Category: Faith

Loving Yourself and Loving Others

“[Love] it is not self-seeking…” – 1 Corinthinans 13:5

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” – Mark 12:30-31

Do you ever feel like there is a conflict between loving yourself and loving others? I have found that in my own life, sometimes I get a little confused about this issue. Maybe I am thinking too much about it (which I often do), but when certain situations come up, I can become perplexed about what to do!

For example, imagine that someone asks you to do something for them, but it would really not be beneficial for you or for your own health and well-being. What do you do? Do you act in “selfless love” by complying with the other person’s request, or do you take care of yourself by saying “no” to their request? I truly don’t know the answer to this question!

What does everyone think? Have you ever been in a situation like this before? What did you do and/or how did you handle it?

Photo Credit: Margot Pandone

When Fear Surrounds Me

Fear. Anxiety. Worry. They’re not good feelings. I experience them often, and I’m still trying to master practical ways to handle them.

Yesterday I encountered several circumstances that caused me to worry. And I had to deal. Here were a few thoughts that helped me:

  • Nothing can enter my life without it first going through God.
  • My loving Father wants me to trust Him and to let go!
  • I am not in control of the things that happen to me, and I need to stop trying to be.
  • Remember to take deep breaths–physically and spiritually. I need to “breathe in” God’s grace, and “breathe out” His praise (from Your Grace Finds Me, by Matt Redman).
  • “Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me, [He’s] never failed and [He] won’t start now” (from Oceans, by United)!

Thank God that we can trust His sovereignty and His good plans for us! When fear surrounds you and me, let’s choose to trust that He is near, and that He won’t fail in keeping His promises. ❤

Image Credit: Unknown

Hardship Builds Character

“A noted scientist, observing that the early sailors believed the coral-building animals instinctively built up the great reefs of the Atoll Islands in order to protect themselves in the inner waterway, has disproved this belief. He has shown these organisms can only live and thrive facing the open ocean in the highly oxygenated foam of the combative waves.

It is commonly thought that a protected and easy life is the best way to live. Yet the lives of all the noblest and strongest people prove exactly the opposite and that the endurance of hardship is the making of the person. It is the factor that distinguishes between merely existing and living a vigorous life. Hardship builds character.”

~ from Streams in the Desert, January 13th

Yet I am so thankful to God, who always marches us to victory under the banner of the Anointed One; and through us He spreads the beautiful fragrance of His knowledge to every corner of the earth. – 2 Corinthians 2:14

It is so difficult to believe this and to take it to heart, much less to live like we believe it! I know that I, for one, would LOVE an easy, comfortable life. But that is not always what is best for us. Many times God would have us to go through trials in order to build our character, and to make us into the people that He wants us to be.

So today, regarding that difficult situation, trying person, or hurtful experience that you (and I!) want to lament and resist…let us make an attempt to accept the circumstance as an opportunity from God to grow. I think that we will be amazed by how He assists us and rewards us for our efforts! ❤

Photo Credit: Unknown