Worry or Hope

On December 28, 2024 By vickleaIn prayer, Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “Daily Power by Craig Groeschel, Day 3”

Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep. My mind spins with thoughts of appointments, responsibilities, and obligations for the following day. I worry about my kids, my friends, and members of our church. When everyone seems to be doing okay, I worry that I can’t think of anything to worry about! The best thing I do, though, is simply pray about all that’s weighing on me.

Sometimes people say, “All we can do now is pray.” It’s tempting to treat prayer like it’s a last line of defense. In actuality, though, prayer is our first line of offense.

We all have so many people depending on us that it can be hard to feel strong enough to do all that needs doing. We want to keep standing firm in our faith, but we become weary and feel so exhausted. That’s when we have to cry out for help, just like the psalmist says in today’s verse. We have to put our hope in the promises of God’s Word.

When you wake early because your mind and heart are troubled, you can rest in remembering what your Father has promised. He is with you and will never abandon you. He is in control and devoted to your growth for his good purposes. You don’t have to do everything that’s spinning around in your mind.

Today you can rest easy knowing that your hope is in God and not in your own efforts.

Power Lift: Today I cast my burdens before you, Lord, and trust that you can handle all that weighs on me and more. My hope is in you and I trust your timing to meet my needs as you show me my next step.

My Thoughts

I come from a family of hand-wringers and worriers. So, you might say that I have been perfecting this art of worrying for decades. I have also been learning (for fewer decades) how to let go and trust in God. I am not there yet because I still awaken in the middle of the night with my mind spinning. But I have learned to take deep breaths, release the troubles to God and go back to sleep. For me, that is good progress. I also recite scriptures that I have memorized to myself and sing praise songs in my mind. Sometimes it takes longer to go back to sleep, depending on what the issue is. But my belief is that I am awakened to pray, so I do and fall back to sleep when I feel comforted and the reassurance that God is taking care of things for me.

Atrophy or Activity?

On December 27, 2024 By vickleaIn devotional, Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

First, I must start by saying that I don’t exercise a lot physically. I do a few things every morning and throughout the day to stretch my muscles and to keep my neck, knees and arms moving so I can use them. I used to do indoor walking exercises but that became too much for me. Sometimes, I do chair exercises if I am feeling particularly motivated, but basically I am a slug.

Having said all that, the more sluggish I have become physically, it seems that I have become more and more motivated to read and study God’s Word and immerse myself in its truth. My daily goal is to find out something that I didn’t know before, to get a new insight. And even though I have read the Bible through every year for at least the last fifteen years, I am still learning and still amazed at all God shows me when I spend time with Him. The Bible is definitely alive in the hearts of His people and He shows me every day some new truth to hold close to my heart and then to share with others when the time is right. Now, for today’s devotional message…

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “Daily Power by Craig Groeschel,” Day 2

If I’ve learned one thing from working out, it’s what happens when I stop for a while. Usually because of injury, and sometimes when my schedule gets too busy, I’m forced to skip the gym. But I can always tell the difference when I return.

Without exercise, our muscles atrophy. They become weaker and get stiffer at the same time. Without the benefit of regular exercise, our muscles deteriorate until they can no longer support us or perform the regular functions they once maintained. To be healthy, we must keep moving, stimulating our muscles in order for them to grow stronger.

Our heart muscles work the same way, both literally and figuratively. When we’re not praying, giving, serving, and loving on a daily basis, it becomes harder and harder to feel connected to God, to relate to other people, and to feel the joy that comes from serving them.

Stone hearts don’t harden overnight. They gradually atrophy until we find ourselves with a heart as cold as granite. Regular exercise allows us to love more deeply and serve more humbly. It keeps our hearts tender and compassionate, alive and grateful.

Power Lift: Dear Lord, I want my heart to be alive and tender, not hard and cold. Even when it’s painful, help me to be sensitive to the needs of others.

Your Story

On December 26, 2024 By vickleaIn devotional, Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

Since it is the day after Christmas, I am starting a new devotional and will share parts of it with you and I share my heart. Yesterday was a really good day, and not just because of presents. Rather, it was because of the presence of the Lord. I got to FaceTime with two of our three children and eight of our grandchildren. It was so much fun seeing their joyful faces as they opened gifts and expressed their appreciation to us and to each other. Plus, I got to talk to our son while he was traveling back home to Virginia from his Christmas visit to his wife’s family in Pennsylvania. I also talked to three of my four siblings and had talked with my youngest sister on her birthday on Christmas Eve. So, lots of communication with family.

