Falling in love with Jesus is the single thing that will change your life more than anything else. When you fall in love with Him, things fall into place even if they seem different from what you originally thought.
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, what a sweet and special time to be reminded about the love of God and falling in love with Jesus.
I Corinthians 13 says that love is the greatest attribute that we should have even over our faith. When you read this chapter, it’s so convicting to think about how shallow our love can be for Jesus and others.
So many times I feel like people put God on trial based upon the circumstances of life. If this turns out well, God is good; but if it turns out bad, God doesn’t care. This is the way many times people treat God.
I think before we can begin to talk about falling in love with Jesus, we must look at the heart.
This blog post is all about falling in love with Jesus.
Years ago, I remember like it was yesterday… I was washing dishes, listening to Christian music on my phone through Apple Music, when a song caught my attention. The song was entitled, “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again.” I know some of you may know that song. But this was years ago when I first heard it. While I was listening, I began sobbing because I knew God had heard my heart’s cry and prayer.
I was facing a dark trial at that time of my life, and felt like I couldn’t go on. (I’m sure you have been there too. I can count 3-4 times in my life where I have said I can’t do this anymore.) Some of it had to do with ministry and some relationships.
I told God, “I need a complete open heart surgery.” How could I go on Spiritually without it? I couldn’t be faithful, couldn’t be joyful without a heart renovation.
Do you love HGTV? I loved it when I was a young wife and mom.
When you watch the shows you feel like you can take the junkiest house or furniture and flip it like they do. (They make it seem like everyone can have their skill sets too🤣)
Although, when it comes to life, I feel like many Christians need a complete heart reno.
The Bible warns us not to be lukewarm. He said that He would rather us be cold towards Him than lukewarm. I’ve always been so convicted from that passage of Scripture. I guess because I consider myself a very passionate person.
When I was in high school and played on the volleyball team, people would tell me I was too serious. HAHA!! I can’t imagine that! 😂 When I competed at State Competition in different areas, I would hate coming in second place. I’m a perfectionist, and second place was like, “Aaaah, it’s okay, but not good enough.” I know that’s a terrible way to look at life, but that’s just how I saw things back then.
Now, the Bible tells us to guard our hearts. How easy is it to let ourselves slip into complacency without even realizing it.
I love to work out! That’s mainly because of playing volleyball, basketball, and running in high school. I became addicted to the endorphin rush!
Today, I still love it. But the more you age, I feel like the harder you have to work to stay in shape. Weeks can go by and I won’t see any change. And then I realize, I have been doing the same thing every day, not really pushing myself.
I feel like our time with Jesus can be the same way, and hinder us from truly falling in love with Jesus.
When I was in Bible college, I remember specifically it being my Senior year. My heart burned to walk with God, but I just wasn’t very consistent. I would sleep in, procrastinate, or let my lack of organization get the better of me.
One day walking back into my dorm room, and my roommate was reading her Bible. I just thought it was odd that she could read and not be a hot mess. (This is not me being judgmental, but just telling you how I thought at 19😆) When God spoke to me from His Word, I would be all snot and tears. And I think because I didn’t read daily, but just at the verge of breakdown or conviction from a message where I felt like my heart would explode, then that’s when I would seek Him fervently.
Now I understand my roommate, I’m sure she was much more mature as a Christian then I was at the time.
But even now, I yearn for my heart to burn when reading the Bible, listening to a message, or through prayer and worship.
I understand that the Christian life is all about our faith and not feelings, but I still ask God, “What’s wrong with me?” when I go a while without having my heart stirred.
I know everyone’s personality is different, but when you think about the Lord, has your heart ever been stirred?
Does your heart break over the things that could bring shame to His name? Do you ever just get up an hour early because you miss that quiet time with Him? Have you ever skipped a meal just to talk to Jesus?
I’m not saying any of these things make you more Spiritual, but the God that created the universe and lives inside of you, do you ever feel that desire to connect with Him in some way?
Love is a fruit of the Spirit, and we first ought to be passionately in love with Him.
Did you know that faith is also fruit of the Spirit? I’m sure you did if you are reading this blog post.😬 But the fruit of the Spirit is not plural. They are all connected to HIM.
I think it’s hard to really love God like we should when we don’t trust Him.
When your faith has really been put to the test, and you’re on the other side still standing, the depth of your love will be displayed.
Hebrews 11 is the faith chapter in the Bible. It starts like this,
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” (Hebrews 11:1-3)
Then verse 6 is so GOOD!!!!!!
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Seeking the Lord and building a relationship with Him begins with our faith.
This is how our love grows and is cultivated.
Let’s look at Abraham. God wanted to test his love, so He tests His faith. God wanted to test Abraham so that he would see if he had put Isaac above Him. You see, God doesn’t take second place to anyone.
I love this quote,
The Devil tempts us to do evil to cause us to stumble.
God tests us to do good to cause us to stand.
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You see the test wasn’t for God to see, but it was for Abraham to see his level of love for the Father.
What may come as a surprise is when God doesn’t ask us to give up the bad things in our lives,
but when God asks for us to give up the good things.
The exact phrasing God uses in Genesis 22:16-17 is “thine only son…”
“And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;”
I can’t tell you the number of times I have had to re-surrender the good things in my life, and make sure I haven’t placed them above God- my marriage, ministry, work, reputation, my home and family…
God blesses humility.
When we are on our knees, He can dump out His blessings upon our lives. But when we have become lord over our own lives, God will not fight us over that position.
God will not be a part time God in your life with a duplex as a throne.
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There’s many things that can hinder our lack of faith and love for God. We will talk more about this in this series, but some could include: a lack of forgiveness, past failure, trials, and the things that others do to you that you can’t seem to get over.
I hope this post will challenge you to want that desire to fall in love with Jesus again. And if you are already on fire, continue developing your relationship so that you will not become stagnant.
I love you, and hope you know that I am cheering you on. I hope you are encouraged, and if so let me know on Instagram by connecting with me there.❤️
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