SCRIPTURE: Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 1 Corinthians 13:4-5.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: It is better to be at peace than to be under pressure; you will never realise the treasures of life if you maintain a life under pressure.
It has been confirmed that Love is of God, and God is Love (1 John 4:8). Love is a powerful force on earth because God is powerful. This means, when you walk in love, you walk in the power of God.
Now, one character of love is that Love is not easily provoked.
And when we say love is not easily provoked, what do we mean?
We mean:
i. Love is not irritable or touchy.
There are people who are highly irritable or very touchy. These are the kinds of people that everyone avoids. If you tell them, “Good morning,” it is a problem. And if you don’t say, “Good morning,” it is also a challenge.
They are easily provoked, but love is not easily provoked.
ii. Love is not offended.
There are people who are permanently offence-ready. They are offences personified, looking for where to happen. But love is not easily offended. There are people in church who, when the ushers ask them to sit in a particular place, they tell the ushers, “Who are you to tell me where to seat?” They are offence-ready, but love is not easily offended.’
iii. Love is not quarrelsome or quarrel-ready.
There are also people who are quarrel personified or quarrel in motion. When you see them walking, you can call them “mobile quarrel.”
Such people quarrel with everyone; they quarrel with their parents, siblings, friends, colleagues, bosses, etc.
You see, it is better to be at peace than to be under pressure; you will never realise the treasures of life if you maintain a life under pressure.
I made up mind as I was getting married that there must be peace in my life, and peace in my home. I made up my mind that nobody will ever ask me in marriage, “Who offended who?” And God has helped us for more than thirty years of marriage.
My counsel is, make up your mind to love. Let the love of God in your heart neutralize every spirit of anger and provocation.
Remember this: It is better to be at peace than to be under pressure; you will never realise the treasures of life if you maintain a life under pressure.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Refuse to be easily provoked.
- Ask God for the grace to put your anger under control.
PRAYER: Lord thank You for Your Word to me today. Let Your Love reign in my heart. I receive the grace never to succumb to the temptation of provocation, Lord in Jesus’ Name.
FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE PRACTICE OF LOVE (PART 3)
QUOTE: This is the season of the abundance of iniquity, with the love of many waxing cold, so we need to know what to do to uphold godly character. Culled from the book, “WHO ARE YOU?” by Dr Paul Enenche.
DAILY READING: Jeremiah 46-48
AMAZING FACT: Niagara Falls never freezes.
PROPHETIC WORD (DECLARATION): May the love of God in your heart produce very drastic turn around of positive character, in Jesus’ Name.
