This is the month in which we celebrate love – the love of one heart for another heart. Living beating hearts that beat in sync with each other.
The Bible speaks often about our hearts as the center of our being. Physically our heart is what keeps us alive and it seems that emotionally our heart is what makes our lives worth living.
My family was not one of those close hugging and kissing families. In fact, growing up I felt that I had no emotional heart. My girlfriends would swoon over the latest male singer or some fellow at school and I could not relate to them. I felt distant – almost alien when it came to emotions and love. I assumed that if I had any type of emotional heart it must be in neutral all the time.
But, when I finally gave my entire life over to Jesus and let Him guide and direct me, for the first time ever, I truly understood unconditional love. That overwhelming, all embracing love of the Father for His child – me. I truly was astonished because the Father’s love was almost overpowering.
The fact that I was no longer in emotional neutral changed my outlook and life completely. I was able to not only love others with a depth that was previously unknown, I could love those who I would have never associated with before – all due to the grace and with the power of God. God opened my heart up so that as He worked teaching me what true love is others benefited by receiving my newfound love of God.
Throughout my Christian life I have been amazed at the outpouring of love I receive every moment from God the Father. I will never tire of being stunned by His love every day of my life. In turn, having received this gift that earlier was totally unknown to me, I am still excited to pass on God’s love to others by both words and deeds. What a beautiful and unexpected gift to receive constantly – the assurance that I am loved by the Father and that I am one of His children.
When I speak to anyone who has not chosen to seek God or even has rejected God’s offer of salvation, I become frustrated because I cannot adequately explain how enormous this love of God is. People have told me that they are disinterested in knowing God because they are satisfied in their worldly life or even that they are ‘through’ with God because He didn’t do something they asked of Him. Oh, how I wish each of these people could experience this true love of God. This amazing – beating of hearts in sync – love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Once this love is experienced no one would ever turn away.
There is so much in the Bible written about love, our hearts, and minds. We are so small and limited when we are not tethered to God that we cannot fathom what the Father has in store for us until we commit ourselves into His care – His loving care. The Bible tells us, “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” That is one fabulous promise and I am living proof.
People play the lottery trying to get rich yet, for free, here in our very hearts we can seek and ask God to show us His love, which will enrich us beyond the world’s largest jackpot. I beg my unchurched family members not to miss out. Oh, that I might find the words to explain this majestic love.
There is so much to learn once we have committed ourselves to the One that created our hearts and set them beating. The desire to know God’s will for us is one of them. Just as when we love other humans and we want to do things to please them, this amazing God-love compels us to desire to give pleasure to our Father by doing His will. We naturally want to please Him.
Jesus told us, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” This is the way of entry to knowing the God that loves beyond all measure and knowing Him brings eternal joy to those who receive and find Him.
I pray that this February when we are considering the loves of our heart may we also consider the One that is pure and perfect love – the very Creator of our own beating hearts.
ED. NOTE: Amy Patsch writes from Ocean City. Email her at writerGoodGod@gmail.com.
