Funny how I’ve begun to understand what the Christian marriage is supposed to look like and from that what love is, but I didn’t think to apply this to my relationship with God. (Though that’s where the whole picture comes from!)

It now makes sense to me that husbands and wives love each other through service- even if the emotions may not always be there. There may be moments of frustration and even boredom, but love requires self-denial. And in that sacrifice, the feelings return.

And I think it’s kind of the same with our love for God. I wish I loved Him with the same passion every day but the truth is that I don’t. Some days are amazing and I can’t understand how I could ever want anything other than Him. But then there are days when TV or the internet draws me in and I practically forget Him. And that bothers me. But then I remember that love is self-denial. Then I remember that this is exactly what Jesus showed us.

Love is service and sacrifice. And so when I choose to deny myself and go read my Bible even though I don’t feel like it, I am loving Him. And just like in a marriage, the feelings do return after that choice is made. And the more times I choose it, the easier it becomes, and the more passionately I begin to love Him every single day.