Disbelieving or Fearing Love

Disbelieving or fearing love? I've been thinking about this
prevading "love battle" that seems to be taking place within
the lives of many people, especially today's youth.

Maybe you can relate to the example bellow...
I think a lot of us can, one way or another, even if only in
certain times in our lives...

1. A Person who needs love,
but can't believe someone would "really" love them
mainly, becuase of all their mistakes and faults

2. But if this person thinks that someone may
actually love them, they are afraid
of either their heart getting broken,
being vulerable, or of "chastening".
Whether because of past experiences
or their view on love it's self...

Answers:
A lot of people don't, or haven't received enough
love from others. When you feel no one loves you - look to Christ.
Sometimes He is all we have in the World.
When it comes to mistakes. He died for You.
When it comes to being afraid or unbelieving in love from others,
remember "true friends" and "lovers" are those who will love you
even though they know you arn't perfect - those are true friends...

Now when it comes to fearing love - Remember "true love' is any
case or form, is based upon these things - Salvation, Sacrifice,
Promise, Security, and Faith. God promises much blessings for those
that love Him - He has showed us what love truly is by how He has
loved us, especially through Jesus and His humble example in loving
and serving others.
Don't forget that we who are now in Christ Jesus, have been brought
near to God through His Sacrifice - He is our Mediator and
through His blood we can be saved from blame.

When realting this to relationships with others we find this:
A Person's "world-view" determins how they see God and how they
see others. You see- whatever your focus is on will be the heart
of your relationship. Whether with God or with others.

What kind of relationship do we have with God or with others when
it is based souly upon "fear of chastening"? How much greater
love is, when it is a "volentary" thing! :) How can we truly be loving
if we fear love it's self? How can it be real love if we are afraid
of it's consequences? afraid of vulerability...but we arn't all to
blame for our fear of being vulnerable.
A lot of it is caused from other people, because "the fall" has used
them to hurt us, through their "hurt" or selfishness. If you think about it, anyone who has ever hurt us, has either been angered or hurt themselves.
A lot of people are unstable these days because of their home lifes, and
the effects of other troubles and ifluences in their lives.

There is a lot of freedom in forgiveness. If you find you have been
hurt by others enough that you find yourself, either disbelieving
or fearing love, quickly: forgive. Let go of bitterness; it only
keeps you hurting...and chained from excepting real love in your life,
and your future - whether from friends, family, or others.

Love also takes bravery and courage. Love is a powerful thing.
There is no garentee though of earthly ease, with love - but there
is the garentee of God's love... and eternity. What you do here counts
greatly, if you live loving even your neighbor, it will not be done in
vain.
So I encourage all of you to embrace freedom.
Firstly by forgiveness,
Secondly by realizing that every chance is a new one, and our future relationships, whether with God or with people can be even better than
in our pasts. Also keep in mind that "love" and human affection can be
two different things. Yet, I do hope that you will be "seized by a
great affection", namely : Christ's...it will change your life as you
grow more and more in His love, and the more you are filled with His
love... His Love can heal you, free you, comfort you, and restore you.
If you truly recognize what He's done for you, you will begin to feel
an overwhelming love for Him in return.
Whether you have already been redeemed by the blood of the lamb through
belief in Him and His sacrifice, or you are just struggling with love
in some way... I encourage you to ask Jesus to continue to invade you with the realization of His love for you - so that you may be freed...
May His love have it's work in You.

That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be
strenghtened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you being rooted
and grounded in love,
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and
length, and depth, and height;
And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you
might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Now to Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we
ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
To Him be glory.... ~ Ephesians 3:16-21

Read also Matthew 5:1-12