Confession: I Choose Love
…in spite of what you do to me. Chiiiiillllle, this has truly been an uphill battle. For those of you who don’t know, part of my testimony includes being a teenager who literally refused to say “I love you” to anybody. I’m a pretty loyal person. Love is my steez if I’m honest. I have always been one who lives and loves passionately. My love for those who have my heart is deep and intricate. When I was younger, I often spent my time suppressing my ability to love people because I was called “sensitive.” When I ran into God 12 years ago, one of the first things he attacked was this hard shell of protection I created. He showed me that loving people was a gift He gave me to show people who He really was. He taught me that I am what He created me to be, no matter what anybody else had to say about it.
There have been keen moments in my walk lately, where this idea has had to be reinforced for me. Truth is, I chose to disregard love because I was afraid that one day someone would use my love against me. Unfortunately, this has happened on more than one occasion. Often people hear and see believers, only to think that Christianity translates to punk. The gag is, being a woman of faith is more than just a notion. This is far from punk like behavior. Trusting God more than I trust my emotions is not for the faint. Being disciplined when I want to act based on my emotions is not for the weak. Being obedient when it goes against every ounce of logic I have as a thinker isn’t for those who are pushed by their pride.
Choosing to love like Christ calls us to, in the beauty of 1 Corinthians 13 and Matthew 22: 34–40, is not always my innate impulse. Just like faith, just like Christ, just like joy; I have a choice in this. Living and loving people out loud when you have been hurt and disappointed by people and things that you believe would last forever takes courage. Love only exist when we look at it through the lens (the Bible) of God as Jesus Himself; one who is called to bring carry the presence of God here on earth. I know that I fail Him daily, but God’s love was and still is for me. So much so that He sent His only Son to be wrapped in flesh, walk this earth as my example and die a death that He didn’t deserve. Then He got up to show me and the world that He was everything He promised us.
I am reminded that God’s love is what changed my entire life. My world was never the same after my first real encounter with God’s love. With that said, today let’s choose love. But don’t get it twisted, word to Tobe Nwigwe: “Try Jesus, not me. Cause I throw hands!” Though I love passionately and ferociously, I’ve learned a significant lesson about boundaries. But I’ll leave that topic for the next blog….
Confession: Today and everyday moving forward, in spite of a world that is cold and tired, I have chosen to take the position of love. I will let go of everything and everyone who does not serve me. I will forgive by faith (help me Father) and move forward into the fullness of everything that God set out for me. I will demonstrate love in the way that God has called me to, here on earth. His love is covering me, His love is protecting me; His love provides me with the strategy to overcome every obstacle. Come what may, I choose love.
Keep your hands clean and don’t forget to adjust your crown!
