The One Year Love Language Minute Devotional Read Online Free Page A
Author: Gary Chapman
Tags: Spirituality, Religion & Spirituality, Christianity, Marriage, Christian Books & Bibles, Christian Living, Devotionals
above, Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God and the second is to love our neighbors. These commands supersede all others, because everything else flows out from them.
Love begins with an attitude, which in turn leads to acts of service. "How may I help you?" is a good question with which to begin. Today is a good day to express love to our neighbor. In my opinion, that starts with those closest to us-first our spouse, then our family-and then spreads outward.
Father, you made it clear that loving you and loving others is the most important thing 1 can do. Help me to make that a priority. Let me show Christlike love to my spouse today.
Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. EPHESIANS 4:32
"BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER" (Ephesians 4:32, KJv). We may have memorized it as children, but have we forgotten it as adults? Kindness is one of the traits of love, as defined in the Bible's famous "love chapter;" 1 Corinthians 13: "Love is patient and kind" (v. 4). Do you consciously think of being kind to your spouse throughout the day? Kindness is expressed in the way we talk as well as in what we do. Yelling and screaming are not kind. Speaking softly and respectfully is. So is taking the time to have a meaningful conversation with a spouse who is lonely, upset, or uncertain.
Then there are acts of kindness-things we do to help others. When we focus our energy on doing kind things for each other, our relationship can be rejuvenated. What could you do today to be kind to your spouse? Maybe it's taking on a chore that's not typically your responsibility, or bringing him or her a cup of coffee in bed. Or perhaps it's giving an encouraging note or bringing home a favorite treat. These are small things, but they can have a big impact. Imagine what your relationship would be like if you both emphasized kindness.
Lord Jesus, l want to show my love through kindness. Please help me to think of great ways today to be kind to the one I love.
Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. EPHESIANS 4:2
PATIENCE MEANS ACCEPTING the imperfections of others. By nature, we want others to be as good as we are (or as good as we think we are), as on time as we are, or as organized as we are. The reality is, humans are not machines. The rest of the world does not live by our priority list; our agenda is not their agenda. It's especially important for couples to remember this. In a loving relationship, patience means bearing with our spouse's mistakes and giving him or her the freedom to be different from us.
When is the last time you were impatient with your significant other? Did your impatience come because he or she failed to live up to your expectations? I don't think its coincidence that Ephesians 4:2 links humility with patience. When we're humble, we realize that the world doesn't revolve around us and that we don't set the standard for behavior. And when that's our mindset, we're far less likely to become impatient.
The Bible says, "Love is patient and kind" (1 Corinthians 13:4). If in impatience you lash out at your loved one, love requires that you apologize and make it right. Work for more patience in your marriage.
Lord, I need more patience. Please teach me to let goof my expectations-for what others should be like, for what 1 should be able to accomplish, and for what 1 think I'm owed. Help me to treat my husband or wife with loving patience.
Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.
PROVERBS 12:15
WE WILL NEVER RESOLVE conflicts if we don't learn to listen. Many people think they are listening when in fact they are simply taking a break from talking-pausing to reload their verbal guns. The above verse from Proverbs doesn't pull any punches when it calls those who don't listen fools. We may not like that word, but the truth is, refusing to listen
Love begins with an attitude, which in turn leads to acts of service. "How may I help you?" is a good question with which to begin. Today is a good day to express love to our neighbor. In my opinion, that starts with those closest to us-first our spouse, then our family-and then spreads outward.
Father, you made it clear that loving you and loving others is the most important thing 1 can do. Help me to make that a priority. Let me show Christlike love to my spouse today.
Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. EPHESIANS 4:32
"BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER" (Ephesians 4:32, KJv). We may have memorized it as children, but have we forgotten it as adults? Kindness is one of the traits of love, as defined in the Bible's famous "love chapter;" 1 Corinthians 13: "Love is patient and kind" (v. 4). Do you consciously think of being kind to your spouse throughout the day? Kindness is expressed in the way we talk as well as in what we do. Yelling and screaming are not kind. Speaking softly and respectfully is. So is taking the time to have a meaningful conversation with a spouse who is lonely, upset, or uncertain.
Then there are acts of kindness-things we do to help others. When we focus our energy on doing kind things for each other, our relationship can be rejuvenated. What could you do today to be kind to your spouse? Maybe it's taking on a chore that's not typically your responsibility, or bringing him or her a cup of coffee in bed. Or perhaps it's giving an encouraging note or bringing home a favorite treat. These are small things, but they can have a big impact. Imagine what your relationship would be like if you both emphasized kindness.
Lord Jesus, l want to show my love through kindness. Please help me to think of great ways today to be kind to the one I love.
Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. EPHESIANS 4:2
PATIENCE MEANS ACCEPTING the imperfections of others. By nature, we want others to be as good as we are (or as good as we think we are), as on time as we are, or as organized as we are. The reality is, humans are not machines. The rest of the world does not live by our priority list; our agenda is not their agenda. It's especially important for couples to remember this. In a loving relationship, patience means bearing with our spouse's mistakes and giving him or her the freedom to be different from us.
When is the last time you were impatient with your significant other? Did your impatience come because he or she failed to live up to your expectations? I don't think its coincidence that Ephesians 4:2 links humility with patience. When we're humble, we realize that the world doesn't revolve around us and that we don't set the standard for behavior. And when that's our mindset, we're far less likely to become impatient.
The Bible says, "Love is patient and kind" (1 Corinthians 13:4). If in impatience you lash out at your loved one, love requires that you apologize and make it right. Work for more patience in your marriage.
Lord, I need more patience. Please teach me to let goof my expectations-for what others should be like, for what 1 should be able to accomplish, and for what 1 think I'm owed. Help me to treat my husband or wife with loving patience.
Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.
PROVERBS 12:15
WE WILL NEVER RESOLVE conflicts if we don't learn to listen. Many people think they are listening when in fact they are simply taking a break from talking-pausing to reload their verbal guns. The above verse from Proverbs doesn't pull any punches when it calls those who don't listen fools. We may not like that word, but the truth is, refusing to listen
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