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"Little children, you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world... So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them" (1 John 4:4, 16 NRSV).
Abiding in love sounds nice and cute, until you actually get down to doing it in the face of that which is unlovely.
When someone throws a heart-dagger, the natural inclination is to retaliate. At that moment, we realize that walking in love is not a solution for the weak, but rather, the ultimate strength of Spirit!
It's contrary to everything in our natural approach to life to "bless those that curse you" or to "pray for those who despitefully use you" (Luke 6:28).
Why should we respond in such a way?
Well, there is a hidden secret that operates when we can intentionally shift gears to functioning in this spiritual response of love.
This form of walking in love activates a protective barrier and begins to form a shield from what may be termed as the "subconscious sliming" from others. This is one way we can be protected from the unspoken, ill-intentions others may release against us.
From a cosmic energy-aura perspective of sowing and reaping, it ultimately matters not how others treat or think of you, but before God and Self, it matters greatly what you think and believe of them!
Can you wash them with grace in your thought-life and feeling-nature? In your mind's eye, can you redeem them from their error against you? Can this form of forgiveness rise within the entirety of your being so that you no longer have to carry the burden of the disappointment?
The ultimate truth of our spiritual reality is that the power of Spirit within us is greater than any external situation or encounter around us; and we actualize this reality by the function of intentional love and forgiveness as a committed response to life's difficulties.
This does not make you a doormat; instead, it repositions you as the victor!
This posturing has ways of repositioning our lives into greater experiences of harmony. Love and forgiveness, as a committed response of loyalty to Spirit, frees you to ascend to higher, newer realities.
The people or situations that brought angst, have ways of reconfiguring or fading from your experience when you faithfully realign with love - love for God, self, and others.
I have by no means mastered or perfected this art. But every time I engage it successfully, I am freed to fly higher and am loosed from that which once held my inner-self captive.
It takes faith to regularly apply love and forgiveness to life's situations. "Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one" (Ephesians 6:16).
But remember, "faith works by love" (Galatians 5:6).
Without walking in love, faith is rendered impotent.
"And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is LOVE (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Pray with me:
"Spirit of Life and Love, with your help, enable me to now baptize this person and this situation in your love and redemption. I loosen my hold on the wrongdoing and invite your wholeness to fill the space! Thank you! In the name and nature of the Christ-reality, It is So, and AMEN!"
~Jason Powell
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