REBOOT – to start (something) anew; to refresh (something) by making a new start or creating a new version; to make a fresh start; give fresh impetus or forward motion to something.
Psalms 51:12 | NKJV Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Simplifying your life is to make good choices, choosing those things that are needful to organize the resources of our lives.
The solution to a complicated life is to be a better manager of your life.
The resources of our lives can be categorized in three general areas:
- Time Management
- Resource Management
- Relationship Management
We can also see that the complications of our lives will show up in these three areas of our lives.
We are going to look at Relationship Management.
Of the three areas that we are responsible for managing well, this one would probably be the most important.
This stewardship affects every other area of our lives and has a great impact on the quality of our lives.
Why is this so important?
God is constantly desiring to move in our lives, but if we have mismanaged relationships, we hinder Him.
The very people that we may be mad at or are holding unforgiveness towards, might be the ones that He desires to bless us through.
An example of why this is so important:
If a father does not properly manage his relationship with his children, he will probably drive those children away from him and thus not have any influence in their lives.
Proverbs 11:29 NKJV He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind, And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
How do we manage relationships: LOVE!
God’s love is the greatest resource we have been given to manage relationships.
1 Corinthians 13:8a NKJV (8) Love never fails…
John 13:34-35 NKJV A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (35) By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
We already have this ability on the inside of us!
Romans 5:5 NKJV Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
God’s love is always unconditional.
We have the tendency to love others conditionally and in degrees based on we perceive and feel about others. God does not do this. His love is unconditional and not based on anything except Himself.
God’s love is the kind of love that always gives and never takes.
John 3:16 NKJV For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
This is the kind of love that makes you a resource to other people and not a consumer.
So, what is Gold Standard for God’s love?
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 AMPC (4) Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. (5) It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. (6) It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. (7) Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. (8) Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].
If there is a relationship that is giving us a problem, it does not necessarily indicate there is a problem with the other person. It could be that there is something wrong with our love-walk.
Remember, this is a process. You are not going to change this in your life over-night, but you can change. That is because you have God’s love already on the inside of you and God’s love NEVER FAILS.
Here is a huge key in learning to walk in love:
John 15:9 NKJV “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
To the degree that we know and believe that God loves us, is the degree that we will be able to love other people.
1 John 4:16 AMPC And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.
Paul prayed that we would get this revelation:
Ephesians 3:17-19 NKJV (17) that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, (18) may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height– (19) to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
If there is fear in our lives, this is an opportunity for us to grow in the love of God.
1 John 4:18 | AMPC There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection].
- Are you worried about your needs being met? Then you are not sure about God’s love for you.
- Are you afraid of the Doctor’s report? Then you need to know and understand the love God has for you.
- Are you afraid that you have messed up so bad that God does not want you to be His child anymore? Then you need a revelation of how much God loves you.