Love what God loves.

Romans 5: 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Gossip was a part of my character for a long time when I walked in sin. It was easy to fall into the same habits around Christian circles. As I grew in the Lord, I noticed I disliked gossip. It became bitter in my mouth.

The Lord showed me a better way. He taught me how to love. When I allowed the love of the Father to cover me, I could love his people and not slander them. The transformation did not happen overnight. It took some time.

1 John 4: 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

The Lord is patient with us. He knows we need time to renew our minds after years of wrong teaching and trauma. The beauty of his plan is that he does not leave us in the state he found us.

When our relationship matures with the Lord, what he loves takes president in my heart. It is impossible to walk in righteousness, loving what God hates. It is impossible to grow in faith if we hold on to the old habits and character flaws that held us captive.

Jesus put his Father's will before his own when he said, "Not my will but yours be done” His love for his Father, and we sent him to Christ. There is a greater reward when we choose God's way over our own.

Love connects us to the heart and mind of God. We can't begin to understand his nature until we experience his love. If we struggle to love, the bible says we do not know God. That is how we gauge our relationship with the Lord.

John 13:35 By this, everyone will know that you are my disciple if you love one another.

We identify with Christ when we walk in His will. We come to hate what he hates. The fear of God encourages us to walk upright before him. A character change is unavoidable when we walk hand in hand with the Lord. Dig into his word to discover his nature.

Change can't occur when we continue to feed on the same things. Christ in us is our hope in glory. Without his truth, there is no growth. When we rid ourselves of what God hates, love will grow. We must starve the soul of everything that satisfies the flesh to quicken our spirit.

Get in His presence daily to allow his character to shape you.

Have a blessed week, everyone.