Loving yourself

The word “love” may be one of the most misunderstood words in the English language. We can say we love our favorite foods, our old, broken-in jeans, or our family and friends, but the meaning the world assigns to it can be subjective. It’s defined as a feeling of deep affection or a great interest in something, but this only partially captures the definition. We begin to clearly understand love only when we study the definition and application from God's way .

We can’t truly love others until we love ourselves first. It’s impossible to share something we don’t have. The world is full of empty people who never learned how to love, who are operating unaware that they have a vacuum in their hearts only God can fill. His kind of love goes far deeper than feelings or emotions and remains consistent no matter what. “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NLT).