Finding the love of God in motherhood

We use the word “love” often and in many ways. We tell our children we love them. We love our families and close friends. But how often do we stop to think about the importance of love in the Bible?

1 Corinthians tells us love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. The love described in these Bible verses isn’t possible without help from the Holy Spirit. 

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV)

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Agape love in the Bible

When we talk about biblical love, we are referring to “agape” love, which is unconditional and selfless love. This is the love God has for us. 

Agape love is also the kind of love that believes the best about other people and wants the best for them.

As moms, we can easily think we have mastered agape love when it comes to our own family, especially our little children. We love our children without condition and shower them with affectionate love. 

But is our love truly selfless? Not all the time.

We must remember the love of Christ for us. Every single thing God does is out of His love for us. We are God’s own children, and He has our own interests at heart. 

There hasn’t been a moment in your life when your best interests weren’t first and foremost for Him. When it comes to loving others — even our own children — we struggle to always have their best interests first and foremost.

This is the kind of love we are talking about and want to learn to give to others. As children of God, we should be known for this kind of love.

Why Love is the Most Important Thing

Throughout the Bible, we see the importance of love. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Colossians that love binds everything together in perfect harmony. 

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV)

When we are full of the love of God, we are more likely to live in unity of mind with each other. We are quicker to forgive and slower to anger. Love covers over a multitude of sins.

Another reason love is important is to be an example to others. Because agape love is a steadfast love that goes against human nature, someone who is full of love stands out. 

Living with the love of God in us showcases God to the world.

In John 13, Jesus spoke to the early church on the subject of love:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:34-35 (NIV)

Jesus isn’t messing around with this either. He doesn’t give a suggestion for us to love one another. He issues a commandment. 

Being the loving God He is, though, our Heavenly Father doesn’t leave us to fulfill a commandment without help.

In the very next chapter of John, Jesus goes on to tell us about the Holy Spirit (or Helper) He is leaving for us once He has gone into heaven.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”

John 14:16-17 (ESV)

Christ Jesus pours so much love into us so it can overflow to others. We are free to love others – even when that love isn’t returned – because we as God’s people are filled with His love and have freedom in knowing He is always with us.

What Does the Bible Say About Love?

Both the Old Testament and New Testament have innumerable verses about love. From how much God loves us to how we should love one another, love is found throughout the Bible.

As Christian moms, we want to take a closer look at what true love to others really looks like. Such love is what we want to live out for our children!

The definition of perfect love

Let’s start with one of the most well-known passages about love from God’s Word is found in 1 Corinthians. In fact, these verses are often read at weddings because they really share the meaning of love and purpose of love from a Biblical perspective.

1 Corinthians says love is patient, kind, rejoices in the truth, unconditional, faithful, hopeful and long-lasting. 

It also tells us what love is not. Love is not envious, not boastful, not arrogant, not rude, not selfish, not irritable, not resentful and doesn’t get excited for something bad.

The power of Christian love

As we continue looking at how to love one another Biblically, we have to examine the great power that comes through Christian love of each other.

The wise King Solomon wrote these words in Proverbs.

“Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.”

Proverbs 10:12 (NIV)

One of the great things about love is that it makes forgiveness easier. We are better able to forgive others when we love them completely.

I can more easily forgive my children for their shortcomings than anyone else. I want to teach them to live in love that’s more peaceful rather than in the conflict created by hate.

Where real love comes from

Finally, we also want to understand where all this love comes from. John puts it all together nicely.

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”

1 John 4:7 (NIV)

Love starts with God. God is love. And then He gives that love to us so that we can share it with others.

The significance of love is such that we receive so much love from God that we can pour it into the lives around us.

Living a Life Full of Love

The best way to live a Christian life full of genuine love is to first seek God’s help. He gives us the power of the Holy Spirit to help guide us and bestow spiritual gifts to help strengthen our faith.

Along with prayer, here are some other things we can do to live with a greater love.

Focus on the positive.

Being filled with love is hard when you are only seeing the downside of things. I struggle to truly love my husband in an unselfish way when I’m zeroed in on one of his faults.

Keeping our mindset on the positive traits and characteristics of people around us allows us a better chance to truly love them. 

You can apply this with strangers as well and assume the best of intentions. The power of God is such that you never know when one small display of love can make a huge difference in someone’s life.

Sometimes simple good deeds can show love to those around us, and when we are focused on the positive, it’s easier to do good works.

Have perspective. 

I had a professor in college whose philosophy was, “If I’m going to laugh about it later, I might as well laugh about it now.” That’s stuck with me.

Some things in life are just never funny, that’s for certain! But other times we truly do make mountains out of molehills. We see challenges and issues as much bigger than they actually are.

Before you get upset and start to live in a less-than-loving way, pause and think. Is this going to still be upsetting to you five years from now? 

What about five months, five weeks or even five minutes from now? If it isn’t, then let it go!

Get into the Word. 

Getting into the Bible helps us live out love for a variety of reasons. First, we get reminders of God’s love for us as we read.

Second, the Bible is the living and breathing Word of God, so God works through the Holy Spirit to open our minds and hearts in all new ways. 

I’ve read the same passage of Scripture many times and gotten something new from it each time. That’s the power of our faithful God!

Put it into practice

As the first Fruit of the Spirit, love is an important attribute for us Christian moms to work on. Some simple actions can keep us focused on the right things and ways to live out God’s love.

Keep a gratitude journal.

Gratitude helps us to focus on the positive and keep perspective — both of which help us to live with more love. 

Keeping a gratitude journal is a great way to make focusing on gratitude part of your life. 

Whether you use a prompted gratitude journal, a simple printable one or the notes app on your phone, challenge yourself to keep a gratitude journal for at least the next week. 

Notice the difference it makes in your attitude and your love!

Spend daily time in prayer.

Talking to God is important for us to connect with Him and be able to live with Christian love. These short seven prayers can help you connect with God daily about love.

• Day 1: Dear God, I ask that you fill me with your agape love throughout every day and in every interaction I have with others. May they see your love in me above all else. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
• Day 2: Dear God, I acknowledge that without you, I cannot have a life filled with love, patience, humbleness, generosity and hope. Open my eyes and heart to receive these things and use them in ministering to my family. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
• Day 3: Dear God, thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit. Father, I ask that you help me to love all of those around me. Help me to see others as you see them and love them as you do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
• Day 4: Dear God, thank you for all your blessings and gifts to me. Open my eyes to see more of you at work in my life. Help me to maintain a positive attitude that is pleasing to and focused on you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
• Day 5: Dear God, sometimes I get caught up in the small stuff. Help me to let go of things that don’t matter and focus on what is most important. Show me where I need to move forward with you instead. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
• Day 6: Dear God, help me to focus on your Word and hear you speak as I am reading the Bible. Clear my mind from all other worries and concerns. Help me to find time in my schedule to be able to get into your Word each day.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.
• Day 7: Heavenly Father, I ask that you be with me as I strive to live a life filled with love. Open my eyes to see opportunities to love on the people around me, including my family. Fill me with your love and Holy Spirit to the point of overflowing into those around me. Lord, when I am out of sorts and having a bad day or moment, give me a reminder of your presence and love. Help me to see you, hear you and feel you at work in and through my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Want to learn more about the Fruit of the Spirit? Be sure to check out these numerous resources!

Fruit of the Spirit worksheets for adults and teens (with 12 FREE resources)

Fruit of the Spirit for Moms YouTube Videos

8 Prayers for joy for moms based on the Bible

20 Encouraging Bible verses about peace of mind