I have been leading a book study by Danny Silk for the past five weeks, which touched on the 5 Love Languages a few weeks ago.
I was struck by the truth that I need to be a student of everyone I love, to know how to best love them.
Then the lightening bolt of uber truth crashed into my brain this morning as I reread the chapter in preparation for my group tonight:
In order to love You the way You desire to be loved, I need to enroll myself in the “God study” program for the rest of my life.
Not just to know about You, learn what You have done, promise to do and Your amazing love for us all, but to discover how You like to be loved.
The Five Love Languages (as coined by Gary Chapman) are:
○Touch
○Gifts
○Quality time
○Acts of Service
○Words of Affirmation
As I read this list , I realize that each of them got their start in God
and how HE loves!
Touch:
(Lovingly touch me)
God reaches down and hold us, picking us up where He finds us. Jesus never failed to lovingly touch those in need.
Touch can also be seen through the love shining in someone’s eyes and especially His gaze, virtually loving us.
God reminds us in His Word to reach out and touch those in need, which ties closely into…
Acts of Service:
(Show me Love)
Each time we help another in need, we are not only showing God we love Him but showing those we help His love.
When our yes is yes and our no is no, we show God we are prepared to serve as He leads, and honor the One guiding us.
And each time we set time aside in our schedule to sit at His feet and meet with him? We show Him love through…
Quality Time:
(Be with me Love)
One on one time when we make Him our sole focus delights His heart.
When we deliberately carve time out to spend it with God? It also becomes a gift…
Gifts:
(Give me Love)
When we offer something that is costly to us that we know the gift’s receiver will adore, we show our love in not only the gift itself but the thought we invested in it.
As receivers of the best gift ever, we should be seeking to offer all we are as a gift for Him and His glory.
Which leads us to the final love language….
Words of Affirmation:
(Tell me of your Love)
As the living Word, author of the Bible, we know the power and importance of words to God. Words have the power to build up, love and encourage, heal and restore.
Our words have the same ability to bless.
When we offer Him thanks for what He has done, praise for who He is and love as one of His Beloved, God receives love through our words.
As someone whose primary love language is Words of Affirmations, I am most comfortable loving my family and friends that way.
But as I was reminded working through the Love Languages that a student is supposed to study their subject, and adjust their mindset as they learn new information and put new practices into place.
God has not held back one good blessing from each of us children. His love is passionate, determined, focused, deliberate and forever.
How we love God needs to respond to Him in a way which shows Him the depth of our love, in a way which makes Him feel loved.
Invite Him to speak to you about how you express love. As its author and inspiration, He is bound to have insight into His heart to share with you as you ask.
Check out the 5LoveLanguages.com to learn how you best feel love, and are likely primarily showing love to those around you.
Wanting to dive deeper into love, and connecting on purpose? Visit lovingonpurpose.com and take your love assessment.
KARLA LEES 