Simple Math.

According to the substitution property of equality, if a=b then we can change any b to an a or a to a b, and they mean the same thing.

So, consider this.

1 John 4:8 tells us "God is love". (God=a, love=b)

And in Psalms 46:10, we are commanded, "Be still and know that I am God"

Therefore, according to the substitution property, we can read this as, "Be still and know that I am love."

Wow, this means love is always available, always present, always God. Life suddenly feels so sweet and precious when I realize I am completely, fully, and eternally surrounded by love. As I look to God, there is love. As I look to others, there is love. As I look to myself, yes, even there, is love. For Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 3:10, "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple, and that God's spirit dwells in your midst?" We all are love. I am love. The essence of everything it means to love- to give, to receive, to teach, to learn, to be. With this, I feel a new respect for myself. I feel a new respect for others, for who they are as love. I feel a new respect for the unexpected places life takes me, because I know, if I continue to allow the presence and the flow of God to carry me, if I am open and still with no resistance, I will sense the warm and assuring blanket of love swaddling me like a child resting in the comfort of a safe home. I will sense exactly who I am.

It's really easy to forget this and to get caught up in what makes us seem unlike love. Stress, fear, doubt, anger, hate... the list could go on and on and on. We are not these things. We were not born these things, nor do we grow into these things. No. These moments are only the simple forgetfulness that our true essential nature is love, is God. We are love. God is love. Every moment, love is available to us. Every situation, love is there. God is there. Did you hear that? Every moment. All we have to do is "be still and know". It's that simple.

"(Love) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." -1 Cor. 13:7-8

I'll let you do the substitution on that one. :)