1 Peter 4:8 - Fervent Love
Step 1: Pray. Select.
As I began my prayer practice today, I asked for divine instruction on how to approach challenges with love rather than fear.
I focused on how to love and be loved better since I know love can conquer all. The Holy Spirit led me to 1 Peter 4:8.
Let’s begin our journey there, friends.
Step 2: Write. Read. Circle
1 Peter 4:8 - And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
After reading the scripture three times, the following words stood out amongst the others:
Fervent Love
Will Cover A Multitude of Sins
Step 3: Re-Write
With a focus on the words that stood out, here is the personalized sentence that came alive in my heart. Don't forget, if you are doing this alongside me today, make sure to add your name to your unique sentence:
Jennifer, fervent love will cover a multitude of sins.
Step 4: Visualize
When I was meditating on this verse, I thought the message the Holy Spirit was trying to convey was to passionately love to cover someone else's sins, hurts, or wrongs. The Holy Spirit quickly adjusted my perspective and let me know I need passionate love to cover my sinful nature and heart.
I recently found some emotional wounds from my past that did not heal properly, which surfaced in a conversation I had today. I am starting to understand that in order to heal the right way, I must seek love fervently from my Father. He is the one who walked through my hurts and painful experiences in life with me. He was there. He was not the source of my pain but cried with me through life’s trials.
The Holy Spirit tells me that I must be fervent, focusing on the fact that fervent not only means being passionate for my Father’s love but also requires endurance to continue chasing Him. To see the fruits of our love's labor —and yes, love is labor—we must have the endurance to build character and see through tough situations.
The Holy Spirit asks me to stop for a moment and seek more scriptures backing the words “labor of love.” Here is what I found:
Hebrews 6:10 - For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
1 Thessalonians 1:2-4 - We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.
Sometimes, life is not easy, and we don’t understand what lies ahead, but we know that by our faith and patience in waiting on the LORD, we elect to love better and, in turn, do better.
Friends, we are not perfect and never will be, but we know that when we are hurt, God sees us and is there to love us and wrap us up in his arms.
I picture myself as a little girl, hugging an oversized teddy bear, completely engulfed in the warmth of its fur as I cry from my lack of understanding. But He knows all I am going through, whether it makes sense or not.
Look at Adam and Eve. When they sinned and ate the apple from the serpent in the Garden of Eden, they hid from their own shame for their sin of disobedience. When God called Adam to come out and show himself, Adams replied, “I am naked.” And God replied, “Who told you that you were naked?” Then, without a thought, God took the shriveled leaves Adam had covered himself and replaced them, clothing him in fur. His healing began from a place of riches, not shame or lack because he allowed himself to be cloaked in the love of God instead of the shriveled leaves of his own hand and limited knowledge or understanding.
Today, like the woman with the issue of blood tugging on the robe of Jesus, I am chasing after my Father’s love to heal me and my past wounds so I can go forward cloaked in His truth and righteousness instead of shriveling my life away covering myself with my past or dead things.
A question arises, so I move to Step 5.
Step 5: Ask. Seek
The question that came to mind is:
Holy Spirit, I feel so blind when I get hurt and can’t find you in the forest in which I have gotten myself lost. How can I find you quickly when I am hurt or in pain?
Step 6: Hear. Write. Receive
Here is the answer I received:
"Start to identify the God in the person or situation you have a conflict with. Everyone was created with intention and purpose, and if you can understand those who hurt you are lost in the wilderness just like you, then you can see this is not your enemy but part of the body from which you come. You wouldn’t cut off your own arm just to save your arms; you need both of them to function in balance. Every living person in your life is a part of you. There is no separation. Does your Father hide from you? No! Adam hid from your Father, and when you are lost, it is not because he left you but because you took your eyes off of him. Going forward, fight your flesh and stay present with the LORD. Do not let the enemy sway you. If you feel anger, injustice, hurt, fear, or any other emotion not from God, remember his cry to Adam saying - WHO TOLD YOU these things?! Then you will, in the moment, turn back to your Father to lean on his power in the situation and his promise that you are already healed. You will remember his truth and act according to his word and the sacrifice to cover all sin, whether it is yours or someone else's, with the precious blood of Jesus.”
Step 7: Pray. Confirm
Heavenly Father, I come to you humbly in the mighty name of Jesus.
For the first time, I feel like I have an actionable point of reference when I hurt: to not hurt but rather run to you instead of away from you. Help me engrain this into my brain, body, and spirit, so I stop getting lost in fleeting moments of the heart.
I want to fervently pursue your love so I can love fervently all the people you have blessed me with in my life.
I seal this prayer with the blood of Jesus, Amen!
If you used the scripture of the day and need prayer or someone to pray with you, connect Here. Remember, you are not alone.
Step 8: Share. Testify
If you workshopped any of the verses mentioned above using the 8-Step Prayer Practice, we would love to hear from you in the comments below about what the Holy Spirit showed or spoke to you today.
Remember to spread hope and share your miracle or testimony HERE. We want to see how God is working in your life!
Conclusion:
Today’s message is short and sweet.
I am done listening to the lies of the enemy and ready to be cloaked with the love and righteousness of my Father.
I realize I am not perfect, but I am covered by the blood of Jesus, and through that, I am more than a conqueror.
I pray you all labor in love wherever you go today, friends. The harvest is plentiful, but there are few workers.
See you soon!
