I’ve been praying for wisdom on how I’m living my life, quarantine aside. As I continue to “shelter in place” and wear a mask when going to the store, etc, I realize how much of the rest of my life is being lived in the witness protection fashion of old. I’ve realized how little of myself I allow others to see, even those closest to me (my husband excluded). My home is my sanctuary BECAUSE I’m blessed with a man who sees and loves the real me, and who is very intentional in making sure I know it.

A scripture that stood out to me in my study this morning is Proverbs 10:12, which says, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers and overwhelms all transgressions [forgiving and overlooking another’s faults].” This is what we all hope we will receive from the people around us, and especially from the people we love most. In a devotional, it talks about having wisdom and how that helps you in your human relationships. They basically say that patience is the fruit of wisdom. When you understand somebody and you know their history, you have a much stronger inclination towards patience, because you’ve taken time to gain wisdom in relation to that person.

What you gain along with wisdom, is a deeper sense of love for others. We are supposed to refuse to be offended by people, and that choosing to do so is a reflection of how much love you have in your heart. Wisdom is not basing my actions or my words on any assumptions. It means my choices in all situations should not be in reaction to my earthly fears, but should be based on who I am and who I want to be in Christ. The bottom line for me is that I love and trust God, that my choices must be based on my faith, and that I have no doubts my Father will always provide what I need in whatever way I need it most. The bottom of the bottom line is my worth in His eyes is all that matters, and He’s made His love for me very clear time and time again.

What I’ve learned recently is that I have a capacity for anger that is unfamiliar to me. Through a lot of prayer, not to mention guidance and wisdom via my husband, I’m learning how to set that down. Not because I have to and not because the hurt is gone, but because the love in my heart is so much bigger than any of the hurts, and because I know that is the path my Father set forth. As I wash away the bitterness from my throat with love and faith in the things of God, I find peace. Negative emotions are a trap the enemy uses to great effect, and we must be very careful to watch the path we are walking.

My husband posed a question to me recently, and it’s one I think all of us need to consider as we begin to see the quarantine lift and start interacting with one another again… 

What does it mean to you to nurture a relationship? Consider the various relationships in your life and honestly ask yourself whether or not you are putting effort into nurturing the relationships in your life… this is an especially important question in regards to your relationship with God. Relationships take time and they require action. When you are working to maintain a sincere relationship with God, you will spend time in prayer and in study of the word. However, if we don’t give our relationship actions to back up the words we offer, then how much of a relationship actually exists? If we tell God we believe in Christ and we accept His sacrifice with gratitude and humility, then we never put real effort into our prayer life, our church fellowship, our bible study…then what is there to show Him our words of devotion and promise had any substance.

“And he replied, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27 AMP

Let’s choose to live our lives with the substance of God…Love.