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In the last post, we talked about how to love God—not through forced effort or vague feelings, but by returning to Him in presence and prayer. The greatest commandment, Jesus said, is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. But He didn’t stop there.

The second part of that commandment?

“Love your neighbour as yourself.”

Now, that sounds lovely… until you actually try it.

Because here’s the thing—no one really teaches you how. Most of us are told to just “be nice.” But niceness isn’t love. In fact, these days, being “nice” might be the last thing people actually need from you.

What we need are people who are intelligent, spiritually grounded, and practical. People who don’t just toss around words like “love” or “grace,” but who live them—with clarity, boldness, and wisdom.

What we need is people who pray.

LOVE IS NOT PASSIVITY

Let’s set the record straight: love is not about being a doormat. It doesn’t mean letting people trample over you in the name of being Christlike. When you constantly shrink yourself, silence your voice, and deny your authentic self just to keep the peace or make others comfortable, that’s not humility—it’s dishonest. That kind of self-editing and playing small, just to avoid conflict and be “nice,” doesn’t lead to love; it teaches others how to abuse you—and everyone else they meet. This is how we support bullies in our families and circles.

Love without standards isn’t love. It’s sentimentality. It’s softness masquerading as compassion. It’s a lack of courage and leads to chaos. This is the real danger behind the obsession with “tolerance” without “accountability” at all costs. When love becomes blind acceptance of everything, families crumble. Churches hollow out. Society collapses. This is how we end up with hell on earth.

Jesus never loved people by avoiding hard truths. He was the Truth—and He spoke it. But He did it from a place of deep connection with the Father, never from ego or performance.

SO WHAT IS LOVE, THEN?

If loving God means spending time with Him… Then loving others means bringing them into that time.

Think about it: You cannot say you love someone if you don’t pray for them. That’s not meant to shame you. It’s meant to anchor you. Prayer is not abstract. It’s not passive. It’s not “thoughts and vibes.” Prayer is action. It’s measurable. It’s spiritual and practical all at once.

When you bring someone before God in prayer, you’re saying,

“I love you enough to carry you into the presence of the One who can actually help you.”

You’re lifting them up in places they may never know about. You’re fighting battles on their behalf. You’re sowing seeds in the Spirit that will bear fruit in time. And hurrying angels to rally around them,

THE REAL WAY TO LOVE

So no, loving others isn’t just about being agreeable, or tolerant, or “nice.” It’s about stopping being nice and beginning to stand in the breach. And the first step is simple: Pray for them. Really pray. Pray as you can. Pray when you can. Pray how you can.

Not as a checkbox. Not as a side thought. But as a choice—to bring them into God’s presence, intentionally and faithfully. That’s love. That’s the kind that changes lives.

PRaying for people, simply but consistently, is the basis of “spiritual warfare.”

A PRACTICAL CHALLENGE

Take the “Love-in-Action” challenge: Choose one person today. Maybe someone close to your heart. Maybe someone who hurt you. Maybe the one you’d rather avoid—or the one you feel least deserves it.

Then pray for them. Five minutes. Not to change them. Not to fix them. Just to love them in the presence of the God who loves you both.

Because when you do that… You are the most like God you will ever be.

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. Have I confused niceness with love in my relationships?
2. Where have I compromised truth for the sake of approval?
3. Who do I need to start praying for regularly?
4. How does prayer transform the way I see difficult people?
5. What does it mean to love others with wisdom and courage?

A PRAYER

Lord,

I don’t want to love people with empty words.
I want to love them like You do—with truth, with compassion, and with intercession.
Help me how to bring others to You, not just in conversation but in prayer.
Let my love be real. Rooted in Your presence.
Give me the strength to set boundaries where needed and the grace to never grow bitter.
Shape my heart so that it reflects Yours—faithful, fierce, and full of mercy.

Amen.

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