The best thing that happened is after years of praying, my brothers talked to each other, cordially and with love and hope for the future. They had not talked for over seven years, and I have been praying for reconciliation the entire time, but I must confess that I didn’t have a lot of faith for it because I know my brothers well. Anyway, it happened and that was like the best Christmas gift ever!

I want God to write into my story that I tried to be a peacemaker. That is a goal for me, to bring people together and not apart. There is too much division in this world of ours and I don’t want to be a part of that. I want to help people see their commonalities and to build a relationship on them.

Now, onto the devotional…

From the You Version Bible App Devotional, “Daily Power by Craig Groeschel, Day 1”

One small decision today could have a big impact on tomorrow. Chances are you can think of something right now that you know God would love to include in your story. Just consider what might happen if you remember to floss tonight or work out tomorrow morning or attend church this Sunday or spend some special time with someone you love.

It doesn’t always take a long time to see big differences in your life. What story do you believe God wants you to tell five or ten years from now? What does God want you to want? Jot down your thoughts about what you believe God wants for your future. Your ideas don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to commit to what you write just yet. Just capture on paper the first thoughts that come to mind.

Based on what you believe God wants you to want, what discipline do you need to start doing to head toward where God wants you to go? Choose one thing. You’ll be tempted to pick three, four, or even ten, but don’t. Whatever you do, pick just one thing. Because if you pick more than one, you likely won’t achieve any of them. But if you select just one, you absolutely can start writing the story God wants you to write.

Power Lift: Show me how you want me to grow this year, God. Give me your wisdom and discernment to know how to focus my habits, choices, and routines on one area of change.

If we are keeping in step with the Spirit, we are in step with what God wants for our lives. Sometimes, I think I have totally missed the Holy Spirit, and then something happens and I know that He is watching me and urging me to “come on and get with the program.” God is writing my story and I know that I am not what He wants me to be yet but neither am I what I was.

Merry Christmas!

On December 25, 2024 By vickleaIn Christmas, Holidays, Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “Advent, Day 25”

It’s a Merry Christmas

Two thousand years ago, the world was waiting for a Savior. He would be their hope for the future, peace in the present, joy in all moments, and love for all people. Little did they know that God was working out His grand plan through a small, lowly family in Bethlehem.

Today, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, who brought all those things, and more.

Where there was no hope, Jesus brought a new hope—hope founded on His life, death, resurrection, and the promise of His return.

Where there was no peace, Jesus brought a new kind of peace. A peace that isn’t dependent on the whims of humans, but on the unchanging nature of God who sustains us, makes us whole, and gives us a calmness the world can’t touch.

Where there was no joy, Jesus brought joy. To everyone under the oppression of sin, He offers freedom. And to the foreigners and outsiders, He offers a seat at His family’s table. Through Him, we can find joy in all things.

Where there was no love, Jesus brought love. During His life on earth, He spent time with people across varying social classes and ethnicities. He disregarded who culture told Him to associate with and instead offered His perfect love to everyone He met.

The Son of God made Himself low so that He might be raised above all. This Christmas, finish your Advent season by worshiping Him!

Pause, Read, and Reflect:

As you’re with family or friends, spend time reading today’s Scriptures aloud. Then, take a moment to read and reflect on this Christmas prayer together.

Lord, thank You for Your Son, who died to unite me with You. Today, I thank You specifically for Jesus’ birth, and the way this moment changed everything for the better. Help me to follow You with the same level of commitment that Christ had during His time on earth. In Jesus’ name, amen.

I created this using Canva, so feel free to share if you would like. It’s my online Christmas card.

My Thoughts

I was thinking that I would be sad today because it is just my husband and me here and no one is coming to celebrate with us until the 28th. But, I am not sad at all. I have shed a few tears but that’s because of the wonderful difference Christ has made in my life. I hope each of you have found the hope, joy and peace that only Jesus Christ can bring to you. Have the most wonderful Christmas ever! I am blessed to be a blessing and hope that you are, too.

