Inona no atao hoe Fitiavana Marina?Santionany

Self-love Must Not Obstruct True Love

Self-love not only prohibits true love but also destroys it.

What is self-absorbed with? SELF. Fear. Unbelief. Mistrust. Conflicting thoughts. Conflicting feelings. Ungodly self-centered passions and desires. Anger. Hurt—deep hurt. Haunting emotions and memories. Untruths. Success. Fame. Fortune. Self-aggrandizement. The root that seems to be common in all lack of true love is focusing inward on ourselves instead of outwardly on God and others.

So, where is your focus? How do you spend your time, money, resources, talents, and affections? Where do your thoughts wander or even fixate during the day? What words come out of your mouth? In other words, what do you talk about, or whom do you talk about? Is your focus on self?

Although we may have laid the foundation of Christ in our lives, we can discover that we have been building on that foundation with the rickety and shoddy workmanship of self. But God can redeem and restore the years the locusts have stolen and take what the enemy desired for evil and use it for good. He can even use our sinful, selfish ways to reveal more of His love, His mercy, and His grace.

Take a moment to think this through and then pray this prayer:

"Lord, please open the eyes of my heart and let me see the inside. Is there love? Is there hurt? Pride? Anger? Selfishness? What is keeping me from knowing your love and living in your love? I want to know this true love so that I can live and proclaim the true love of the gospel with my lips and with my life. According to Paul, if we have not love, we are nothing. Have mercy on me. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Take the Truth to Heart: Choose a Scripture to take to heart to renew your mind and transform your heart.

Put Self to Death: What specific sin is being addressed in your life by the Scripture you wrote? Paul tells us very specifically to put off our old ways.

Bring the Truth to Life: Put on the new self--Christ. What specific adjustments do you need to make in your thinking, attitude, or behavior to submit to Him and apply His truth to your mind and heart?