March 09th, 2021

Philippians 1:9 “And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment…” ~CSB

Early in our marriage, I would attempt to show my love for my wife by performing actions I thought were the best representation of my love to her. I ‘thought’ I knew best how to please my wife, because I was doing what was successful for me in past relationships.  But what I didn’t know was that God’s anointing of our marriage placed a different seed of love in my wife’s heart.  I was not open to learn my wife's heart, instead I forced her to ‘take’ all I knew as 'love' which was the same I had given to others. Sounds crazy when I put it like that, huh?

Just think about it. When we get married, we come with our best ‘game’.  But it is only the 'game' the world taught us.  In the anointment of marriage, it is time to learn the correct way to love. The way according to the Word of God.  For example, with my wife I finally got it right, I learned our love language.  Mine is ‘quality time’ and my wife’s is ‘acts of service’.  When I learned what her love language was, I realized I had been going about showing her love the wrong way.  It wasn’t about my love language it was about hers and I began to perform the actions of ‘acts of service’ and our relationship grows strong every day.

It is the same with God’s Word.  We must allow the word of God to guide us in our daily walk in learning how to love the way God intended for us to love.  Tony Evans says in his Commentary Bible, “Love must be more than sentimental emotion; it must conform with the truth of the Word of God. Our love must be authentic and whole, not merely emotional and full of cracks.”

We must continue to grow in knowledge and distinguish mentally God’s love as it relates to how we love each other as well.  In conversation with my wife, I have learned; “if I won’t say it to God, I will not say it to my wife.”  If I will act on a command given to me by the Lord, I must live and recognize as distinct or different, when my wife brings a request of me to the table.  Her request very well may be from on High. But none of this can be done without our love being conformed with the truth of the Word of God.

I know this may be a lot to hold onto in one reading. But that is what this devotional is for.  Allow this word of truth to sit in your soul and allow the Holy Spirit to fertilize it. In time this message of hope will grow and you will receive the blessing of wisdom and guidance on the path God created for you long before you were born. 

May God continue to bless and keep you on your journey in Jesus name.
Amen

Blessings, 
Billy

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