Who Is Jesus?

On December 24, 2024 By vickleaIn Christmas, Holidays, Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional “Advent, Day 24”

All I Want for Christmas Is …

What do you want for Christmas this year? Maybe you’d like something practical, like a mini screwdriver set for your glasses. Or perhaps you’re hoping for something fun, like that new device you’ve been dropping hints about since August.

No matter what it is, you probably have some expectations. Maybe those expectations will lead to happiness or disappointment.

Before the birth of Jesus, the people of Judea had expectations too—an expectation that God would send a rescuer to save them and rebuild their nation.

If they knew about Christmas, they’d be saying, “All I want for Christmas is a strong, charismatic, inspiring leader who’s willing to do whatever it takes to lead our people to a better future.”

In the 500 years before Jesus’ birth, there had been a handful of these kinds of leaders, bent on violent revenge toward their enemies.

But why did they expect God’s savior to be a violent king? Because that was all they knew. The only time they’d experienced peace in the past was when a warrior king rescued them by force. So naturally, they wanted another strong ruler to guide their people to military victory.

But what they, and almost everyone in history, failed to notice was that violence can never secure lasting peace. Instead, violence simply passes violence down to the next generation.

God’s people experienced moments of peace when a warlord saved them, but only until another warlord overthrew them. And they were constantly overrun by powerful empires, who kept being defeated by other powerful empires.

So God’s people were waiting for something that couldn’t bring them lasting peace—a strong man, bent on ruling with an iron fist. A ruler who loved his people and hated their enemies. But that kind of ruler has never led them to lasting peace, and never could.

So, what kind of leader could bring them peace? A leader no one expected, or really even wanted.

A humble person from a small town, who looked nothing like a king.
A servant leader, with no ambition for national rule.
A gentle guide, who encouraged people to love their enemies.
A meek man willing to serve rather than be served.
And a king who would rather be the victim of violence than a source of violence.

Jesus was the Christmas present no one wanted but everyone needed. It was true then, and it can also be true today.

We’re wise to consider who we expect Jesus to be in our lives this Christmas and in the upcoming year.

Do we see Him as a biased leader who only loves the people who think and act like us? Or is He a divine Santa Claus, ready to bless those on the nice list and curse those on the naughty list?

Jesus is still breaking our expectations, even thousands of years later. So as you prepare for the big day tomorrow, consider your expectations. Who is Jesus to you?

Pause and Pray:

Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness to me in the past. Even though I don’t deserve it, You died to set me free. Help me to trust that You are giving me hope, peace, joy, and love right now, in the present. Help me to have faith that You are making the future better than the present or the past. In Jesus’ name, amen.

(Note that the colored and bold sentences were changed by me to draw your attention to what drew mine.)

My Thoughts

As I read the description of what Jesus was as opposed to who people expected Him to be, I got teary-eyed. I don’t expect Jesus to be a warrior, but I have expected Him to grant my wishes…for health, for safety, for blessings. It never occurred to me that He has already given me health, provided safety more times than I can count and blessed me far above what I deserve. My expectations are that He will carry out His plan for my life and I just have to get in step with it.

The most important word in this verse is the word ALL. We are not supposed to show a half-hearted attempt at seeking God. We need to be all in, all the time!

I have been guilty of wanting God to hurry up and send Jesus back, but the Lord always brings this verse to mind when I am getting impatient. God wants EVERYONE to repent. It’s not enough if ALL have not repented. God loves THE WORLD, not just a small part of it.

If you really want to know who Jesus is, this link may open the door for you to step out and start seeking. May you be blessed with the knowledge of Him who loves you completely and gave so you could know Him.

https://finds.life.church/how-to-find-jesus-for-yourself/

What Love Looks Like

On December 23, 2024 By vickleaIn Christmas, Holidays, Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “Advent, Day 23”

What Does Love Look Like?

At the beginning of the week, we asked these questions:

What do you think of when you read the word “love”?
How would you describe love to someone else?
How would they know you were being loving through your words and actions?

How would you answer these questions after spending time reading about Jesus’ examples of love, and looking at Old Testament stories?

Often, we think of love as a happy, warm feeling that makes us feel good. We might consider a time when someone showed us kindness or made us feel seen. But love is so much more than a feeling.

