GOD’S LOVE LANGUAGE

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
(Deuteronomy 6:5)

A few years ago, Gary Chapman wrote a book entitled, The Five Love Languages.  If you have never read it, I recommend it.  It’s about how to build a healthy and loving relationship with your spouse by keeping their “emotional love tank” full.  Chapman writes, “I am convinced that keeping the emotional love tank full is as important to a marriage as maintaining the proper oil level is to an automobile.” When our emotional tank is empty, we feel used rather than loved and life seems dark and dreary.  But when our love tank is full, we feel secure and life looks bright.

So, how do I keep my spouse’s emotional love tank full?  The key is communicating love to your spouse in the language he/she understands best.  Each of us has a primary love language.  When that love language is spoken, our emotional love tank is replenished.  Do you know your spouse’s primary love language?

• Words of Affirmation – affirming, encouraging, kind words.
• Quality Time – focused, undivided attention.
• Giving Gifts – tangible, visible symbols of love.
• Acts of Service – doing things you know your spouse would appreciate.
• Physical Touch – holding hands, hugging, kissing, etc.

Marriage is all about relationship.  Come to think of it, that’s what our spiritual lives are all about, as well.  It’s not about rules and regulations. It’s not about rituals and routines. It’s not about working and doing.   It’s all about relationship!  God desires a love-relationship with you and me.  So, what is God’s love language?  I believe God speaks all the love languages.  Here’s how I see it…

• Words of Affirmation – through worship & praise, telling God how much I love Him.
• Quality Time – through my daily devotional time with God in prayer and Scripture
• Giving Gifts – by giving generously through tithes and offerings
• Acts of Service – by using my spiritual gifts to serve God as I serve others.
• Physical Touch – Okay, I’m still working on this one.

NOTE:  If you have some ideas on how “physical touch” might be translated into our spiritual relationship with God, share your your ideas in the comment section of this blog.  MEANWHILE, keep building your love-relationship with God by speaking the first four love languages to Him. And remember, it’s all about relationship!

Dear Heavenly Father,
More than anything, you desire a love-relationship with me.
Forgive me for getting sidetracked by all the little things in life.
May I refocus once again on the main thing in life – Loving You!
In Jesus’ name, Amen!