Year of Love

I have been working on me. A lot.  Every day.  And God has spoken three words over my life: Love.  Forgiveness. Authority.

For several years He gave me an assignment at the beginning of each year: writing to each of my children the first year.  Deep letters explaining how greatly I loved them, what I admired about them, the way I saw them as adults.  A year of constant attention, love and encouragement.  The next year it was writing and sending cards to several people every week. The third year it was to write very specific things to people he led me to address.  He gave me a person ( at times more than one) to pray for every day. In two years I doubt I missed that commitment more than three or four days.

The next year God gave me others to pray for.  He released me from that first person but I will admit I still pray over them. But I began to get Words for people.  And I was told to give them those Words.  I have, however, learned it is respectful to ask their permission.

So this year is the year of Love, forgiveness and authority.

Love is easy. I was once a more critical person than I am now.  Praying for others daily heals so many places inside the prayer.  It is difficult to hold any kind of grudge or judgement against anyone you have just asked God to bless.

Forgiveness is a bit tougher.  Many times I have thought I had forgiven everyone I felt had hurt me.  An ex husband. His mother.  Teachers.  People in my life.  When I forget someone, God will bring that person back to my memory and I will repent and actively forgive them.  When we have any unforgiveness we are easily offended.  After all, if so and so hurt us, won’t other people?  We have to become Teflon Believers. Incapable of picking up any offense.  Offense is a thief!  It steals friendships, lives, potential life changing relationships.  It steals peace.  And it steals our character.

I do not want to have thoughts so ugly my Father God has to turn His face rather than watch me disrespect one of His other children.  He wants us to look on others through His forgiving and loving eyes.  He wants us to see the hope for Salvation still available to everyone.  So when we have unforgiveness toward anyone it is our responsibility to pray for that person.

God wants His sent disciples to carry the scent of Jesus.

Authority sets us free.  We have been given immense power in this world.  And in Heaven.  We are entitled to do all the things Jesus could do.  And more!  He told us this!  We can move mountains.  Raise the dead.  Heal others through His power and grace.  That said, we should be able to give finances, touch lives, pray answered prayers and change the world.

This is the year of Love, Forgiveness, and Authority.   Praise God!