HOW'S YOUR LOVE LIFE?

(I find that periodically we all need to examine our relationship with the Lord. Where do we stand? Are we as close as we were in times past? Or, do we have other things that have crept into our lives, and taken up our time?

One good test is to ask the question: “What do we spend our time doing?? What is on our mind most of the time?”

Do you remember when you first fell in love? You thought about that person all the time! You wrote them love letters. You couldn’t wait to be together. They were on your mind—a lot! 
Sometimes we can get complacent about our relationship with the Lord. Like an older married couple, we think, “I know he loves me, and sure I love my spouse”. But where is the flame? The love has waned. It used to be fervent, but now other things have caused the flame to dwindle.

Our command from the Lord is this: Matthew 22:37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ And Deuteronomy 6:5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

How is your love life? This is a commandment—not a suggestion! Are we fervent in our love for the Lord? Do we think about Him? Do we truly love Him with our whole hearts, soul, mind and strength? If He commands us to do this, then it must be possible.
There is a familiar passage in Revelation 3:15-16  “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

Ouch! It makes me not want to be lukewarm or cold…what about you?

Here is our litmus test. We need to check our hearts! Are we having that wonderful time of intimacy with the Lord daily? Or, is our Bible collecting dust on the shelf? Are we distracted with other things? A TV show? Maybe a TV series? Time on Facebook, or other social media? Are people taking up our time?

We want to spend time with the Lord—but there is my job, my children, my spouse, my friend, etc. What about the everyday job we have like working, shopping cleaning (I had to add cleaning- I love doing that!)?

OK, so here are some things we can do.

1. First, do a check up! See where you are with the Lord. On a scale from 1-10, where would you put this relationship? Be honest. Maybe you are at a 2. There is room to grow!

2. Repent! Ask the Lord to forgive you for not putting Him first place in your life.

3. Ask Him to help you. Ask Him for the desire to love Him. He will. He will give you strength. He will give you His love. He is a giver! Ask Him for wisdom too. Make it a goal—a priority.

4. Carve out time for Him. No one is too busy; we all have 24 hours in a day. I know a person who would go to work at 6 in the morning, and get up at 4, just to have time with Him before work. That’s a fervent heart! We can all have that fervent heart, and be hot for the Lord. But, it takes time. Relationships happen over time. It doesn’t happen overnight.

5. Get back in the Word of God: Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” The Word of God is our food. Our lives are directed by His words, so the Word is vitally important in our lives!

6. Set up a schedule. Don’t just do it one day and then forget the rest of the week. Make it a priority.
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7. Most of all, cultivate a relationship with the Lord. Speak to Him in prayer, but then listen to what He wants to say! Record that. Waiting on the Lord is so important. It is in these times of waiting that your relationship will grow—from a 2 to a 10!
 
Remember Revelation 3:20: Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
 
He is knocking! Will you let Him in?