Love is following Jesus’ example of loving everyone as valuable and worthy of sacrificial care, and we have many examples of people practicing God-honoring love throughout the Bible.

Today, let’s take another look at Jesus’ parents, Mary and Joseph. Mary was chosen by God to have His Son. But Mary and Joseph weren’t married, so everyone had their thoughts about what had really happened. Mary and Joseph had a decision to make about how they chose to respond to God, and they made the choice to love Him.

Mary served and loved God by joyfully responding to God’s call with faithful trust. She could have been bitter, angry, or frustrated. Instead, she embraced God’s purpose for her life because she knew the character and nature of God. She wasn’t trying to earn His love by having Jesus, but knew she was already fully loved by her heavenly Father.

Joseph chose to stay with Mary and raise the Son of God together. This decision took courage and trust. He could have turned his back on her. Instead, he cared for her throughout her pregnancy, maybe even bringing her soup and crackers to help with morning sickness. His love translated to outward actions and loving care.

Together, they would end up making a 90-mile journey when Mary was nine months pregnant, ultimately ending with baby Jesus being born in a barn.

Through Mary and Joseph’s story, we learn that we don’t love others by accident, but instead make the choice to care for them the same way God does. It’s looking beyond the mistakes or shortcomings to see the unique character God has placed in everyone. When we do, we gain an even greater understanding of the love He has for us.

Pause and Pray:

Gracious Father, thank You for sending Your Son through Mary and Joseph. Thank You for the unique ways they chose to trust and love You. I believe everyone is valuable and worthy of sacrificial care. Please help me to love You and the people around me with the same steady faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Joseph was an obedient servant of the Lord who looked beyond the circumstances and chose to believe and obey God. How often do I only look skin deep and choose to go my own way? Too many times to count! I pray to be more like Joseph, open to hearing God’s directions and following them no matter how it inconveniences or embarrasses me.

I know for certain that I am not nor will I ever be like Mary, the Lord’s mother, who was a teen when an angel appeared to her and gave her the news that she would give birth to the Messiah. God looks on the heart and knew that Mary would be a willing servant. I hope that I am getting more like Mary, but some days I look at myself honestly and know for a fact that I would have scoffed at the news from the angel and wanted some kind of proof about what was going to be happening to me. I am not there yet, but I am still on the road of faith and that’s a big deal for me. I like to think that God is pleased with the progress that I am making, but sometimes I know He is disappointed when I take a step back instead of forward. May we all learn to look at God through the eyes of faith of a young, unmarried virgin whose reply to the angel is to be emulated.

God’s Story

On December 22, 2024 By vickleaIn Christmas, Holidays, Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

This devotional is from the YouVersion Daily Refresh for Sunday, December 22, 2024

Trusting God’s Story

Imagine Mary and Joseph getting ready to become parents. They probably asked a lot of the same questions expectant parents do today: Is the baby healthy? Are we prepared to care for this child? Where will we have the baby? Are we ready for the birth?

Near the end of Mary’s pregnancy, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that everyone within the Roman world return to their hometown for a census (Luke 2:1-4). This meant that Mary and Joseph had to leave their home in Nazareth to take the four-day journey to Bethlehem, the city of David, who was Joseph’s ancestor.

Because of the census, Bethlehem’s inns were full of people making the journey home. And so, when the time came, Mary gave birth to Jesus in the only place available to them: a stable. She placed him in a manger—a feeding trough—because that’s all there was. Surely this was not the birth that Mary would have planned for her firstborn child.

And yet, it was exactly what God had ordained. God showed us a lot about His Kingdom through the circumstances around the birth of His Son.

He showed us that Jesus is humble. Jesus was born in a stable and placed in a manger. The King of all Creation, yet such a humble beginning.

He showed us that the Kingdom of God is accessible. This King wasn’t tucked away in a castle or a mansion, separated from His people and surrounded by luxuries—shepherds and wise men alike were able to come visit Him.

He showed us that we can trust the story. Mary had to trust God’s story. Joseph had to trust God’s story. Imagine how the story would have been different if Mary and Joseph had demanded that room be made for them in an inn, shouting, “This is the Messiah, people! Make room!” But they didn’t do that. They accepted the situation in front of them, trusting God’s story regardless of how strange or undesirable the setting seemed.

