Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. 1 Corinthians 13:4-6 (ESV)
I read a devotion where a lady decided to substitute her name at the beginning of each section in what is considered the love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, specifically verses 4-6. So, using the first verse, it would go like this: instead of saying love is patient and kind, she would substitute her name and then say the verse. For example, Angélique is patient and kind, Angélique does not envy or boast, and so on. As she did this, she would stop and contemplate if this was an area she needed to work on. She would work on those issues by asking God to help her, then she would continue to the next verse.
In reading this I felt inspired to share this exercise. How impactful this could be if we seek to place our names before each section. By placing your name at the beginning of these verses, it personalizes it like never before. It should cause us to ask ourselves, am I walking and moving throughout life with these core guiding principles? In addition, if we make this a habit to continually say these verses with our names inserted, this can change how we view ourselves and others, basically all of God’s creation.
Below I have completed verses 4-6 using my name:
Angélique is patient and kind, Angélique does not envy or boast; Angélique is not arrogant or rude. Angélique does not insist on her own way; Angélique is not irritable or resentful; Angélique does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.
Now I challenge you to place your name before these verses and seek to daily internalize these core characteristics in your own life.
Blessings,
Angélique
To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com