“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.” – 1 John 4:18-19
Acts of kindness are invaluable. The smallest of gestures from my spouse—holding my hand, bringing my morning coffee, or praying over me—cultivate trust and security and draw me towards them. It’s way too easy to get comfortable in the marriage relationship and not make the effort to demonstrate our love for one another in tangible ways. It’s a slippery slope towards just checking the boxes. If you’re not intentional, love can become more about duty than desire.
How can you cultivate the desire to experience a love that drives out fear? The fear of rejection, the fear of being taken advantage of, or the insecurities that can cripple the marriage relationship.
The answer to truly cultivating deep love for one another begins by knowing God first loved us! Because of His love, we have the ability to love our spouse in the same way—freely, selflessly, and without fear. Your act of kindness that demonstrates your love in a real and tangible way is motivated by God’s great love for you.
How overwhelming is that? What a feeling when two worlds collide—the unconditional love of God and the extravagant love from our spouse. Take a moment today to express love in a tangible way, not out of obligation but out of the overflow of the love God has given you.
