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 continue 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.
How do we manage relationships: LOVE!
God’s love is the greatest resource we have been given to manage relationships.
John 13:34-35 | NKJV (34) 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.”
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].
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.
How do we get a revelation of God’s love for us?
- Fellowship with God by spending time in God’s Word and in prayer.
Attention breeds appetite. Attention to right things breeds the right appetites, whereas attention to wrong things breeds wrong appetites.
- Focus your attention on meeting the needs of other people.
Another element to managing relationships:
“Agape” love is the kind of love that gives to demonstrate itself.
In the New Testament, of the 160 times love is mentioned, 145 times it is agape but the other times it is the Greek word “phileo”.
“Phileo” is the feeling or fond emotion of love, a brotherly love, or friendship love.
- God desires for us to cultivate a felt affection towards Him in our relationship with Him.
So, we need this phileo love in our relationship with God, but we also need it in our relationships with other people.
- Cultivating affection for others has to do with our thinking.
If we dwell on the pain, hurt or disappointment that someone may have caused us then we will tend to cultivate negative feelings towards someone.
The Bible teaches us to think about people in a good light. Think about something positive about them. In the very least, think about how much God loves them and how affectionate He is towards them.
1 Corinthians 13:7 | TPT Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.
- Choices lead and feelings follow!
Sow seeds of affection towards others.
- Show them kindness by acts of love and it might eventually win them over.
Romans 12:20-21 | NKJV (20) Therefore “IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD.” (21) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
- Praying for others is a powerful thing we can do to cultivate affection for them.
Luke 6:27-28 | NKJV (27) “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, (28) bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
John 16:26-27 | NKJV (26) In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; (27) for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.
The word for love in this verse is “phileo”. What does this mean? It means God loves us affectionately and tenderly.
- In other words, God “feels” something about you when He thinks of you.
His love towards you is not simply an emotionless action of giving because He is supposed to do that.