Category: Love

Stand Firm in Love

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These verses are short and simple…to read. Being watchful and standing firm require continued effort. This isn’t a simple one and done. The other challenge is doing everything in love. We can get a mixed up understanding of what love really is. Too often we want love to be happy-go-lucky. Sometimes love is living through pain. Sometimes love seems tough when we have to stand against wrong. That requires lots of being watchful and standing firm.

The one thing I can say, is that if God gives a command, He also gives the strength to obey. God will not fail us.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the instructions we need to live. Please help us to discern through watchfulness, stand firm, and act in love.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

True Freedom

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I enjoy the 4th of July in the United States. I get the day off work, sometimes spending time with friends, and maybe enjoy some fun fireworks. I am thankful to have so much freedom in the country of my birth.

God provides freedom. We are free from the bondage of sin (unless we choose to give in). We have many choices in life that God allows us to make. Unfortunately, we sometimes use our God given freedom selfishly. Our freedom according to this verse is to be used to serve others. Some days that can be difficult. Others are not always fun to serve. However, I have learned that doing what God commands brings intense satisfaction. There is an internal freedom when my selfish wishes are not dictating my life. I’m not saying it is easy, but I know it is worth it.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the freedom You provide. Please help us to use that to serve others.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Help To and From Others

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This concept can be a bit of a double edged sword. Sometimes people are too prideful to ask for help. There are times others are too prideful to give help. There are times don’t know what to ask for or what to give. Sounds pretty tough doesn’t it.

This is why I am grateful for prayer. This can help me figure out what help to ask for or give. Praying helps us focus on the neediness of humanity and reminds us of the the glory of God.

So pray about how to live this verse . Helping and being helped is honoring to God.

Dear Heavenly Father, please give us the wisdom to know how to help and be helped. Please guide us as we seek to live this verse.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

God Loves First

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I am so thankful for God’s love. I believe this is a huge concept that we cannot fully understand. However, reading God’s Word and seeking to live it helps move us towards a deeper knowledge of God’s love. In today’s verses, we see that God’s love should move us to love others. This can be challenging since flawed human beings can be hard to love. However, God gives us many verses to help us through the challenges.

As we spend time in the Bible and in prayer, we will gain the help we need to learn more about God’s love and sharing it with others.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us even though we don’t deserve it. Please help us to work towards a deeper knowledge of Your love and the best way to show love to others.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Everything

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We live in a world that seems to think “It’s all about me.” Sadly, even believers fall into this trap. We need to spend time with God daily asking Him to show us what we are selfishly holding back. If we do something good for our own benefit instead of the glory of God, I think we contradict this verse. Every part of our lives should be for our Heavenly Father.

This is easy to say, but hard to do. That is why we need to daily go to God to ask for help glorifying Him.

Dear Heavenly Father, please help us to do everything for Your honor and glory. We know you are deserving of glory. Thank You for giving us the opportunity to glorify you.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Strengthened for Joy

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I don’t know about you, but I often feel weak. Life is filled with challenges (I think I may be sounding like a broken record – if there was sound to writing). Some days those challenges become overwhelming. Have you ever quit? I have.

When we feel weak, joy and thankfulness can be hard to come by. When I find it hard to be joyful or thankful I start with what verses 13-14 tell us. “He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. In Him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” God’s undeserved gift is easy to be thankful for.

Today’s verses talk about being strengthened. We need God’s strength to have endurance to make it through the challenges. God knew there would be many and so he sent the Holy Spirit to help us. Here is another reason to be joyfully thankful.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the strength that You give. Please help us to look to You for the endurance only You can provide. Please help us to be joyfully thankful. We know You give good gifts.

I praise this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.