“And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.” II Corinthians 12:15
When I’m dealing with something really challenging, I search to find the right godly perspective that I can focus on to get me through it. An old wound has been haunting me these past few weeks, and it has brought up unproductive thoughts and desires. Because of the hurt, old feelings were coming back that were hindering me and the relationships of those involved. I went into a deep dark pit and needed to find my way out. Through lots of prayer, reading, and soul searching I finally once again found my way back to the perspective that has helped me deal with this all along.
Considering everyone involved, I asked myself, “How can I best love their soul?”
This question made everything so clear as it made it apparent that dwelling on these things was going to hinder my godly influence on others and not allow me to be who I truly want to be. My desire is to be as self-sacrificing as Christ by loving every soul as He did. I want to do whatever it takes and sacrifice everything of myself and within myself for the sake of one’s soul just as Paul expressed to the Corinthians in the verse above. For me, that is true success in life and true love. With a focus on this question and perspective, I am able to come out of the dark pit and back into the light so I can move forward and do whatever it takes to best love their souls.
Prayer:
Our God, Who lights our path out of the darkness, I will joyfully sacrifice myself for the love of another’s soul. I will sacrifice the feelings and thoughts that hinder me in knowing that by loving as Christ loves, others will be drawn to You and I will also find peace through the hurt. Thank you for Paul’s example of this as I know he is only imitating his Savior, Jesus Christ. In Jesus, Amen.
Truth in love,
Heather
Truth in Love 