ROAD to 31 Devotional - Day 9 - "Won't Give Up on You "

Listen to "Decipher" from my new mixtape https://m.soundcloud.com/jeannie-ortega-2/decipher

There are some relationships in life that regardless how much it hurts, you just won't give up on. Whether it be your children, your spouse, your parents, a relative or a kindred spirit. "Decipher" was me realizing that I'm not always going to understand why people do or say what they do, but I accepted that I was determined to love them regardless. Unlike me, God knows all things and why we do everything and yet He still loves us.

Romans 5:8 "But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Many times we get stuck and are not able to love like we've never been hurt, BUT that's how God loves us. So, how do we do that for each other?

I remember feeling so broken by someone that all I could do was pray for them and that I did. As I purposed myself to pray for them, my heart began to change from hurt to compassion. The more I looked at them through the loving eyes of a savior, God began to reveal things to me that the enemy was hiding. I saw their own brokenness and lack of love for themselves. So that caused me to purpose myself to forgive regardless how unlovely they were to me.

Now please know forgiveness and love is not an account to stay in an abusive or dangerous relationship and if you ever find yourself in one you should separate yourself from the situation immediately BUT still be willing to pray for that individual because in that you will learn how to free yourself from the bitterness attaches itself to hurt.

Galatians 6:1 "Brothers/sisters if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore them in a spirit of gentleness. [BUT] Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted."

What I've learned in my journey with God is that love really does have the power to melt away years of damage and betrayal. There are people in my life today that regardless what they have done to me in the past, I'm able to be there for them and love on them not looking for anything in return. The world calls it foolishness or weakness but Jesus calls it mercy, forgiveness and LOVE... And one day It'll be that same love that helps lead those same broken people to the arms of the savior.

1 Peter 4:8 "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."

1 Peter 3:1 "...Even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their loved one." Note: (This scripture is talking about husbands and wives but found it to go with this devotion)