In 2014 I set aside three days to seek the Lord concerning some questions I had about my ministry and finances. I had become weary concerning growth and the increase I was expecting based on what I believed God had spoken to me around the time of stepping out to travel full-time.
In preparation for writing to you this month, I was led to revisit those words God spoke to me many years ago. I was blessed by what I found as new light and insight came from reading the pages of my journal. What follows is from that encounter and what God is speaking to me now.
I want to begin with the first statement God said to me as I prayed in 2014, I believe it holds the foundational thinking for what we will discuss in this letter. God said, “_________ (Your name), I love you unlimited and without restriction. Before anything was made, I saw you and with all knowledge of all things chose, without restraint or regret, to love you. Your success level is found in the knowledge of this love.”
One of the greatest challenges we face when discussing the topic of love is making sure we have a clear and precise understanding of its definition. Most of the time we think of love as an emotional affection and admiration, it’s a natural response. Although this is not incorrect, it is not to be the focus. Affection and admiration are fruits of love, but not the root.
1 John 4:7 (TPT) gives us the definition of love, “Those who are loved by God, let His love continually pour from you to one another, because God is love.” Further clarity comes from 1 Corinthians 13:8 (AMPC) Love (God) never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. This love, this God, this never-failing God, is the love that we must be rooted in and always grounded in (Ephesians 3:17). For this love will cast out the fear that grips the very fibers of your being endeavoring to pull you down into despair. The reason this love holds your success level, and I don’t just mean wealth, but your overall level of life is because when God’s love is believed and received it completely dismisses all insecurity, inferiority, and trepidation concerning the circumstances of your life.
God’s love must become priority in all and above all else, without exception. Removing all hindrances of love is wise and allowing love to reign as chief positions all things, including you, in a place to succeed.
Every decision and act must be made from the platform of love. So, the question that begs to be asked is, what hinders love? The simple answer is self. When self is first and focused upon, then love is not, and love’s ability is set on hold. In other words, failure and defeat are imminent.
I want to continue setting the stage to truly understand God’s love. Love is not just how you act, speak, and treat others. Again, these deal with the fruit of love, although these are important, they are the visible part of love. Love begins and is more about what is not seen, heard, or known. The things done in secret, said in private and accomplished without recognition. Paul alludes to this in Ephesians 1:17 (AMPC), “(For I always pray to) God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] into the deep and intimate knowledge of Him.” Prayer, and more specifically intercession, is a great expression of true love as it seeks the betterment of another.
1 Corinthians 2:9 says, “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the hearts of man the things God has prepared for those who love Him.’” Love is decided regardless of another’s decision or choice. We love God because He first loved us. (1 John 4:10)
Love is completely void of self-preservation or protection. Love is fully invested in another without retreat even if rejected or denied. Understand this: your acts of love (the way you live, decide, and conduct all matters of life) are based upon God’s love for you, not on the acceptance of others. What you do is more about a lifestyle of relationship with God and receiving a revelation of His love that then bleeds over into the seen, into the lives of others. It’s all about motive. God’s love was His motive for sending Jesus, it’s a completely selfless action.
I want to challenge you to check your motive concerning life’s questions and desires. By doing so you’ll determine whether it’s based in love, or if it’s sourced from panic and desperation. Concerning your business, investments, and relationships if your goal is to enrich the lives of others, through producing a quality product, giving and sowing, or the emotional and physical supporting of another without hidden agenda other than simply making them better, then that act is of love and will produce abundance. Everything will grow and increase when you truly learn to love as God loved you in Christ.
Remember that limits are set because of selfish focus and ambition. In a time of panic care for others is absent, forgotten, and tossed out the window. Therefore, where there is self-focus, you will always have ruin. The breakdown of all things comes from this exact thought. Restrictions, laws, and limits are created to provide protection and safety. But God is love and love is ever ready and consistently able to think of others and their well-being, and is always able to think the best of them and of ways to promote them. With such ability, there is no need for limit, restraint, or law.
When you believe in God’s love for you and by faith take it according to grace, you’ll have stepped into a place of no limits and abundance in every area. If there are no limits, then the ability to increase is predictable. The guiding standard we need to adopt first and foremost concerning love is selflessness. God is selfless, which places His priority on my protection, provision, and promotion, therefore I can never fail! Being adored by God is a secondary bonus to his selfless love.