Love

July 21st – Ephesians 3:12

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Ephesians 3:12

One of the most beautiful gifts we have as believers is the privilege of calling God our Abba Father. He’s not a distant God who wants us to approach Him only when we have everything figured out or when our lives are perfectly put together. He loves us deeply and invites us to come to Him with everything we carry. Our greatest burdens, deepest fears, biggest decisions, and even the small things that may seem insignificant to everyone else.

As a loving Father, God cares about the details of our lives. He wants to hear about the things that bring us joy, the things that break our hearts, the questions we don’t know how to answer, and the fears we may be afraid to share with anyone else. Nothing is too big for Him, and nothing is too small to bring before Him.

Because of Jesus, we don’t have to approach God with fear or hesitation. Through our Savior, we have boldness and confident access to the Father. We can come freely, knowing we are welcomed, heard, and loved. And not because we are perfect, but because Jesus made a way for us.

What a precious gift it is to know that the Creator of the universe invites us into His presence. So bring Him everything. Talk to Him about everything. Run to your Abba Father with confidence, knowing that through Jesus, the way to Him has been opened, and His arms are always ready to receive His children.

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July 16th – Hebrews 12:6

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Hebrews 12:6

No one enjoys being disciplined. As children, we dreaded punishment because it felt painful and unfair. Even as adults, correction can be difficult to accept. We naturally resist anything that exposes our weaknesses or calls us to change.

But God’s discipline is very different from the world’s punishment. It isn’t driven by anger or rejection. Instead, it flows from His perfect love. A loving father corrects the children who belong to him because he wants what is best for them. In the same way, our Heavenly Father disciplines us to shape our character, strengthen our faith, and draw us closer to Himself.

When God corrects us, it isn’t a sign that He has turned away from us. It’s a reminder that we are His. He loves us too much to leave us where we are. His discipline may be uncomfortable for a season, but it always has a purpose. And that is to make us more like Christ.

So instead of becoming discouraged when God lovingly corrects us, we can rejoice. His discipline is evidence that we belong to Him, that He is actively working in our lives, and that He is preparing us for something greater. What a comfort it is to know that we are dearly loved by our Heavenly Father.

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July 15th – Matthew 12:30

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Matthew 12:30

Jesus reminds us that there is no middle ground when it comes to following Him. We can’t divide our hearts between God and the world. He calls us to love Him completely with our thoughts, our words, our choices, and our lives.

Loving God completely doesn’t mean we’ll never stumble or make mistakes. It means He becomes the greatest desire of our hearts. We begin to care more about pleasing Him than pleasing people. We choose His truth over the world’s opinions, His ways over our own, and His will over our comfort.

When we truly love God, it changes how we live. It affects how we speak to others, how we forgive, how we spend our time, and how we respond when life becomes difficult. Our faith is no longer something we practice only on Sundays, it becomes the foundation of everything we do.

None of us loves God perfectly, but every day we have another opportunity to grow closer to Him. As we spend time in His Word, talk with Him in prayer, and walk in obedience, our love for Him deepens. May our lives reflect hearts that are fully devoted to the One who first loved us.

 

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July 14th – Ephesians 4:31

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Ephesians 4:31

It doesn’t take long to see that our world has grown harsher. A quick look at social media or the comments section of almost any post reveals how easily people tear one another down. Behind a screen it’s easy to become a keyboard warrior, speaking words that wound instead of heal.

But God calls His children to live differently. He tells us to put away bitterness, anger, harsh words, and malice because they have no place in a heart that belongs to Christ. In a world that is becoming increasingly mean, Christians should be known for their kindness, gentleness, and grace.

That doesn’t mean people will always treat us well. In fact, they may not. But our response should never be determined by how others treat us. It should be shaped by how Jesus has treated us. He has shown us mercy when we didn’t deserve it, forgiveness when we failed, and love that never gives up.

As these last days grow darker, may we be bright lights for Christ. May our words encourage instead of condemn, build up instead of tear down, and point others to the love of Jesus. The world has enough anger. Let’s be known for grace.

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July 3rd – Romans 8:1

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Romans 8:1

One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn is the difference between condemnation and conviction. For years, I thought they were the same thing. Every time I messed up, I would carry guilt for days, wondering if God was disappointed with me. But Romans 8:1 reminds us that “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Conviction comes from the Holy Spirit. It gently points out our sin, leads us to repentance, and draws us back into God’s loving arms. It says, “Come back to Me.” Condemnation, on the other hand, comes from the Enemy. It whispers, “You’ll never change. God is tired of you. You’re a failure.” One leads us to Jesus. The other tries to drive us away from Him.

The beautiful truth is that when we confess our sins, God forgives us completely. He doesn’t ask us to keep carrying the guilt after He’s already taken it away. We can learn from our mistakes without living under the weight of them.

So the next time you fail, and we all do, listen carefully to the voice you’re hearing. If it’s calling you back to Jesus, that’s conviction. If it’s telling you you’re beyond His grace, that’s condemnation. And because of Christ, condemnation no longer has the final word over your life.


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June 26th – Jeremiah 29:11

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Jeremiah 29:11

If you’re anything like me, you’re a list maker and a planner. I map out my future, set goals, and imagine how I think life should happen. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that life rarely goes according to my plan. Doors close, unexpected hardships come, and sometimes the path ahead looks nothing like the one I had carefully planned.

Yet while my plans often change, God’s never do. He sees the beginning from the end. He knows every twist, every detour, every disappointment, and every blessing long before we do. Nothing catches Him by surprise.

