Foundations Jan 17, 2011

Monday, January 17, 2011
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Micah 1-4 and Revelation 11

SCRIPTURE READING

I will love You, O LORD, my strength. Ps. 18:1 
That you…may be able to comprehend…what is the width and length and depth and
height… to know (experience) the love (affection) of Christ… Eph 3:18-19
 

Loving God with all our heart means that we love Him with all our emotions or affections.
We can set our affections on anything that we choose. We can determine some of our
emotions by setting our heart. Our emotions will follow whatever we set ourselves to
pursue. We can set our heart to be filled with zeal for God.
We can intentionally set our affections to love Jesus. This requires that we remove
everything that diminishes our affections (bitterness, lust, entertainment etc) and it requires
that we focus on pursuing love for Jesus more than gaining things and influence. We set
our heart to love Him by committing to walk in obedience even when it is costly. We set
our heart on loving God by regularly asking for supernatural help to love Jesus. Ask God to
pour His love for Jesus into your heart and to help you love Him more.
The Lord values our journey to grow in love. If you do not quit then you win. We must
press forward in learning to love Jesus with the same love that He has for us.

PRAYER and MEDITATION

1. Ask God to reveal to you what you are setting your heart on (often evidenced by where
    you spend the majority of your time and energy). Are you set on gaining things and
    affluence or on pursuing Jesus?
2. Ask God to show you specific steps that you can take in regards to setting your heart on
    Him. What specific things does He want you to start doing or stop doing?
3. Write a prayer to God thanking Him for the width, length and depth of His love for you.
    Ask Him to deepen your love for Him so that you and really know Him and experience
    Him.