Love is something we are going to have to firmly protect.

Now here is the problem—as soon as I say the word “love,” many different things come to your heart and mind.

Oh great, now I have to take care of everyone.
I guess I have to let my toxic mom back in.
I don’t get to have my own feelings about this; I just have to let everyone have theirs.

We all have a story of love, how we learned love in the world. Most of those lessons confused our hearts and souls about the nature of love. We need to allow Jesus to heal our story of love as we take refuge in his love. So when I say we need to protect love, I am only talking about love as we see modeled in Jesus Christ. He has the ability to move toward people, move against people, and move away from people as true love guides him.

“And this I pray, that your love may overflow still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment” (Philippians 1:9 NASB). By all means, we need to be discerning in love. Sometimes that means distancing yourself from toxic people, setting healthy boundaries. But never out of cynicism, never in offense, and never in hatred. If love seems to be growing cold in your life, that should get your attention. Rush to protect it. I often pray,

Fill me with your love for this person, Jesus. Fill love in me with your love.
Jesus, I need you to restore love in me.

Protecting love in your heart includes your love for God. Satan hates your love for Jesus and your Father; he will try to poison it. His favorite tools are suffering, chronic disappointment, or something that feels like God has betrayed or abandoned you. You must not let the enemy do this. So I have had to add this to my prayers as well:

I cleanse my love of God with the Blood of Jesus and the River of Life.

Want More? Order your copy of Experience Jesus. Really. today