One Thing That Can Change Our World

“It’s All About Me,” could easily be America’s new motto. Everything in life is based upon our feelings and emotions; not our needs or what is right. Our parents thought the phrase, “If it feels good, do it” was bad, just wait till “It’s All About Me,” has run its course.

This thinking has spun morals into outer space, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. We can change our world, one action at a time.

We can focus on developing the character trait of love. Unconditional love has the greatest impact of all. Many religions exist in the world, but Christianity is the only one with love at its core.

To me, love is the most powerful and most encompassing, and possibly the hardest to build.

LOVE.

At first glance, Loving ourselves doesn’t seem to be a problem for most Americans, and quite a few Christians. It appears difficult for most to realize others exist outside of our little circle, let alone love others. In my opinion, if we focus on loving others, other character traits will follow. After all, love encompasses kindness, patience, politeness, humility, encouragement, and other things listed in 1 Corinthians 13. When full of love, you automatically desire to serve others. Boy, do we all have a long way to go.

We’ve seen hate crimes drastically rising over the past few years. Have you ever wondered why? In our job as pastors and in our feeding ministry, we’ve dealt with many families. In more than I expected, I’ve seen an absence of love in families from all economic levels and cultures. It can be a result of narcissism, not speaking the love language of their spouses and children, or neglect and abuse of all forms, and much more. Feeling unloved sometimes causes self-centeredness to rise to a cover-up of insecurity. Other times, it’s because they feel they’re the only ones they can count on. God’s love can remedy it all.

Over time, caring about yourself mostly, or piling offenses over years of abuse breeds hate. Every year, it appears crimes filled with hate are on the rise, whether from the previously mentioned reason or from cultures omitting love. We desperately need God’s love flowing through us.

Instead of letting bitterness and hate swell up in our lives when we’ve been offended, we must rise above our emotions. We need to change our focus by looking at our offenders as Christ sees them… sinners in need of salvation. Pray for them, and give grace and lead them to the Lord, if possible. No one asks you to be best friends.

Enemies aren’t the only ones who offend us – brothers and sisters in Christ or your family does also. At these times, focus on the fact we each have to work out our own salvation. Chances are they don’t even know they offended you. It might just be they’re comfortable enough around you to let their guard down or not worry about how they come across. Nonetheless, you can pray for them to surrender their hurts to the Lord.

If you want to develop the character trait of love in your life, here are some action steps you can try.

Action Steps:

1. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a every day for at least 30 days. When reading, substitute your name where the word love is. It will definitely change your focus.

2. Listen closely to your words. When you hear yourself say, “I want….” immediately change your thought to recall something someone else wants. Write it down in a journal. Increasing your awareness can go a long way.

3. Plan a kind deed to do for someone else every day. It doesn’t have to be large but is good practice at putting others first. Forcing yourself to think, then act, is building a new habit.

Tell me what you think. Your opinion matters. What else could you add on loving others?

If you have a friend you want to be your accountability partner, please share this post with them. Or, if you just like it, I’d love for you to share it with your friends and family, too. I hope you also enjoy reading my related articles.

Have a blessed week! Thanks for stopping in.

© 2020, Jena Fellers. All rights reserved.