Love That Lasts

Love That Lasts

I. Introduction

A. I Corinthians 13:7-8a (NAS) ⁷Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ⁸Love never fails.

B. In long-lasting relationships, you have to learn how to your love on a regular basis or you’ll wear out.

II. Habits to Refuel Yourself So Your Love Will Last

A. Develop habits that refresh me

1. Your has a big impact on your and your ability to love.

2. Warning signs:

a. Always feel

b. Too tired to

c. Depend on (caffeinated drinks, etc.)

3. It takes physical energy to really to people and put their before your own.

4. Habits that physically refresh you:

a. Proper

(1) If you’re not taking a day off, you’re .

(2) Hebrews 4:11 (NLT) So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

b. Balanced

c. Regular

(1) I Corinthians 6:20b (NAS) Glorify God in your body.

B. Develop habits that recharge me

1. Warning signs of running low emotionally:

a. Sense of being

b. Outbursts of

c. Desire to people

d. Dreaming of “ ”

2. Habits that recharge me emotionally:

a. Time

(1) Mark 6:31a (NAS) “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.”

b.

(1) Do some things in your life just for !

c.

(1) Proverbs 17:22a (NAS) A joyful heart is good medicine.

(2) Laughter is a load !

(3) You have to learn to in the midst of your !

C. Develop habits that renew me

1. I Timothy 4:7b (NAS) Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.

2. Warning signs of spiritual emptiness:

a. Nothing seems worth the

b. Life seems futile and has no .

c. You begin blaming for your problems.

d. Increased

3. Habits that renew me spiritually:

a. A daily time

(1) II Corinthians 4:16 (NAS) Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

b. Join a

(1) Hebrews 10:24-25 (NAS) ²⁴And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, ²⁵not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

(2) Acts 5:42 (NAS) And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

c.

(1) Psalm 59:16 (NAS) But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, for You have been my stronghold and a refuge in the day of my distress.

d. Begin in some way

(1) I Peter 4:10 (NAS) As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

(2) Fulfillment in life comes from giving your life to other people!

(3) Ephesians 2:10 (NAS) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

III. Conclusion