Showing God’s Love: 9 Practical Ways
Imagine you’ve reached the end of an especially grueling day. Your to-do list was long, the needs surrounding you were never-ending, and you’re exhausted. You want nothing more than a hot meal and a soft bed. The last thing you want is a lesson on showing God’s love it doesn’t come easily.
You pull into your driveway expecting a quiet house; instead, you discover a relative visiting with her children. They are on their way home from vacation and are hoping to share a meal and spend the night.
Regardless of how much you love your family, embracing the unexpected visit probably feels challenging.
Insights on Showing God’s Love
The disciples probably felt similar sentiments at the end of a long day spent ministering alongside Jesus. As the day drew to a close, they were tired. They were ready to head home, eat dinner, and go to bed. Ready to call it quits, they asked Jesus to send the crowds home.
Much to their surprise, Jesus responded, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat” (Matthew 14:16).
Jesus’ response probably wasn’t the directive they were hoping for. They were ready for a break.
I can relate to the disciples. I’m all about serving others when their needs fit within my schedule. However, when serving requires me to embrace interruptions to my agenda and set aside my plans, showing God’s love becomes difficult.
One of the best ways to show God’s love is to serve others with grateful hearts—even when we feel stretched.
Let’s talk about what this might look like.
9 Practical Ways to Show God’s Love to Others
Jesus is calling us to share his love with others today, and he will provide ample opportunities. Here are nine practical ways to show God’s extravagant love to others.
1. Extend unexpected kindness to strangers.
Ask God to give you his heart for the public servants and other strangers who will cross your path each day. Slow down to encourage weary cashiers. Make conversations with elderly shoppers.
Instead of merely holding the door for the person behind you, hold the door and smile warmly.
Showing God’s love is often less complicated than we imagine. A warm smile can change the atmosphere.
2. Learn to listen well.
In my current season of life, this often looks like stepping away from housework to look into the eyes of our children when they want to talk to me, even when they’re telling stories I’ve heard dozens of times.
In the past, this looked like staying after work to talk to distraught, lonely, or frustrated coworkers.
We listen well when we create space for others to share their stories. Many people are desperate for a listening ear. Be that person, and you will embody the love of Christ.
3. Serve others in tangible ways.
We show God’s love when we cook special meals for loved ones.
We exemplify his love when we reach out to elderly neighbors with visits, cards, or cookies.
Can you rake leaves, mow the lawn, or shovel the sidewalk for a neighbor today? Can you grab an extra cup of coffee for a coworker or pay for the person behind you in the drive-thru?
We show God’s love when we find tangible ways to serve others.
4. Extend forgiveness.
Do you need to forgive anyone today? Extend the forgiveness you have received and show God’s love through this simple act.
Remember, you don’t have to feel like forgiving someone to extend this gift. Forgiveness is an action, not a feeling. Furthermore, forgiveness doesn’t necessitate a restored relationship where trust has been broken. Rather, forgiveness frees you from the burden of bitterness.
5. Ask God for humility.
We are all proud by nature.
Ask God to help you grow in humility and watch for opportunities to humble yourself as you put others’ needs above your needs.
Humility is not thinking of ourselves with lowly regard; it is putting others above us in a loving way.
6. Receive interruptions with grace.
I don’t receive interruptions to my plans well. Nevertheless, I try to remind myself that the interruptions to my important work are, in themselves, my most important work.
Do you handle interruptions to your plans with ease?
How do you respond when your spouse calls and asks you to run an errand that you don’t feel like running at the end of a long day?
What do you do when your child or grandchild calls from the school with an urgent request that derails your plans for the entire day?
Receiving interruptions with grace is challenging. Yet it is always an opportunity to show God’s love.
7. Pray for the people in your sphere of influence.
I have an ongoing list of names over which I pray each morning. I pray for some people (immediate family members and close friends) every day. Others receive prayer once or twice a week.
How does prayer help us show God’s love?
Praying for people aligns our hearts with God’s heart of love for others.
When I pray, I often imagine lifting the person before God’s throne. I then watch to see what happens. I ask God to fill me with his love for the person and show me what he wants me to know.
Sometimes, he offers a creative way to encourage the person. At other times, I simply recognize my love deepening. This is especially helpful with people who can be hard to get along with.
8. Pray through your day before it begins.
Similar to praying for others, praying through the day before it begins prepares our hearts and minds to love the people God sends our way.
Most mornings, I ask God to prepare me for the predictable events of the day and imagine myself responding with love.
Next, I ask him to prepare my heart for the unpredictable parts of the day and show me how to love others when they interrupt my plans and push my buttons.
I imagine smiling at my kids when they come to me with knotted shoelaces and endless requests for snacks. I imagine taking the time to check in with friends or slowing down to talk to the local librarian. Asking God to fill me with love for each of these people, I pray he will align my heart with his heart so that I might carry his love to this world around me.
9. Slow down and create space to enjoy God’s gifts.
We are better able to show God’s love when we learn to slow down.
We avoid hurrying and live slowly—with intention. This includes taking the time to admire the sunrise, smiling as we watch our children play, and enjoying all of God’s good gifts.
It might look like slowing down to enjoy each bite of our meals, talking to God as we go about our moments, and snapping photos of dragonflies and snowflakes.
We open ourselves to love others when let ourselves enjoy them.
For example, I love my kids, but I don’t always enjoy them.
I’m irritated when they need me for tasks that I think they should be able to complete on their own. I respond with harsh words instead of open arms more often than I wish.
When they walk into the room, there are times my eyes don’t light up.
We all have bad days. Enjoying our loved ones isn’t about being perfect or never feeling frustrated. Instead, it’s about creating an atmosphere in which our loved ones know we delight in them. It’s about smiling with our eyes as often as we can, setting aside our agendas to listen, and listening with a warm smile for the thousandth day in a row.
Showing God’s Love When We’re Weary
Before we go, let’s return to the story of the disciples feeding the crowd.
Remember, the disciples were tired and probably just wanted to find a place to rest. Yet, as a result of the disciples’ obedience to feed the crowds, Jesus used them to perform a miracle. Thousands of people were fed from just a few fish and loaves of bread.
In a similar way, when you show God’s love despite your weariness, your obedience might just be the backdrop for God’s next miracle in your life.
Your obedience might just be the backdrop for God’s next miracle in your life. #obedience #miracles #LovingGod #EncounteringGod Share on X
A Free Devotional Book to Help With Showing God’s Love by Slowing Down
Lastly, I have a gift for you today: My free online devotional Unrushed: Slow Your Pace and Embrace the Fully-Present Life. This is a powerful journey into a life that is more present and engaged. Click here, and I’ll send this free online devotional to your email inbox!
These two books are free on Kindle Unlimited or available to purchase in print:
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book for free on the Kindle Unlimited plan or for 12.99 in print right here. This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
Calling all mothers and daughters!
Additionally, my 12-year-old daughter, Bekah, and I wrote a mother-daughter devotional book to help mothers and daughters grow closer together while connecting with God. Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith includes 60 devotions with Scripture, commentaries from both of us, conversation starters, and even a shared journaling section. Multitudes of mothers, daughters, mentors, and younger women are being transformed by this book! You can find your free Kindle Unlimited eBook or buy it in print for just 11.99 right here.
