Have You Had a "Love Check Up Lately?" How's Your Heart?

Good Morning My Loves, How’s your love walk these days? I think every one of us should frequently do a love “check up,” because our heart can easily become hard, bitter, and filled with pretense and malice if we’re not continually watching over it. The word of God says to “Guard your heart above all else,

for it determines the course of your life.” (Pro. 4:23 NLT) In the NKJV version it says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring THE ISSUES of life.”

As a pastor I’ve seen so many people sabotage their destiny, and leave a trail of destruction behind them because they were not willing to deal with “the issues” that continue to spring up out of their heart. Their unresolved issues continue to manifest because of a lack of heart “check ups,” where they get real with God, themselves and others. This lack of honesty causes them to become deceived, and before long they lose their ability to love with genuine affection. They know they’re supposed to have genuine love for others, but they’ve spent so much time lying to themselves, that they can’t see their own hypocrisy. When confronted by those that love them, they usually get mad and end the relationship rather than face the issues, fix them, and get well. It’s not until they get real with God, themselves and others, and change, that they are healed.

Paul said, 9 Love is to be sincere and active [the real thing—without guile and hypocrisy]. Hate what is evil [detest all ungodliness, do not tolerate wickedness]; hold on tightly to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another with [authentic] brotherly affection [as members of one family], give preference to one another in honor; (Rom 12:9-10 AMP)

I want to bring more understanding from this passage, so let’s begin by taking a deeper look at the 10 things that show that your love is genuine and your heart is healthy. 1. Sincere-Free of pretense. Saying what you mean. Not looking someone in the eye, kissing their cheek and saying, “I love you,” while simultaneously talking trash about them and knifing them in the back. Love speaks the truth, but not with the intent to injure. It always speaks the truth with the intent to heal. Love is not the absence of truth.

2. Active-Energetic, lively, with movement. This isn’t limp noodle, take it or leave it, apathetic lip service love. It’s the kind of love that gets up and actively shows (demonstrates) love to another by “doing” what needs to be done. 3. Without Guile-Sly, cunning, crafty, devious, manipulative. It doesn’t employ manipulation to persuade someone to do what one wants. A person who loves without guile, loves others because their heart is pure, and they expect nothing in return. “They love for the sheer pleasure of loving.” Mama Dee Dee Barth 4. Without Hypocrisy-To claim to have a virtue that one doesn’t possess. Empty talk. Falseness. When a person is without hypocrisy, they back up their talk with their actions. 5. Hate Evil-Yes love HATES! It doesn’t hate the person, but it hates the behavior. It is repelled by wickedness and wrongdoing, and drawn to righteousness and doing the right thing even if it’s hard. Love does hard things the right way! 6. Hold Tightly to Good-A person whose heart is loving and right, will NOT cling to anyone or anything that brings reproach to the Lord or their family. They will have nothing to do with it. They will let it go, and hold tightly to what is good.

7. Devoted-Loyal. True. Faithful. Constant. Committed. Steadfast. Reliable. Sturdy. Loving. Admiring. Given over to the object of one’s affections. A person who is devoted will not abandon and betray the one they love. They are given over to them. Their heart is humble and submitted. WOW. NUFF SAID!

8. Affectionate-Warm hearted. Tender. Showing fondness and friendliness. An affectionate person is not closed off, cold, and disconnected. They are warm and responsive to others.

9. Giving Preference-Greater liking to another. To show favor by “giving” another the best of what we have. The best financially. The best seat. The best opportunities. The best praise. The BEST!

10. Honoring-High respect. Esteem. To bring credit, and give credit to whom credit is due.

I pray that as we all go down this check list that we’ll be honest before the Lord about what needs to go, and where we need to grow. After all, at the end of our lives the only thing that will count is how well we’ve loved.

Let’s make sure we stay committed to loving well by doing frequent “love check ups,” and keeping our heart healthy! I love you all! PV