January 11, 2012

The Blackaby journal I am currently using for my morning readings is a copy I had used very infrequently several years ago.  I had made a few entries, then as I oft do, I had lost interest and started half-heartedly on another "personal spiritual journey".  When I opened the journal to my reading today, I was greeted with an interesting entry that was 11- years old.

The focus verses were 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 4:9  
3:12- May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and everyone else, just as ours does for you.

4:9-  Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.

I had written in the margin the following:  "God you know that my love of self many times overrides my love of others.  God help me today to put others before me.  May I find the patience to listen today to what is important to others."

Luckily I had written the year when I first dabbled in this Blackaby book--2000!  That 11-year old entry is just as relevant for me today as it was over a decade ago.

Have I improved in this area?  Perhaps, but not much.  I am pretty good at the "big" shows of love. The Christmas gifts for the down-and-out family at school.  Helping a friend with a washing machine belt at 10 o'clock at night.  The 8:30 p.m., 26 degree jump start for the dead battery.  But how about getting excited with Kristi because she has learned a new crochet stitch?  Do I encourage those in our home and at work, or am I always looking for the thing that can be improved?

My prayer from 2000- "God help me to put others before me" is just as relevant, necessary and needed as it was 11 years ago.  I would agree with the adage "No matter how much things change, they always stay the same", with a slight modification.  "No matter how much things change, they always stay the same if attempted changes are without God."

The glacial progress in my ability (willingness?) to love others has been a result of my not turning it over to God on a weekly, daily, hourly basis.  If I want to increase my capacity love others, I need much more intentionality and consistency in my prayers.