The Self-Care DevotionalSample

Loving Him Enables Us to Love Others

This second command comes right after God’s first command to love Him wholeheartedly. And if you think about it, it must happen in this order. Because when we choose to love the Lord with all that we are, we are then enabled to love His children with passion and purpose. We are set up to embrace the call to show kindness, compassion, and generosity to others. When our hearts are turned toward God, He pours out His goodness in abundance. He honors our efforts to do as He has asked. That means that when we follow His lead and press PAUSE or embrace seasons of rest, He will bless it. When we protect our schedule so there’s ample time for what matters most, God will bless it. When we dig deeper with Him so our souls are fed from God, our source, He will bless it. And from this deep well of blessing, we find the ability and willingness to bless others.

Prayer: Dear God, fill my heart to its fullest with love for You and the community You’ve placed in my life. Open my eyes to see how You’re leading me to be a blessing to others. And heal me from the inside out so I can obey Your commands.