Day 15

Love never fails . . .
never -- at no time; not ever; on no occasion; not at all; in no way; absolutely not; not in any circumstances; at no time, whether past, present or future; in no degree; not in the least.

fail -- to dwindle, pass or die away; end, limit; to prove deficient or lacking; to abandon, forsake; disappoint, prove undependable; to be wanting; to fall short; to become diminished; to decline; to decay; to weaken; to perish; to die.

Love is a not an emotion, it is a choice to be unconditional, without expectations of receiving anything in return. This is the kind of love that never fails. This is the love that can only come from the Father, through his son, Jesus Christ. For it is written:

"If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:15-16)

To further illustrate this unfailing love using the definitions above:

Love at no time abandons.
Love in no way disappoints.
Love does not in any circumstances weaken.
Love on no occasion proves undependable.
Love will not ever die.

The scriptures tell me how to express love:

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."

John 15:12

"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but

with actions and in truth."

1 John 3:18

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient,

bearing with one another in love."

Ephesians 4:2

The scriptures tell me how wide, long, high and deep His love is:

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,

that we should be called children of God!"

1 John 3:1a

"For the Lord is good and his loves endures forever."

Psalm 100:5a

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed,

yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken."

Isaiah 54:10a

Being able to love is not based on my ability, my strength, or my feelings:

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the

strength of my heart and my portion forever."

Psalm 73:26

I only need to stand my ground and after having done everything, to stand:

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be

men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love."

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

An illustration for the love I will give to my husband:

"Place me like a seal over your heart,

like a seal on your arm;

for love is as strong as death,

its ardor unyielding as the grave.

It burns like blazing fire,

like the very flame of the Lord.

Many waters cannot quench love;

rivers cannot wash it away."

Song of Songs 8:6-7a

Today I dare myself to receive the love of God and to let that love go forth out of my heart toward others.

Lord, in your abounding love, help me. Amen.

Scripture to meditate on today:

"We love because he first loved us."

1 John 4:19

Day 14

Love always perseveres . . .
persevere -- to stay behind; to stand firm, endure, be patient; continue steadfastly; refuse to stop; persist. To bolster, sustain, or uphold. To maintain a purpose in spite of counter influences, opposition, or discouragement. To not abandon what is undertaken.

In order to persevere there needs to be a trial, something to push through. That's why it is said:
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." (James 1:2-3)

We do not persevere in vain for it is written:

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12)

I need to realize that my fight is not with my husband, or others. That is why it is said:

"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:11-12)

Humans are fallible. It is inevitable that we will all make mistakes. I will face a bad day, an insensitive word, unmet expectations, etc... -- but that is where perseverance is born. Perseverance comes from my faith in Jesus and God's unfailing love for me. When faced with opposition I need to stand firm behind Jesus so he can sustain me through it.

I am not expressing love when I do not choose to persevere. Today I dare myself to refuse to withhold the love in my heart for my husband, and others, despite what obstacles are set before me. I will put on the full armor of God and stand firm.

Lord, in your abounding love, help me. Amen.

Scripture to meditate on today:

"But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardships,

do the work of an evangelist, discharge all

the duties of your ministry."
2 Timothy 4:5

Day 13

Love always hopes . . .
hopes -- put hope in, expect, an attitude of confidently looking forward to what is good and beneficial.

beneficial -- to bring together; to be helpful; be gained; common good

When I hope it should be of things that will bring us closer together, and ultimately closer to Jesus. Instead of hoping to change others, (which, though the intention is to do good, actually drives a wedge between us).

I will hope in the love of God.

"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out

his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

Romans 5:5

I will put my hope, my expectations, in God's promises.

"Uphold me according to Your promise, that I may live:

and let me not be put to shame in my hope!"

Psalm 119:116 Amplified

I will be still, increasing my faith, while He works in each of us as He wills.

"But if we hope for what is still unseen by us,

we wait for it with patience and composure."

Romans 8:25 Amplified

I am not expressing love when I let my hope become self-serving. Hope, the kind that comes from sincere love, fills us with joy and peace. I show my love when I hope in the promises of the Lord and share that hope with others. Today I dare myself to do just that--to put my hope in Jesus.

Lord, in your abounding love, help me. Amen.

Scripture to meditate on today:

"May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace

in believing [through the experience of your faith]

that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound

and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope."

Romans 15:13, Amplified

Day 12

Love always trusts . . .
trusts -- to believe, put one's faith in, trust, with an implication that actions based on that trust may follow; entrust, committed.

believe -- same meaning as above

Definition of believe -- to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so.

Only if one believes in something can one act purposefully.

In Matthew a blind man wanted healing and Jesus asked him, "Do you believe I am able to do this?" (Matthew 9:28).

In Mark when the synagogue ruler was told that his daughter was dead, Jesus said, "Don't be afraid; just believe." (Mark 5:36).

