Hook, Line and Sinker

Warriors Arise: March 13, 2022

1 John 4:19 (NKJV) We love Him because He first loved us.

I received unconditional love, so I give unconditional love.

Unconditional love is also known as agape. I mentioned agape in an Arise blog last week. We cannot give something we have not received. Agape is God's love for us, that we cannot give to others until we have received it for ourselves. We wonder why fellow Christians cannot express God's love for people, why they can't forgive and release others, why they continue to rehearse the hurts from the past, and why they have no hope. We wonder these things, because most of us fall into or under one of these categories. We can't get over past hurts, because we have not fully embraced being forgiven by God for the sins we have committed. We can't have hope for a better turn out, because we are still struggling with the same things we struggled with 20, 30, 40 years ago. The issue is not with God and what He has given us, it is with the receiver. God is always willing to forgive you for your sins, wash you clean and express His love to see you walk in the dreams He has for you. The question remaining is He is so willing then why aren't we? Why aren't we ready to move on from our past? Why do we remain in the same yuck year after year, decade after decade? That is not Christ-like living. He provided a way out. He provided the strength to empower each one of us to live free of the bondages of sin, sickness, disease, confusion, torment, and lack. Jesus gave us what we needed, but we must ask ourselves why have we not received it? Did it get mailed to the wrong address or put on someone else's door step? That is an absurd thought process, but it is one we entertain regularly. We think God left us out, but that mindset couldn't be further from the truth. It is the same thoughts Eve entertained when Satan manipulated what God had told them and convinced her that God was withholding something she needed. The problem, we still buy into that lie today, hook, line and sinker.

Love is something I give, because I have been given and receive love. If you struggle with giving love then you have a decision to make. Will I receive the love God has given me?

Agape is not something that is given from the mind, it is something that is given from the spirit. You are body, soul and spirit. You can't give agape from your body. You can't give agape from your soul: mind, will or emotions. You can only give agape from your spirit. Agape is a God-thing. Until you receive it, you can't give it.

1 John 4:7-8 (NKJV) Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

I received unconditional love, so I give unconditional love.

Father, You are amazing in all of Your ways. I need Your love every day. I am challenged to embrace the hurts from my past. They do nothing but steal my hope, as well as opportunities to give agape to others. Help me receive agape. Help me release the yuck from my past and move on. The only reason I want to look back at that stuff is to testify to others how God can bring them freedom from those things, situations, conflicts, and abuse that imprisoned me. I place myself before You to receive agape. I want it to saturate every part of my life. Agape come and wash over my body. Agape come and cleanse my soul: mind, will and emotions. Agape come and strengthen my spirit in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy Hand

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