And from that surrendered posture and strange set of circumstances, God brought forth His Son, exactly as He had planned.

We can trust the story because God is the Author. Jesus’ humble birth was not an accident—it was a message, a picture to all of us of what God’s Kingdom is truly like. It’s also an invitation for us to surrender our plans, our ideas of how the story should be, and trust the trustworthy hand of God in our lives. We can trust God.

The red lines for emphasis are added by me. That is what stood out to me in this daily devotional. I hope that it blesses you just as it blessed me.

My Neighbors

On December 21, 2024 By vickleaIn Christmas, Holidays, Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “Advent, Day 21”

Who Are My Neighbors?

Yesterday, we learned that Jesus’ two greatest commandments are to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves. When you read these commands, you might question or wonder who your neighbor is. And you’d be in good company with people in the Bible.

In Luke 10, someone asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus replies by telling a parable, or story, which became known as the parable of the Good Samaritan. In this parable, a man is attacked by robbers and left for dead. Everyone who should have helped this man—a priest and a Levite—crossed the road instead of helping the man. Then a Samaritan saw the man, helped him find a place to recover, and covered the cost of his stay.

In this culture, the Samaritan would have had many reasons to cross the road and leave the man like the priest and the Levite did. Instead, he went out of his way to help and show mercy to the man.

So, who are your neighbors? Whoever comes to mind, the answer is yes. And this includes people who are harder to love, different from you, or have a social barrier of any kind that might keep you from engaging with them.

Remember, love is following Jesus’ example by treating everyone as valuable and worthy of sacrificial care.

We see this in the parable of the Good Samaritan, and we see it through God’s people in the Old Testament. In the Book of Kings, we’re introduced to a military general named Naaman.

He is described as a great and respected warrior who was famous for his many victories over God’s people. Scripture also tells us that he had leprosy, an incurable disease that would likely disfigure and kill him over the course of a few painful years.

In one of Naaman’s raids, a young girl was captured and forced to be his wife’s servant. This girl was now living in a foreign land away from any remaining family she might have and shared the same roof as the man who likely destroyed her entire community.

Yet, she had compassion on him. Through a conversation with Naaman’s wife, she shared that she knew a prophet who could heal his disease. Instead of taking revenge or holding a grudge, she showed love and mercy toward Naaman.

Ultimately, Naaman would experience healing from this otherwise incurable disease. And it’s because the young girl chose to share the love and mercy of her God with someone in need.

Pause and Pray:

Lord, thank You for the example of love You have shown us, and for the people who are also examples of Your love lived out. Please give me the strength to love everyone in my life the way You have called me to. I can’t do it on my own. In Jesus’ name, amen.

I have always been fascinated by the story of the Good Samaritan. A man who was ostracized by the Jews is the one who stopped to save a Jewish man who had been robbed and beaten. How many times do we avoid people who are different than we are because we don’t feel comfortable around them? I can think of several people right now whom I have avoided or limited my contact with them because of their differences of their past actions towards me. There is a former student in my Sunday school class who in the last few years decided she is transgender and has “married” a female. Her actions make me uncomfortable, but at the same time, I know she heard God’s truth and actually listened at one time. She has fallen away and needs to come back to God. God continues to remind me that I am not her judge; He is. There is the neighbor who attacked my husband over a decade ago. We still don’t speak to each other and he seems to go out of his way to act angry and belligerent around us. The protection order from the court long since went away, but we still have no contact. I do pray for him, that he will come to know the Lord and stop depending on alcohol as his crutch. But I am afraid to approach him because he can be violent. Finally, there are my many liberal friends and family who think that I am somewhere lost in conservative land and don’t want to even talk to me anymore. I try to find what we have in common and call and talk to them about those things. God doesn’t distinguish between Republicans and Democrats. To Him, we are all lost sheep in need of a Savior. So, who is my neighbor? Everyone whose life I touch and whose life touches mine.

Love as God Loves

On December 20, 2024 By vickleaIn Christmas, Holidays, Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “Advent, Day 20”

Why Do We Love?

God’s love is always working, even when it’s not easy to see or believe. Sometimes, it can even be confusing why God would love a world of messy people like us.