Again in Mark a father of a boy who was possessed by a spirit said to Jesus, "But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." Jesus replied, " 'If you can' ?" "Everything is possible for him who believes." The father immediately exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief ! " (Mark 9:14-24)

A Real Life Conversation

My daughter got her first tick one spring. She was frightened that a tiny bug had latched onto her and wouldn't let go.

I said to her, "Sweetie, I can take care of that."

Still, her face was full of worry. I got the tweezers and the rubbing alcohol ready. When she saw me with the tweezers she became tense and started crying.

Trying to soothe her I said, "Oh, don't be afraid."

Now, I believed I could get the tick out without much trouble. But she wasn't so sure. It actually broke my heart because I wanted my daughter to trust me. To believe that I could do what I said I could.

I told her, "Honey, I can do this!"

She said, "I know mommy, I'm just not so sure."

How it must break God's heart to hear this kind of conversation from me. He doesn't just want me to know what He can do; He wants me to trust, to believe that He will do what He says.

Trusting is hard because I am vulnerable, exposed. It is why when one is betrayed it can cut the heart deep down. However, I can see how it is an expression of true love when you do trust. My husband has never done anything for me not to trust in his love for me. Today I dare myself to trust in the love my husband has for me. To entrust to him my heart. When he says I am beautiful, I will smile and kiss him. When he says I love you, I will answer I'm glad because I love you too. I will believe.

Lord, in your abounding love, help me.

Scripture to meditate on today:

"Now it is required that those who have been

given a trust must prove faithful."

1 Corinthians 4:2

Day 11

Love always protects . . .
always -- all, every (thing, one), whole, continually, publicly, day after day, forevermore.

protects -- to put up with, stand, endure, cover.

Definition of protect: to cover or shield from danger or injury, to defend, to guard, to preserve in safety. Literally--to cover in front

"Sing about a fruitful vineyard:

I, the Lord, watch over it; I water it continuously.

I guard it day and night so that no one may harm it."

(Isaiah 27:2-3)

"Timothy, (Wendy) guard what has been entrusted to your care."

(1 Timothy 6:20a)

The scriptures in Isaiah and 1 Timothy clearly tells how I should care for those I love and who have been entrusted to my care.

To love another means to stand between them and the threat.

"Greater love has no one than this,

that he lay down his life for his friends."

(John 15:13).

It means to nourish by speaking life to them and wrestling in prayer for them.

"The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life"

(Proverbs 10:11a)

That my words and actions are edifying and wholesome.

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."

(Proverbs 16:24)

I am not expressing love when I do not protect. Today I dare myself to fill my heart with God's Holy Word so that I will be equipped and ready to express goodness in what I say and do. I will pray daily for my husband to guard him against the fiery darts of the enemy. I will let the love I have in my heart stand between him and the world.

Lord, in your abounding love, help me. Amen.

Scripture to meditate on today:

"The good man brings good things out of the good

stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things

out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of

the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."

Luke 6:45

Day 10

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth . . .
delight -- to rejoice, be glad, hail, full of joy, welcome

evil -- wickedness, wrongdoing, unjust, unrighteousness, dishonest, worldly

rejoices -- to rejoice with, shared joy, to experience joy and gladness in a high degree

truth -- truthfulness, corresponding to reality, assure, certainly

sincere -- pure, unmixed, unadulterated

I need to continue to replace the lies with the truth of God's Word:

Lie: I do not have enough faith.

Truth: "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20)

Lie: My prayers have no real power.

Truth: "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 18:18)

I am not expressing love when I hold on to the lies. As the Word becomes a part of my everyday thinking my love will be unmixed and able to grow deeply in my heart. My desire is to give my husband the unconditional love he has given me. Today I dare myself to cling to what is good and true.

Lord, in your abounding love, help me.

Scripture to meditate on today:

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good."

Romans 12:9

Day 9

Love keeps no record of wrongs . . .
record -- to credit, count, reckon, regard, think, consider, realize

wrongs -- evil, wicked, wrong, bad, a perversion of what pertains to goodness; an evil thing can refer to any crime, harm, or moral wrong.

Like the memory of an elephant, I have held in my heart the hurts done to me, especially by my husband. I've used that knowledge against him as a reason why he can't be trusted or believed when he says he loves me.

The truth is:

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Romans 3:23

Holding past wrongs against my husband, or others, shows I have not forgiven. Wisdom says: "Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs." (Proverbs 10:12)

I am not expressing love by stirring up the past. Today I dare myself to pay no attention to wrongs done to me. I will not repay evil for evil. As the Word says: "He who covers over an offense promotes love." (Proverbs 17:9a)

Lord, in your abounding love, help me. Amen.

Scripture to meditate on today:

"Above all, love each other deeply, because

love covers over a multitude of sins."

1 Peter 4:8