There have been times when I was disappointed because something I wanted didn’t work out. Looking back now, I can see God’s hand protecting me, redirecting me, and leading me to something far better than I could have imagined. At the time I couldn’t understand it, but now I’m grateful He didn’t answer every prayer the way I wanted.

Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God isn’t making up His plan as He goes. He already has one. His plans are filled with hope, purpose, and His perfect love for us. They may not always be easy, and they may not always happen on our timetable, but they are always good because they come from a good Father.

So if life hasn’t turned out the way you expected, don’t lose heart. Trust the One who holds your future. His plan has never failed, and it never will. One day you’ll look back and realize that what felt like a detour was actually God leading you exactly where you needed to be. To trust Him, because His plans are always better than anything we could have hoped for ourselves!

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June 21st – Proverbs 22:6

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Proverbs 22:6

On Father’s Day, we celebrate the incredible influence fathers have in the lives of their children. The world often measures success by careers, accomplishments, and possessions, but God reminds us that one of a father’s greatest callings is to lead his children toward Him.

The lessons children learn at home often stay with them for a lifetime. A father who prays with his children, teaches them God’s Word, lives out his faith, and points them to Jesus is planting seeds that can bear fruit for generations to come.

No father is perfect, and every dad has moments he wishes he could do over. Yet God does not call fathers to perfection. He calls them to faithfulness. The simple acts of loving, teaching, encouraging, correcting, and modeling a life devoted to Christ leave an impact far greater than most fathers will ever know.

Today, we honor the fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, and spiritual fathers who have faithfully invested in the next generation. Thank you for the prayers you’ve prayed, the sacrifices you’ve made, and the godly example you’ve set.

Your influence matters, and the seeds you plant today may continue growing long after you are gone. May God bless and strengthen every father as he seeks to leave a legacy that points others to Christ.

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June 17th – Matthew 5:44

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Matthew 5:44

Let’s be honest. Most of us have people in our lives who are difficult to get along with. No matter what we do, they never seem happy. They criticize, misunderstand, or hurt us, and sometimes our efforts to make peace only seem to make things worse. Our natural response is often to pull away in anger or return hurt for hurt. Yet Jesus calls us to something different. He tells us to pray for those who mistreat us.

Praying for difficult people doesn’t mean pretending their behavior is acceptable, nor does it mean allowing them unlimited access to our lives. In some situations, healthy boundaries are necessary. There are times when a relationship cannot be restored because the other person is unwilling to change or because remaining close would be harmful. But even when we can’t  have a healthy relationship with someone, we can still pray for them.

When we pray for those who hurt us, something begins to change. Not only in them, but in us. Because prayer softens our hearts, releases bitterness, and reminds us that God loves them just as He loves us. We can pray for their healing, their salvation, their growth, and for God to work in their lives in ways we never could. We may not be able to change another person’s heart, but God can.

Loving our enemies doesn’t always mean keeping them close. Sometimes it simply means surrendering them to God, refusing to let bitterness take root, and trusting Him to handle what we can’t. That isn’t weakness, it’s obedience. And in doing so, we become a little more like the Savior who prayed even for those who crucified Him.

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June 15th – Philippians 2:3

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Philippians 2:3

I once heard someone say, “Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking less about yourself.” I’ve never forgotten that. In a world that constantly tells us we need to be the prettiest, the most popular, the richest, the smartest, or the most powerful, humility doesn’t come naturally. Everything around us encourages self-promotion and putting ourselves first.

Yet God’s Word points us in a different direction. Philippians 2:3 reminds us to value others above ourselves. Not because we have no worth, but because our focus shifts from ourselves to serving those around us. And who better demonstrates this than Jesus? The King of kings, and the Creator of the universe, chose to come to earth in humility. He didn’t come demanding to be served. Instead, He came to serve. He washed feet, touched lepers, comforted the brokenhearted, and ultimately gave His life for us on the cross.

True humility isn’t weakness. It is strength under God’s control. It is choosing kindness over recognition, service over status, and obedience over self-promotion. When we follow Christ’s example, we discover that the most beautiful life isn’t one spent chasing the spotlight, but one spent reflecting the heart of the Savior who humbled Himself for us.

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January 22nd – Joshua 1:8

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Joshua 1:8

One the most important commands God gave to the Jewish people was to remember His Word at all times. A command He gives to us as well. But why? God doesn’t tell us to keep His Word close just to test our obedience. It’s because He knows how quickly our hearts drift when we’re not anchored in His truth. I know for me when I step away from Scripture, my thoughts grow loud, my fears grow bigger, and I start leaning on my own understanding instead of His.

Joshua 1:8 reminds us that God’s Word is meant to be more than something we read once and set aside. Instead, it’s meant to be carried, remembered, and spoken over my lives daily. When we meditate on His Word, it steadies, realigns, and reminds us who God is and who we are in Him. His truth becomes the voice we listen to when the world is confusing and our emotions feel overwhelming. God commands us to remember His Word because He knows it leads us toward life, strength, and peace. When  keep His Word close to my heart, we’ll find ourselves walking with greater confidence. And not because life is easy, but because we’re guided by a faithful God who never leads us astray.

Reflection Question:
What voices or distractions tend to pull your heart away from God’s Word, and how can you intentionally keep His truth before you each day?

Prayer Prompt:
Lord, help me treasure Your Word and carry it with me in my thoughts, my choices, and my heart. When I feel distracted, fearful, or overwhelmed, draw me back to Your truth. Teach me to meditate on Your Word daily so it can guide my steps, steady my heart, and shape my life according to Your will. Amen.

January 22nd – Joshua 1:8 Read More »