The Infamous Love Walk.

I read this this morning: 

"Everything begins with love. Jesus makes the command to love one of his most defining statements. We can talk about love, preach sermons about love, read books about love, quote scriptures about love and long to love. However, the bottom line is: The only way to actually learn the ways of love is to extend it, try it, do it, risk it, live it - to enter into another person's life and let someone into ours." Kathy Escobar, Author of "Down We Go"

What an excellent summary on what we are called, as Christians, to do!  So often we get caught up in head knowledge and surrounding ourselves with scriptures and quotes and information that we forget to actually put it into practice.  Unfortunately, until we are willing to engage our hearts and put into practice what we are learning through the Word of God, we will miss His amazing power.  His Word holds the power to diminish strongholds....those areas of your life you can't seem to overcome; the ability to heal, renew, refresh; it becomes hope and strength in the darkness....but only if we are willing to walk it out.  

Have you been in a rut lately?  Wondering why your mind just isn't being renewed?  Getting tired of the same thing day after day after day?  Sitting in church and doing what you feel you "should" and not seeing change?  Perhaps you are forgetting to actually put into practice what you are learning.  ENGAGE your heart!  When it comes to love, meditate on the scriptures that talk about God's love for you and start receiving how much He cares for you.  Focus on the people around you and choose to see them the way He does.  Reach out to them, show them in creative ways how much you care.  Look into their eyes when you talk.  Reach out for a hug when they are down and needing encouragement.  Write a note.  Send a text.  Let your loved ones know they are loved with the love of Christ.  

I guarantee that as you begin to engage and put forth effort to apply the things you are reading and learning you will find that power you've been longing for to touch your life.  Change will happen.  Hurts will fall away.  Peace will be found.  It's not always easy and it often goes against the very thing our flesh WANTS to do.  But trust that His Word is the right way.  Walk in it and dare to see what happens.  <3