Tag: love

John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

When we receive Jesus Christ into our hearts and lives, we are set free from the grip of sin. We receive salvation and eternal life. The Holy Spirit even comes to live within us. However, when reading this verse, I am also reminded of the obedience that is necessary to walk in this freedom on a daily basis.

Obedience is not always going to be easy, it can be a challenge, especially when God requires us to change something we do not want to change. That could be a job, certain relationships, wrong mindsets, or bad habits. The reality is, that certain sins can be appealing to us, so we want to hold on to them. We may even make excuses for them. But God wants to set us free. He knows that once we are free, it draws us closer to Him. And who doesn’t want to draw closer to Jesus Christ?

Something I have noticed in my own walk with the Lord, is that when I obey Him, and do that simple thing or not so simple thing, He has been telling me to do, things change for the better.

I love Ephesians 3:20 that says, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

With God’s power working in us, we are set free to experience even more than we can ask or think. Some versions say, ask or imagine. God’s freedom is greater than anything we can ask for, think or imagine. But remember, this freedom comes only when we are willing to trust and obey Him.

Heavenly Father,

We are thankful for the freedom you give us. We want to trust and obey as you lead us through this life so that we can walk in the freedom you have promised. Help us not to be in bondage to certain sins or ignore the things you bring to our attention that need to be changed. Thank you for being a loving and compassionate God, who is patient and understands our struggles, but also wants to heal our hearts and set us free.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Proverbs 2:1-5 AMP

1 My son, if you will receive my words
And treasure my commandments within you,

2 So that your ear is attentive to [skillful and godly] wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding [seeking it conscientiously and striving for it eagerly];

3 Yes, if you cry out for insight,
And lift up your voice for understanding;

4 If you seek skillful and godly wisdom as you would silver and search for her as you would hidden treasures;

5 Then you will understand the [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome]
And discover the knowledge of God.

Theses verses encourage us to pursue godly wisdom and understanding. Through godly wisdom and understanding we can see people and situations from God’s perspective. We can also make decisions that are in line with God’s will. Godly wisdom and understanding will help us to stay secure in God’s truth and love. So don’t hesitate to cry out to the Lord for insight, no matter what you are facing.

May our hearts be filled with joy as we show reverence to Him and continue to grow in the knowledge of how awesome He truly is.

Philippians 4:19, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

This verse came to mind recently and I felt overwhelmed by God’s love. Just knowing that He will supply whatever I need, brought me joy. It does not matter where we are or what predicament we are in; God will give us what we need. God’s ability to supply all we need goes far beyond money or other material items. He gives the rest, strength, peace, joy or comfort that we need. He puts the right people in our lives at the right time. He gives us Himself so that we know He is always there with us and we can see and feel His love for us.

What is it that you need from the Lord? Trust Him to supply whatever you need. He is our loving Father and He cares for us more than we can even understand at times.

Father,

Thank you for supplying our needs. We know that you are faithful and give us what we need. During times where we feel we are lacking something, help us to trust that you are working. Even when we do not see what we are praying for with our natural eyes, help us to remain steadfast with thankful hearts. Help us to choose joy, even when we go through times of trial. You promised that those who seek and trust you, lack no good thing (Psalm 34:20).

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

While walking the other day, I found myself a little annoyed that my normal path had been blocked off by some construction work that was in progress. So I proceeded to take an alternate path. The alternate path, unlike my normal path, was sunny and hot. Plus it was not as pretty as my normal path. On my normal path, I enjoyed flowers and trees, as well as plenty of shade.

However, as I proceeded down the alternate path, God spoke to my heart and reminded me, that as we walk with Him, He will often call us out of the comfort of the beautiful scenery we have come to know. Instead, He will allow us to journey into places that are less comfortable. He does this for various reasons, but some that He brought to my mind are 1) we learn to trust Him as we venture into the unknown 2) we learn to persevere, even when our circumstances are not easy 3) we learn the importance of obedience 4) we grow in our faith as we see God’s provision 5) we learn to see beauty in the things and people that the world does not see as beautiful 6) he is protecting us from evil 7) we learn to walk in love.

If you think about it, shade feels nice and there are times we need it, but our bodies also need sunshine. There are reasons God allows the Earth to experience different seasons, and it works the same for us. He will allow us to go through various seasons, but through it all, when we seek to do His will, His purposes are being accomplished.

So when the Lord calls you out of the comfortable shade, don’t be afraid to take the detour, even if it’s hot, and not as attractive. There are always blessings waiting down the path of obedience, and the path of obedience, is often an alternate path that He will require us to take.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT, “5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”