Teach Me To Love

We never stop learning how to receive and extend God’s love. Sometimes, the commandments to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” or “Love your neighbor as yourself” can sound routine to us. We can quote this verse without understanding the gravity and implications of inwardly understanding and outwardly demonstrating this commandment. The Bible teaches that God is love and that as followers of Christ, we will be recognized by how we love one another. As we seek God first, we can observe, experience, and represent His love. We can only extend the amount of love we receive from God. God is the source of love and light in the world. Since God is love, we are called to be with love and to become love. The depths of God’s goodness and love are impossible for us to comprehend fully. God loves us so much that He sent His one and only Son to die on the cross to save us. We can share God’s love with the lost and found people in this world from this overflow. Imagine the impact on the lives of others we can have by growing in our understanding and ability to receive and extend God’s love.

Application/ Reflection:

Do you see and treat others through the lens of God’s love?
In what ways do you need to recognize God’s love for you?
How can you extend God’s unconditional love to the people around you?
Prayer:

God, I come to you today asking for a fresh understanding of your love. Thank you for the extravagant love you demonstrated by sending your Son to die for me to forgive my sins. I pray to experience your love tangibly, transforming me to become more like you. Show me how I can better love myself and love those around me. I pray to be a vessel, quick to obey, and show your love to the world! Change the way I love, renew the way I love, transform the way I love. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen!

Walking in Humility & Obedience

Today we are deciding to walk in humility. Humility is defined not as thinking less of yourself but as thinking of yourself less. Humility is taking up your God-given space, nothing more, nothing less. We live in a day and age where it seems counterintuitive to make ourselves smaller. We can sometimes become absorbed in our achievements, dreams, desires, and worries. We may feel we need to promote ourselves to stay relevant, receive credit, or even reach our purpose. The Bible instructs us, as followers of Christ, to remain humble and submitted. We are empowered through the Holy Spirit to become self-aware in our actions and fight against the temptation to walk in pride. Jesus modeled what it looked like to walk in humility by how He lived His life and served others in grace and truth. If anyone had an excuse to be prideful, it was Jesus. He was God! The Bible says in Philippians 2:6, “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.” The next time you feel yourself consumed by your needs or desires, remember to remain humble by magnifying God and putting Him in His rightful place. We surrender by trusting His ways are higher; in turn, we find peace and freedom.

Application/ Reflection:

What is an area you tend to be prideful in?
How does walking in humility magnify God in your life?
What is one thing you can do today to submit to God by walking in humility?
Prayer:

Lord, I thank you for reminding me that you are always in control. I thank you that I can remain open-handed with my worries and my wants, trusting your will for my life. I repent for the ways I have walked in pride. I repent for times when I have been self-centered and missed the mark. As I humble myself today, I pray that you show me grace and favor. I thank you for the relationship I have with you. I pray that your presence and power in my life are magnified as I submit. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

Developing Faith & Trust

As we seek first God’s Kingdom, we continue to develop our faith and trust in Him. Faith is the standard in our relationship with Jesus! We all have put our hope or trust in something, but where we put our faith matters most. In Luke 2:52, the Bible says that Jesus grew in wisdom and stature. As Jesus progressed and grew during His time on earth, it is important that we continually grow and develop as well! There is always room to grow in our faith and trust in the Lord. When we put our faith in Jesus, we partner with God in believing what we cannot see. The Bible defines faith in Hebrews 11:1 as “being sure of what we cannot see.” When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we do so on faith! We trust in the Word of God and are filled with the Holy Spirit. Faith becomes the standard of knowing God and seeing Him transform our hearts and lives. We not only have faith in our salvation but also trust in knowing that God is all-powerful and above all things in our lives. As we grow in our faith and trust, we take a moment to remember all that God has done to get us here. Every day is a fresh opportunity to experience God’s faithfulness and trust Him more. We pray for increased faith and trust as we seek God first.

Application/ Reflection:

How has God been faithful in your life?
In what areas of your life do you need God to increase your faith?
What are practical ways you can develop your faith and trust in God?
Prayer:

Lord, I thank you for your Son, Jesus. Thank you that, through faith, I am saved. I repent for times when I have confined my understanding of your power or ability to transform my life. I pray that you remind me of your faithfulness and goodness in all things. I pray that you expand my comprehension of your power. Thank you for being all-knowing and sovereign and reigning above everything in my life. I pray that as I encounter others today, I can encourage and uplift them through my faith in you. I love you. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

Transform My Mind

Our minds are transformed as we surrender our lives to God and mature in our faith. We all experience thoughts, situations, and events throughout our lives that challenge and stretch us. As we walk out our faith, our minds are constantly bombarded by thoughts, lies, and worries that come against the truth of God. Our experiences and feelings can shape patterns and behaviors as we respond and react to our environments. The Bible says we have authority in Christ over our present circumstances. We have the authority to react in agreement with the Holy Spirit. We are transformed as we intentionally discern truth from lies and redirect our thoughts to what God has to say about us. It takes intentional prayer, but the Holy Spirit is always with us to help us in our thoughts. As we yield to the Holy Spirit and embrace the process of God’s transforming love, we pursue progression and not perfection. As you continue to walk in your God-given authority, your minds and emotions are renewed. As we mature in our relationship with Christ, we declare the promises of God over our lives, and we are transformed!

Application/ Reflection:

What areas of your mind, thoughts, and emotions require fresh surrender to God?
What is God speaking to you about transforming your mind?
Prayer:

Lord, I thank you for inviting me daily to a fresh surrender to you. I praise your name, that your ways are not my ways and that you are higher than all of my thoughts, emotions, and circumstances. I invite you into my heart and mind today. I pray you change me, renew me, and transform my mind. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen!