Learn how to give and receive your two greatest needs—love and affection—by demonstrating 7 Practical Ways To Demonstrate Love.
Have you ever run out of fuel in your car? If you have, you’ve probably never forgotten it, especially if complete strangers had to help you push your car out of traffic! The consequences of an empty tank can mean calling someone for help, walking to the nearest gas station for a gallon of gas, or any other number of inconveniences. If you’ve experienced this, you know that seeing the fuel gauge resting on empty is never good!
In much the same way, there’s a spiritual, God-shaped tank on the inside of you designed with a gauge that begs to stay full, but it doesn’t run on gas. It runs on love and affection—your two greatest needs. This is the life Jesus came to give you: “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)” (John 10:10, AMPC).
Love is what makes you and the people you love feel wanted, needed and accepted. It’s what gives you and them a sense of belonging. To help you thrive in giving and receiving love, consider these 7 Practical Ways To Demonstrate Love, and watch love make all the difference in your relationships.
1. Communicate Love
“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them…. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you/” –Ephesians 4:29-32
When you communicate with others, choose your words wisely. God wants you to speak words of life—words that build up, not tear down. He wants you to be friendly and nonthreatening. You could be well-meaning in what you say, but if it’s not said in love, it can come across as hard and harsh. This could impact your relationship with the other person. Another way to communicate love to someone is to give them your full attention and actively listen to them. This may require stopping what you’re doing, prioritizing the relationship over your favorite show or app, and looking the other person in the eye. These demonstrations of heartfelt communication nurture your relationships and produce the kind of close, loving, tenderhearted relationships you need and want. This is how you communicate love.
To dig deeper into God’s love for you—the love you can communicate to others, click here.
2. Show Appreciation
“Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” –Romans 12:10
Love begins at home with your closest relationships, so thank the people in your life consistently for all they do. Express your gratitude and show it, not just on holidays, birthdays or other special occasions. Regularly send flowers, give gifts and write love notes. Leave sweet notes in your children’s lunches or backpacks. Hide them in your spouse’s luggage before a trip. You can even leave a note in the lid of the washing machine that says, “I see all you do for me. Thank you.” When you take the time to show appreciation, you’ll find that you end up on the receiving end of appreciation too.
3. Speak Affirming Words
“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” –1 Thessalonians 5:11
How do you speak affirming words to people? Look for opportunities to verbally acknowledge others’ talents, skills and interests. For example, more than likely, you work with a variety of personalities in your job. Those personalities are meant to complement each other; each person has strengths that can be acknowledged and affirmed. In your home with your spouse, with your children, speak affirming words to them, telling them, “You can do it!” Oftentimes, people grow up without these affirming words, so even the slightest notice you take in another person will have far-reaching results. Speak affirming words to people by acknowledging every good thing that is in them. By doing so you are demonstrating love to them (Philemon 6, NKJV).
4. Actively Participate
“And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.” –Titus 2:7-8
When it comes to your relationships, get your head in the game and actively participate. There will always be distractions and other priorities that take you away from the most important relationships in your life. Choose instead to find ways to be involved and engaged with the people in your life. They won’t be here forever. You will never regret the choice you make to take part in the lives of those around you. With your children, take part in playing board games, attending their sports games, or even coaching. Likewise, equally share in nurturing your marriage by spending quality time with your spouse, changing the diapers, helping kids with their homework, and chaperoning the school outing. By showing up for your loved ones, you are practically showering them with love; they will never forget you were there for them, cheering them on in life.
5. Cooperate and Collaborate
“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.” –Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
God connects you with others to be a team, whether at work, or in a marriage or family; and every successful team must cooperate and collaborate. If you are married, you can attest to the fact there are many times you see something from a different point of view than your spouse. It takes communication and collaboration to understand where the other person is coming from, and to find harmony. Similarly, on a work team, when each part is cooperating and doing their job successfully, the whole team functions well. This is also how it is with the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:1-16). When you look for ways to cooperate and collaborate with others, you are meeting the needs of love and belonging in others.
If you are struggling with cooperation and collaboration in your marriage, God has encouragement for you. Click here to read 4 Truths About Faith That Can Save Your Marriage.
6. Bring Stability
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.” –Matthew 7:24-25
Every household needs stability, and that stability comes from the adults in the household who provide that strong foundation. An inconsistent household will feel shaky and unsafe. Where are areas you can provide consistency, and thus stability, in your home? First, your children need to see that you are committed to God. They need to feel safe and secure in your relationship with Him. Secondly, they need to see you demonstrate your faith by going to church, giving to others, and treating others with kindness. Thirdly, they need to know you are there for them, no matter what. When they come to you with questions, problems or insecurities, they need to know that you will listen and not judge them. They need to know you will provide solutions for them that will bring stability and peace in their life.
7. Relax and Play Together
“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” –Psalm 127:2
Every life and every household needs a sense of balance between work, play, rest and quality time together. God wants you to enjoy each other’s company, and that means an element of relaxation and play in your weekly routines. He wants you to take time to slow down. Taking time for a sabbath—a rest—in your week is part of this. Weekend getaways are part of this. Vacations are part of this. Each one is an installment in taking care of your body and relationships. Even God rested on the seventh day of Creation (Genesis 2:2-3). If God needed to rest, so do you. A healthy relationship—be it a marriage, a dating relationship, a parent-child connection, a friendship or collaborating with colleagues—requires relaxation and play time. It requires love and affection.
Watch Kenneth and Gloria Copeland explain how to practice the commandment of love:
Start activating these 7 Practical Ways To Demonstrate Love today to express the full Love of God to everyone around you. Love is what makes people feel wanted, needed and accepted; everyone needs to feel they belong. Knowing how to love is critical to being able to initiate, nurture and maintain the relationships God has given you. Do your part to keep the love tanks of everyone you love and interact with full, because no one can thrive on empty.
Related Articles:
15 Ways God Loves You
What Does It Mean to “Walk In Love?”
© 1997 – 2025 Eagle Mountain International Church Inc. Aka Kenneth Copeland Ministries. All Rights Reserved.
