The Lion's Roar

21 Days of Dying The Crucified Life Copyright 2016 © Misty Holmes Dorsey Love That Will Set You Free – DAY 18

21 Days of Dying
The Crucified Life
Copyright 2016 © Misty Holmes Dorsey
Love That Will Set You Free
DAY 18
Many have been wounded in the name of love and are carrying the hurt and the pain from that experience. When we love the way, God tells us to love it is different than the way the world tells us to love.
The world loves someone because….., but God loves because He is love. There are no conditions and strings attached. Some will love you because of your looks but what happens when the looks begin to change, is love still present or was your love based on some condition.
Matthew 5:44 (KJV) – But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
One might ask, how can this even be possible, love my enemies? What kind of language is that? Why must I love those who hate me?
John 13:35 (KJV) – By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
We must remember that we too where enemies of God and in great need of a savior. Jesus came to give us life and more abundantly. He still desires to heal, deliver, and set us free from the chains of bondage.
Romans 5:10 (KJV) – For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Colossians 1:21 (KJV) – And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled;
Know that before we were Christ He loved us and Christ had already paid a price for you and I. All that we have ever done and will do, it will not stop His love for us. He loved first and that love did not stop because of our faults.
When love is void in our hearts, forgiveness cannot come in. Forgiveness may appear to be present. However, when someone does you wrong, do we remember the old and allow the old hurt to flood our heart?
1 Peter 4:8 (KJV) – And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity (love) shall cover the multitude of sins.
Know this love is the strongest weapon, and it will defeat the enemy in our lives and in the lives of others. Realize that it was love that led Christ to the cross, kept Christ on the cross, and rose Him from the dead. Love is so strong and powerful that it will cause demons, devils and witches to withdraw. When they see love the power in torment is cast out. Love’s assignment is to cover a multitude of sin and bring us into righteousness. Love will cause you to look past someone’s fault and see their need.
Right now, you may be questioning what is (Misty) saying to me – look past their fault and your fault, What? Doing this will cause you to see someone the way God sees them and still love them with agape love. God’s love is still doing it for us. Learning to let go is hard. Despite the difficulty there is a great reward that comes along with letting go and loving, even when it hurts. Above all, we must remember that Jesus did not let us go. He forgave us and continues to forgive us repeatedly.
Holding on to grudges and pain will cause your flesh to get stronger and cause you to miss out on God’s purpose for your life. Let it go and allow the love of God to cover you.
The enemy is always trying to tell us that no one loves you or cares for us. When tragedy arises, the enemy tells us that if God loves us this would have never happened. The devil hates love and all that God stands for after all the Bible tells us that God is love. (I John 4:8)
It is okay to open yourself up to God and love again the way God loves. When you love with conditions a door will open that will eventually cause you some pain.

Reflections:
Today reflect on where your love falls short or simply not present. Begin to journal and ask God to help you to love through His heart and His eyes. Allow Him to take your heart out of it and give you His heart.