Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. -Colossians 3:12-14

1 John 4:8 tells us that “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

God is love; but what we may know as love, may not really be love at all. The biblical definition of love is “a deep affection; devotion.” That is how God feels for you. He has a deep affection for you. He is devoted to you. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsufffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” It is His true hope that ALL should come to repentance. Not forcefully, but willingly. Not because they do not have a choice, but rather because they do. He chose you, He desires also to be chosen by you.

It is written in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 that “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails….”

God is love, but God does not love like the world loves. He loves like a Father loves. He loves with truth, with righteousness, and with justice. He loves as a Redeemer, a Restorer, a Healer, a Deliverer and as the Creator of the heavens and earth. God is love in word and deed and when God loves; there is no question, there will be no doubt. God loves you; ask God to show you how to love like Him and He will do it.

Heavenly Father,

Your word tells me that love is the bond of perfection and that love covers all sins. You loved me so much that You sent Your one and only begotten Son to die on the cross for my sins. I love You Lord, I love you with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind and all my strength. I love You with an everlasting love and with loving kindness, I draw You near. I am Yours Lord, and You are mine, please teach me how to love like You love, and remove from me any spirits of control, hate, jealousy, pride, and strife. I rebuke and renounce all strife, prideful, jealous, hateful, and controlling spirits in my life and I seek Your righteousness, Your peace, and Your joy in the Holy Spirit. I want to love like You O Lord, please deliver me from the evil one. I fully surrender to You and to Your love in my life, and I commit to walking in love, just as Jesus did.

In the precious and holy name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Proclaim: I suffer long, I am kind; I do not envy; I do not parade myself, I am not puffed up; I do not behave rudely, I do not seek my own will, I am not provoked, I think no evil; I do not rejoice in iniquity, I rejoice only in truth; I bear all things, I believe all things, I hope in all things, I endure in all things. I never fail….”

May it be exactly as you pray and proclaim.

P.S. Please know; God; our awesome and mighty God; Creator of the universe – HE LOVES YOU. It is you; He loves.