Love Lifted Me

As a child, I learned a hymn that continually reminds me of the power of love: “Love Lifted Me.” One line in the song that stands out the most is, “When nothing else could help, love lifted me.” There are moments in our lives when being conscious of this reality becomes the very essence of our breakthrough.

The hymn “Love Lifted Me” was written by James Rowe in 1912. James Rowe was an accomplished hymn writer who contributed hundreds of hymns to Christian music. Born in England in 1865, he eventually moved to the United States, where he began his career in gospel music. Inspired by the biblical story of Jesus calming the stormy seas and saving Peter from drowning, Rowe penned “Love Lifted Me” as a testament to divine love’s uplifting and rescuing power. Collaborating with composer Howard E. Smith, who provided the melody, Rowe’s heartfelt lyrics quickly resonated with congregations and became a beloved hymn that inspires faith and hope.

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Did you know that love is a promise? While we often use the word casually, today, we will examine it from God’s perspective, where “agape” means to love dearly. This term, synonymous with “beloved,” signifies the highest form of love. Another form, “ahab,” refers to human or friendly love. However, “agape” stands supreme.

Love is something our heavenly Father will never stop giving. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Roman Church, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Wow, now that’s love!

“Love Lifted Me” reminds us that we are never too far from God’s love! While we may need to adjust our habits and daily disciplines, God’s love is something we don’t have to earn. His love is everlasting. I feel honored even typing this out.

In our faith journey, we often encounter moments of reflection where we realize we could have responded differently or feel shame for not living up to our standards. Remember, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Christ died out of love for you and me, and He rose so that we might know the powerful love of our Father. He did that for us, and His promise is to love us through all seasons—good and bad, highs and lows, favorable and unfavorable.

In our first blog of this series, we discussed the differences between God and man. God is not a man that He should lie. If, by chance, you missed it, click here to catch up. The following week, we discussed how our habits can lead to positive or negative outcomes. Please read it here! In both instances, God’s love remains consistent.

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Scriptures on the Power of Love

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others; it is not self-seeking; it is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Reflection: These verses define the attributes of love and remind us how to practice love in our daily lives. One virtue of heaven is to love others as ourselves. This strategic knowledge gives practical ways of identifying if we are operating in alignment with heavenly virtues. Are we patient, kind, envious, boastful, or proud? Are we dishonoring, delighting in evil, trusting, hoping, or persevering?

John 15:13

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Reflection: This verse highlights the ultimate sacrifice and the depth of true love. As believers, we hold that Christ laid down His life for us; in this, we are restored from the penalty of sin. I don’t know about you, but every time I am reminded of this, it brings such gratefulness to my heart and mind. There is no greater love than what Christ did for us. I am truly humbled that God thought we were worth dying for.

1 John 4:7-8

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love.”

Reflection: Emphasizes that love is essential to knowing God.

Ephesians 3:17-19

“So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Reflection: Encourages us to understand the vastness of Christ’s love.

1 Peter 4:8

“Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

Reflection: The two words “Above all” are highlighted in this text. Above everything else, we are commanded and commissioned to reflect the love of the Father in our relationship with our fellow humans. This stresses the importance of deep love and its power to forgive.

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Reflection: The foundation of the Christian faith showcases God’s immense love for humanity.

May you be encouraged and reminded of God’s love this week! Be sure to reacquaint yourself with Christ’s love by meditating on love. A section in the Christian Mommas App provides structured meditation to help further increase our consciousness of love. Check it out here!

Until next time, may the grace of God and the peace of God be with you now and forever, Amen!

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