Love is a Choice

I stole the following from Brad...who borrowed it from Rick Warren. It was just too good not to share with you, as it challenged me in my continued struggle to love more deeply, naturally, and fully where people need to be loved, and not at my own whim and comfort. Its a continued process, drenched in prayer and trust that I'm going to get there by His power.

Meanwhile, I'll be blogging later about Thanksgiving, apartment fires, and two rambunctious puppies given to me and Angelyn...ah November, what a month!

...That you may love the L-rd your G-d, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the L-rd is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers... Deuteronomy 30:20 (NIV)

*** *** *** ***

Love is a choice and a commitment. You choose to love or you choose not to love.

Today we’ve bought into this myth that love is uncontrollable, that it’s something that just happens to us; it’s not something we control. In fact, even the language we use implies the uncontrollability of love. We say, “I fell in love,” as if love is some kind of a ditch. It’s like I’m walking along one day and bam! – I fell in love. I couldn’t help myself.

But I have to tell you the truth – that’s not love. Love doesn’t just happen to you. Love is a choice and it represents a commitment.

There’s no doubt about it, attraction is uncontrollable and arousal is uncontrollable. But attraction and arousal are not love. They can lead to love, but they are not love. Love is a choice.

Likewise, you must choose to love G-d; he won’t force you to love him (Deuteronomy 30:20). You can thumb your nose at G-d and go a totally different way. You can destroy your life if you choose to do that. G-d still won’t force you to love him. Because he knows love can’t be forced.