This Sunday, Oprah and Marianne Williamson are sitting down to talk about what's happened in the 20 years since Marianne's book, A Return to Love, changed the lives of millions.

Today, we've got an excerpt of Marianne's new book, The Law of Divine Compensation.

We carry a lot of misconceptions about love. Putting love first isn’t a life of “sacrifice,” for example, as many have been taught. In fact, putting love first means knowing who you are, which means accepting the fact that you’re entitled to miracles. Putting love first means knowing the universe supports you in creating the good, the holy, and the beautiful. It means knowing you’re on the earth for a purpose, and that the purpose itself will create opportunities for its accomplishment.

Making love your bottom line doesn’t make you “lose.” Putting love first is ultimately the way you inevitably gain. For what you give, you shall receive; and what you withhold will be withheld from you. Most of the world’s religions share this core idea. Or, as a friend of mine once described the idea to me, the universe keeps a perfect set of books. You give love; you get love.

Making love the bottom line doesn’t mean you have to give everything away or that you’ll never charge for your services. The principle of fair exchange gives love to both giver and receiver.

Making love the bottom line doesn’t mean you’re compelled to do anything anyone ever asks you to do. Love always gives the loving response, but sometimes the loving response is “No.”

Read more of The Law of Divine Compensation