The Bible tells us in Genesis 1:26-27, that we are made in the image of God. This has less to do with our physical appearance, and everything to do with the ways we choose to live our lives. As His children made in His image, God invites us to partner with Him in taking care of the world, and everything in it.

And one of the most crucial things we’re called to do is share Jesus’ love with the world.

The good news is that He doesn’t leave us to our own devices to figure out how to partner with Him in this mission. Instead, Jesus tells us how to act by sharing the two greatest commands: to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

When we don’t follow God’s instructions, we end up misusing and abusing ourselves and others—valuable people who God made in His own image. That’s why He defines obeying His commandments as essential to loving Him. You can’t love the Creator while destroying His many creations.

In fact, 1 John 4:8 NIV says:

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Remember, love is following Jesus’ example by treating everyone as valuable and worthy of sacrificial care.

God is triune, meaning He is three in One—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So when we look to Jesus for examples of how to love others, we’re also following God’s example of love from the beginning of time.

Jesus is the best example of God’s love, but many people in the Bible had moments where they got it right, too. We’ll look at some examples over the coming days.

For today, consider the two greatest commands: love God and love your neighbor as yourself. How well are you doing at following these two commands, and what might need to change?

Pause and Pray:

Lord, thank You for the love You demonstrate in everything You say and do. Teach me how to restore my relationships with others as my relationship with You continues to be restored. I want to be someone who loves You so well that it makes a positive impact on the lives of those around me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Being created in God’s image is a privilege and a responsibility.

Love is an unselfish outpouring of yourself to others. I am not there yet, but I am working on it. I noticed when I spent the night in the hospital Tuesday that the caregivers there were some of the kindest, most loving people I had met in a long time. It was the middle of the night and they did not say harsh or impatient words to anyone. I want to be more like them.

That word “as” is very important. It is a word of like comparison…the same way as is what this is saying. We are supposed to love one another in the same way that Jesus loved us. Remembering that He died for us willingly gives us motivation to go the extra mile when others need help or just an encouraging word.

I learned in a math class long ago that the word is means equals. So God=Love. We are supposed to love one another in such a way that they can see God’s love in us. That’s a tall order for me sometimes, especially if I don’t feel well. But God didn’t say to love others when all is going great and you’re feeling fine…He just said to love. I think He meant love all the people that He values, which is everyone, all the time.

Love Is More than a Feeling

On December 19, 2024 By vickleaIn Christmas, Holidays, Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “Advent, Day 19”

What Is Love?

What do you think of when you read the word “love”? Is your mind overflowing with people and your heart filled with gratitude for the life around you? Or perhaps it’s a bit more difficult to wrap your head around such a complex idea.

How would you describe love to someone else? How would they know you were being loving through your words and actions? Keep these questions in mind as you approach our readings over the next few days.

One of the many incredible things about God’s love is that it’s more than a feeling. We can see God’s love in action throughout the Bible, but we see it most clearly in the New Testament in the way Jesus lived.

As we enter our final week of Advent, we’ll take a closer look at love, which is following Jesus’ example by treating everyone as valuable and worthy of sacrificial care.

We can start by looking at one of the most clear examples of Jesus’ love. In the Gospel of John, we read one of the most popular and well-known verses in the Bible:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV (emphasis added)

From the beginning of time, God has loved the world. And in this world He loves, there are billions of people, yet He knows each of one uniquely and individually. Despite any decisions or choices each person has made, God has chosen to love us unconditionally.

As believers, we celebrate this love throughout the year and choose to focus on it specifically during the Advent season.

But how do we respond if love feels difficult this year? When we’re experiencing grief, disappointment, or the feeling of being forgotten, we can choose to lean into what we know is true of God—that He islove.

And God tangibly showed His ultimate act of love by becoming a human. He didn’t shout His love from heaven, but came to earth to demonstrate His love for us through Jesus.

No matter how you’re feeling this season, there are opportunities to see God’s love at work in your life in every moment of your day. You might start small, thanking God for a new morning when you wake up. Or you might reflect on the ways He provided for you throughout the day before you go to sleep.

Pause and Pray:

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving and caring for me. No matter what my life looks like right now, I trust that You have a good plan that You’re working together for my good. Help me to see the endless ways You show Your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Also, check out this article on love that was included at the end of the devotional:

https://finds.life.church/examples-of-gods-love/