Issues Of The Heart. Job Mothiba

God’s glorious name forever receive honour. Amen.” (Galatians 1:5)

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      Three

      POSITIVE EMOTIONS: LOVE, JOY, PEACE AND HAPPINESS

       (a). Love (The love of God)

      Love is a feeling, a deep feeling that bring lots of emotions. It involves feelings of exhilaration, intense passion, and ecstasy. When you are in love with someone, it touches our body, soul and spirit. You are there to care, support and work together to solve problems. You’re willing to stand by this person in good times and bad. As there are different types of love but, there is only one love, same feeling deep in our heart and mind.

      Thus, love is not only between man and woman or children and parents but between family and friends. For love takes its origin from God. It is by love which God is known. When He puts two persons together, He also put love so that they can love and support each other in marriage.

      Today, many people has made this pure word become dirty, love is not sex and sex is not love. God in his infinite wisdom designed our bodies to give and receive pleasure in the confines of marriage. “God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable.”(1 Thessalonians 4:4)

      But, God’s love is different from people. For it is divine and perfect. It converts the soul. It is better than all rubies, diamonds, and riches untold. To know him is to love him, obey and follow his commandments. However, obedience is not the evidence that you love God. Love is the enablement to obey Him. If you love Him it is easy to keep His commandments. For there is nothing you can do to make your “Heavenly Dad” love you any less or any more except by following His statutes. Just as He said in His words: “If you love me, obey my commandments.” (John 14:15)

      It can be way too easy to forget the love God has for you, when we live in such a dark and broken world. But, today be assured that He loves you. The mistakes you did yesterday do not dictate the love that God has for you today. For God sees us as we can be and loves us as we are. Likewise, do not look at people through eyes of judgment; look at them through eyes of mercy. For you do not know what they have been through. Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. (Luke 6:36)

      Unfortunately, people who are supposed to love us are not always able to give us the kind of love we need. Whether they are friends, mothers, fathers, grandparents, significant others, siblings, family, no matter how good their intentions are, sometimes they leave us still feeling empty, invalidated, un-cared for, and alone.

      And on the days when that pain becomes too much to bear, our work is just to recognise that those people whose love we so desperately want are never going to be able to meet our needs. Not because they do not care but, because they cannot change who they are. They are human beings, only God can fulfil our every need. Because His love is unfailing. It is never changing. It is a greater love than anyone else in the world. Therefore nothing in all creation can ever separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39)

      No matter who you are, if you allow God to shape your life, you can be used by Him for great things. There are times when God will use you in someone else’s life; though it may not be pretty or comfortable but, they also need to see Jesus through you. Those who walk in God’s new kind of love never injure anyone so, never take advantage of anyone. Simply walk and live in God’s love. Because people do not always need advice. Sometimes all they need is a hand to hold, ear to listen and a heart to understand. “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

      This is a time to love and appreciate those around you - near and far. To prioritise and to start over. Start loving yourself for everything you already are. Stop hating yourself for everything you are not. For every part of you was lovingly planned. Every detail was master- fully crafted. You are loved by the Lord unconditionally. He even said in His words “…I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.“(Jeremiah 31:3). So, let your Father’s affection gives you security and courage to face the future. Do not fear.

      Life has done nothing to you that God cannot make it work out for you, because with God every mistake is correctable and every sin can be forgiven, if only you will put it in His hands. Hence, you cannot comprehend how much God loves you until you mess up and see how He responds. When you have prayed and done all you can, leave it up to God. It is time to let God do what you cannot do. For God uses everything, nothing is wasted. What you went through yesterday, God may use it to help someone today.

      The hardships you endured, God will allow them to speak into other people who are following the same path. So, do not be ashamed of your past. Your scars are proof that God heals. Your story is not over, God is not done with you yet. “He who began a good work in you will continue to perform it until it is complete.” (Philippians 1:6)

       (b). Human Love (Romantic)

      Have you realised that when you have a quarrel with someone, you tell it to everyone without any fear. But if you really love someone, you even scare to tell them for the fear of being rejected. Hence nothing hurts more than being rejected, ignored, replaced, forgotten, or lied to. It is really scary. I am talking about that nervous feeling you get when you talk to someone you really like, in person or on the phone for the first time. Psychology says, the deeper your feelings, the harder they are to express.

      Perhaps, the reason some of us are still single is that, and because we ignore the ones who adore us, adore the ones who ignore us, love the ones who hurt us, and hurt the ones who love us. We are stuck between what we want and what we are. So, stop pretending to be who you are not by putting a different picture from what you truly look like. Be completely honest about your feelings. For God created us to be bold and beautiful in all our ways. Do not be ashamed of the way you look. You have exactly what somebody else wants. What makes you different makes you beautiful. Be original. Be yourself. Be real. For what is real does not fade away. For you are part of a puzzle in someone’s life. Someday, someone will walk into your life and make you realize why it never worked out with anyone else.

      You may never know where you fit. But, someone’s life is never be complete without you in it. Perhaps you feel like you are out of place where you are right now. But, as God is a *Keeper, ask Him to keep you from the wrong ones, and keep you celibate until you get your perfect match. If you stand still, you will see the hand of the Lord in your life because standing still is not sitting still. One is resignation.

      The other is anticipation. And waiting patiently in expectation is the foundation of the spiritual life. Even if you are waiting for the fruit of the womb do not lose heart. Nothing ever stays the same forever. The seed of the bamboo tree spends 5 years underground with no growth. The 5th year it grows over 80 feet tall. So, waiting time is not wasting time. Your appointed time is coming. “Be still, and know that I am God…!” (Psalm 46:10)

      Realise, that someone love you, someone need you, someone prayed for you. You are the answer to someone’s prayer. So, always remember to smile. You may not know it, but someone might be dying to see that smile every day. For every time you smile at someone, it is an act of love, a gift to that person. However, how can you expect a person to smile back at you when you are not happy with who you are or where you are at in life? You deserve to be happy.

      If someone is not trying their best