should be first in our life. He should be our #1. It is not enough to say it, we have to live it. And honestly, we don’t have to work on it or strive to move Him up the list – we just need to decide that because of who He is and what He has done, we will exalt Him to His proper place in our life.
Once we do that, we again choose to place our trust in Him. We trusted Him to save us, now let’s trust Him to sustain us – no matter what. We can trust Him with every aspect of our life. Does that mean we will have smooth sailing? No. We are sure to have times of tribulation – He said so. But, it does mean that no matter what we face or experience, He will be with us, carry us through it and use it for good.
Proof of our trust in Him is our obedience to Him. He calls us out of our comfort zone, out of the boat, and onto the water with Him. Obedient believers get to walk on the water with Jesus. Surrendered and submitted to Him is the best place to be.
Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:1-2
Scripture tells us that if we love Him, we will obey Him. The above scriptures say that we are to walk in love as Jesus loved us and gave Himself for us. He loved us when we were still His enemies. As imitators, we are to demonstrate this type of sacrificial love.
When asked which is the greatest commandment, Jesus replied
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39
Bam! There it is. God knows that we are all somewhat self-centered and naturally love ourselves and want what is best for ourselves. What a great way to show us how much we should care for others. What if we did a little introspection and listed out all the ways we care for ourselves and then compared it to have we show up to care for those God brings into our life.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and prefect will of God. Romans 12:2
Right now the world is telling us to look out for #1 (ourselves), focus on self-care, and live out our truth. Don’t conform to that or buy into it.
God’s word tells us to follow Jesus and the example He set for us. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Like Jesus, we are to love God and love people. We are to retreat, spend time with and get to know our Father. We are to surrender our will and submit to His plan for our life.
We experience more with Him when we begin to love Him more.
I love YOU!
Pam
Note from Pam:
Thank you for reading this blog post. I remember when God began to whisper the word, MORE, to me. I didn’t hear it audibly but it was a constant in my mind. I argued because I was busy and could not do more than I was doing. Then He began to reveal that He was not asking me to add more to my to do list, He was inviting me into more with Him. Today I am praying that you say Yes and step into more with Him.
Let’s stay connected.
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I love you and am thankful you are here. Let’s ask, “Master, what matters?” and let’s engage with Him and experience the more He came to offer.