In 1 John 4:16-21 we read: “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”
I don’t think I fully realized this until recent years: The only way I can love God is by relying on His love to fill me first.
Think about that. Repeat it. Let it settle.
We love because He first loved us. That’s what these verses say.
And, yet, I think of all the times that I have tried so hard to love in my own strength and my own power, with my own understanding. No wonder we (humans) struggle with the two greatest commandments: to love God and love people.
Honestly, this fundamental truth has changed my priorities in my prayer life. This is a portion of my first prayer each morning: “Please fill me with Your love and let everything in my life flow out of that…Help me to receive from You, rather than trying to control my surroundings.”
What changes in our lives when we pray this way? For me, nearly everything has changed in my knowing and loving God, as well as my loving people. There is no striving in it because I’m both trusting in and relying on God’s love to do the work in me.
I don’t do it perfectly. I forget sometimes. But, most days, this simple realization and request give me the capacity and desire and strength to love like Jesus loves because I’m using His love as fuel, and operating from a place of abundance. God is love—there is no shortage.
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