Returning to Our First Love

Fervent Love: Supernatural Leadership

Rediscovering Our First Love

The Church in Ephesus once burned with fervent love. Over time, however, they shifted their focus to preserving and protecting the Church itself. They became caught up in doing all the “right” things. As many commentators note, they lost their first love (Revelation 2:4).

I often think back to my first deep encounter with God’s love. I remember feeling shaded, covered, and completely at peace. It was a season of surrender—a time when I let God meet me in the hard and hidden places of parenting and marriage. You know the kind—juggling school schedules, deployments, ministry, and parenting alone. The pressure to keep it all together started to chip away at my focus. I was consumed by what needed to get done, and slowly, I began to feel depleted of love.

The Weight of Leadership

Joe was exhausted too. He was worn down by the grief of losing friend after friend, yet still expected to suit up and deploy again. He had nothing left to pour out. To be honest, there wasn’t much covering from our church either. Our leadership team was tired—burned out from ministering to a high-turnover military congregation with constant needs and no real breaks.

It was then I realized: even when we mean well, we can unintentionally neglect what needs our presence the most.

A Leadership Check

Leadership check: Are there areas where you’re showing up to serve but no longer truly present? Have you unintentionally ignored or left behind something God once placed on your heart?

This reminds me a lot of marriage. We have to reorient ourselves with our “new selves” as we grow in Christ. We don’t just get to know our spouse once and call it done. We return, again and again, to learn them more deeply.

The Bride and the Groom

The same is true of our relationship with Jesus. We are the Bride. He is our Groom. We must return—not just to our calling—but to our first love. Isn’t it funny? We think we know love—until we surrender to the One who is Love.

This week, I want to invite you to lean into the memory of when you first experienced God’s all-consuming, all-loving character.

In Revelation 2:4, the word “love” is the Greek word agape—a powerful term that reflects a deeply sacrificial, unconditional, and irresistible love. It’s a love that connects our hearts to God spiritually and emotionally.

Embracing God's Love

As you take time this week to sit in His presence, I encourage you to:

• Remember who you are as a daughter of the Most High King.

• Reflect on how He first loved you.

• Release any lies or burdens that blur the truth of His love in your life.

  
  

And as leaders—preparing to enter the chaos of Fall with ministry demands at home, in this community, and in your local church—remember: you are not alone in the battle. Like the Ephesians, we often face intense spiritual warfare. But returning to our first love strengthens us. It awakens something within us. It sets our hearts ablaze to love from a place of overflow, not obligation.

Reflection Questions

• Have I allowed my identity in Christ to be replaced with tasks for Christ?

• What’s one way I can reconnect to God’s love in this season?

• Am I leading others to intimacy with Jesus from a place of intimacy myself?

  
  

A Prayer for Renewal

Oh Lord, search my heart. Help me receive your love and affection again. Rebuke every thought, feeling, or habit that’s been pulling me away. Stir my spirit, fill me with your Holy Spirit, and supernaturally coat my heart—so I can lead others with an outpouring of your uncontainable love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Conclusion: The Journey Ahead

As we navigate the complexities of life, let us remember that love is not merely a feeling but a commitment. It requires effort, attention, and a willingness to return to the source. The journey of rediscovering our first love is ongoing. It’s a path filled with grace and growth in discovering God's love for you and I.

Let’s embrace this journey together. Let’s support one another as we seek to lead from a place of love, not obligation. Remember, it’s in our vulnerability that we find strength. It’s in our surrender that we discover true leadership.

So, as we step into the future, let’s carry the flame of fervent love in our hearts. Let’s allow it to guide us, inspire us, and transform us. Together, we can create a community that reflects the heart of God—a community that thrives in love and grace.

This is a call to action. Let’s not just be leaders; let’s lead from our assurance of God's love and of one another. Let’s make our journey one of fervent love and supernatural leadership.