Christ Said To Love

In Matthew 22:37-40, Christ tells us that the greatest commandment is love. The law and the prophets hang on these. That means that everything in the Old Testament was a tutor and waiting for the coming of Christ who by HIS very nature is love. HE said that we should love God with our mind, heart, and soul. HE also said that we should love our neighbors like we love ourselves.
I don't know about you, but the way I see people in this society love themselves, I don't want any parts of it. Love is not about those fairy tales we were led to believe when we were children. Love is a decision. We decide to love God, ourselves, and everybody else. If love wasn't a choice, then why did Christ command us to do it? We have a choice in who we love. I've heard people say, I fell for the wrong person. Yepper, that would be correct. Anytime we fall for someone we are making a decision from the wrong position- laying down! We don't fall in love, we grow in love.

God is love so it's impossible to love ourselves without first loving God. HE taught us what love is through HIS sacrificial act of love at the cross. The love of the cross wasn't about emotion because Christ despised the cross, but HE did it anyway, all the way. GOD made a decision - GOD didn't cut a deal with us before HE loved us. We don't have to exploit ourselves and use tricks and games to get HIS LOVE. GOD'S love is not based on a performance or the "what have you done for me lately" system. GOD'S LOVE is about a decision and action.

Have you ever been around a person who loves God? It's something about them that people gravitate to. Even when they are not in the best of mood God's love is so bright on them, you just want to be in their presence. This is someone who is committed to God. When we commit to HIM, HE commits to us. HE tells the whole wide world how HE feels about us by maintaining a strong presence on and through us. It's really visible to others.  For some of us, the cares of life have tried to stop us from truly experiencing the love of God, self and others. It's time to close some breaches.
Prayer
Lord, I ask forgiveness for believing any lie the enemy has told me or shown me. I ask forgiveness for acting on lies and for making decisions based on false information. I forgive myself for any harm I have caused myself and others. You created me and You love me. Here I stand Lord in Your presence, bare and naked, no masks, no pretense, with scars - some have healed and some have not. I know I even carry generational scars - I am here, broken - in Your presence. I recommit my life to You. I am righteous and holy through Christ.
I renounce all hatred, anger, resentment, revenge, retaliation, unforgiveness, bitterness unbelief, fear, doubt, and lust in my life and bloodline in the Name of Jesus.
I renounce all unGodly covenants, oaths, and pledges in my bloodline in the Name of Jesus.
I break all curses spoken over my life by myself and by others in the Name of Jesus.

I take authority over every perverse principality set against my life in the Name of Jesus.
I loose love, wellness, and a sound mind over me. In the Name of Jesus.
Go in peace.
Love you,

Pastor LaVern