Two days ago (May 8), I wrote a message titled “Two Words, Two Books” based on a powerful download from the Holy Spirit. In that I shared about the Transforming Men’s Hearts Retreat at Shenandoah Springs (VA) on May 14-15.

God is calling MEN to step up to be the godly husbands and fathers of their homes this world desperately needs. Now is the time. This is absolutely the will of our heavenly Father in these last days as we prepare the way for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The last verse of the Old Testament, Malachi 4:6, states “And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

Today, I’m beginning a 40 day series based on the book The Love Dare. The Love Dare, as featured in the outstanding Christian movie Fireproof, is a 40-day challenge for husbands and wives to understand and practice unconditional love. Whether your marriage is hanging by a thread or healthy and strong, The Love Dare is a journey you need to take.

Unconditional love is eagerly promised at weddings, but rarely practiced in real life. As a result, romantic hopes are often replaced with disappointment in the home, but it doesn’t have to stay that way.

Day 1: Love is patient

Love works. It is life’s most powerful motivator and has far greater meaning and depth than most people realize. It always does what is best for others. We are born with a lifelong thirst for love.

Love is built on two pillars that best define what it is. Those pillars are patience and kindness. All other characteristics of love are extensions of these two attributes.

Love will inspire you to become a patient person. When you choose to be patient, you respond in a positive way to a negative situation. You are slow to anger. You choose to have a long fuse instead of a quick tempter. Patience brings an internal calm during an external storm.

No one likes to be around an impatient person. Anger almost never makes things better. But patience stops problems in their tracks.

Patience makes us wise. It doesn’t rush to judgment but listens to what the other person is saying. As sure as a lack of patience will turn your home into a war zone, the practice of patience will foster peace and quiet. Patience helps you give you spouse permission to be human. It understands that everyone fails. Few people are as hard to live with as an impatient person. Few of us do patience very well, and none of us do it naturally.

This Love Dare journey is a process, and the first thing you must resolve to possess is patience.

Today’s Dare
The first part of this dare is fairly simple. Although love is communicated in a number of ways, our words often reflect the condition of our heart. For the next day, resolve to demonstrate patience and to say nothing negative to your spouse at all. If the temptation arises, choose not to say anything. It’s better to hold your tongue than to say something you’ll regret.

Prayer Power
Abba, we praise You the perfect Father. Inspire and guide each reader of this message to BE patient. Begin a process to transform hearts, lives, families, and communities. LAUNCH a global movement to foster unconditional love as people share with others. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Blessings to BE patient!