Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God…..No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:7,12

Recently, I have been reading about surrendering to God’s love. I think most of my life I have been better at surrendering to God’s will, then surrendering to His Love. So this year,  I am trying to crack my heart open to receive it.

In David Benner’s book Surrender to Love, he says that all love always contains sparks of the divine presence of God. Wow! That had never occurred to me. So the imperfect love that I give to family and friends and the imperfect love that I receive is evidence of God’s divine love for me. “God is the original that shows up in the limitations of the copies.”

As 1 John 1:4 indicates love comes from God. He is the only source of love. Benner goes on to say that the presence of divine love that exists in the world is a reflection of the nature of our Creator and present in human beings as they bear his image. He even shares that the love exchanged between people and pets as evidence of God’s love. Oh, now I really beginning to understand. 😊

Benner shares that our Creator loves us unconditionally, and He reminds us of his divine love by lavishing on us so many gifts in creation, in our own talents, and in the people around us. 

The next time your dog welcomes you home, a red cardinal looks your way, a text comes in from a friend, you get to use your talents for good or you get a hug from a family member, soak it in and remember that it is all evidence of God’s love for us.

For Reflection

• Where have you seen God’s love today?

• Where have you given His love today?

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

What a gift to know that all love really exists because of You. Open up our hearts and souls to experience your love through all the good people, good gifts and your good creation that surround us! AMEN