Daily Devotional - February 23, 2021
❤ Worship: If you'd like to play a song before you begin or while you read, may we recommend "Your Love Awakens Me" by Phil Wickham. Why not try asking alexa, siri, or google to play it for you?!
💚 Daily Verse: “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
☆ John 15:9-11 NLT
💜 Let's Talk About It: I cannot read this verse without thinking of verses 5-6 of the same chapter.
"I am the vine. You are the branches (v.5)."
Our love is an overflow from what we receive from Christ. Without being a branch of His vine, we wouldn’t know love. Ask anyone who says they fell in love at first sight 25 years later if it was love. 90% of those same folks (maybe more) will have matured enough to realize what they fell into was lust, not love.
Love take sacrifice. It's why it comes from our being rooted in Christ - few understand the embodiment of that word "sacrifice" like Christ.
Unless you're reading this in Heaven (which you're not), we simply cannot comprehend the level of giving of ourselves it takes to truly love. That is, until we begin to fully walk in relationship - saying 'no' to what we want in order to be obedient to God.
I am learning this in my walk currently. Dying to myself daily, sometimes I literally cry for the things I have to let go of for God. Much of them having to do with unhealthy mindsets or habits with food and my self-worth in particular. I have an unhealthy view of myself and because of that, have never much minded what I was puting into my temple.
But God...He is doing a great work and while I may not be where I desire yet, I know where I am headed as I abide in Christ's love.
🧡 Prayer: Dear Lord, there is none like You. You helped shaped the seas, and yet, you care so much for me. You helped create every beast, but yet and still, you love me. Thank you God, for loving me and caring for me long before I recognized your love. Thank you Jesus, for teaching me how to love and care for myself properly. Help me to be forgiving and merciful to others, exemplifying your love in word and deed. I am so grateful for your guidance and direction, Holy Spirit. Lord, may Your will be done! I love you Jesus and in Your name I pray, amen.