Lenten Devotion - March 17, 2025

-

 Monday, March 17 – The Risk of Love


📖 Scripture: 1 John 4:16-21
John writes that God is love, and those who live in love live in God. Love is not just an idea or an emotion but a way of being in the world. This kind of love drives out fear because it is grounded in divine security rather than human uncertainty. Yet, John also acknowledges that loving others can be difficult. How can we say we love God, whom we have not seen, if we refuse to love those around us?
Loving others requires trust, and trust can be frightening. We may fear rejection, misunderstanding, or even failure. Jesus understood this fear, yet He loved boldly, even in the face of rejection. What if we chose to do the same? What if we embraced love as an act of faith, trusting that God holds us no matter the response?
Daily Action Steps:
1. Think of one relationship where fear is keeping you from fully loving. Offer that situation to God.
2. Take a small step toward love today—through encouragement, listening, or simple kindness.
3. Reflect on a time when someone loved you despite your flaws. How did it change you?
Prayer: Loving God, help me to trust in Your love so that I may love others more freely. Give me courage to embrace love, even when it feels risky. Amen.
Breath Prayer: Breathe in: Love drives out fear. Breathe out: I will trust again.
Location: Monroe, OH, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lenten Devotion - March 10, 2025

-
Image
  Day 7: Monday, March 10, 2025 Scripture: Psalm 27:1-6 Devotion: The psalmist begins with a powerful declaration: “The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear?” Life’s wilderness moments often come with shadows of fear, but God’s light shines through. In a world that feels uncertain, God offers a solid foundation. The psalmist’s confidence comes not from an absence of danger but from the assurance of God’s presence. When we feel lost, God is our guiding light, showing us the next step forward. Action Steps: Write down a fear that you are carrying today and pray for God’s light to shine on it. Take a short walk outside, focusing on the light around you—whether it is sunlight or artificial light—and reflect on God as your light. Share a verse from Psalm 27 with a friend or loved one who might need encouragement. Prayer: God of light and salvation, when fear rises up within me, remind me of Your steadfast love. Shine Your...
Read more

Lenten Devotion - March 15, 2025

-
Image
Day 12 -- Saturday, March 15, 2025 Scripture: Hebrews 4:14-16 Devotion: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin." These words remind us that Jesus intimately understands our wilderness experiences. The Son of God himself walked through human temptation and struggle. When we feel alone in our wilderness, this truth offers profound comfort. Jesus doesn't observe our struggles from a distance—he knows them from the inside. The wilderness of temptation, isolation, and testing are territories he has personally navigated. Because of this, we can "approach the throne of grace with boldness," confident that we'll find understanding and help. What are you struggling with that you hesitate to bring to God? What weakness makes you feel ashamed or isolated? Today, remember that Jesus has been there. Your wilderness is not unfamiliar territ...
Read more

When Life Doesn't Go as Planned, Start Here

-
Image
When Life Doesn't Go as Planned, Start Here Sometimes, life interrupts us so hard that we don’t know what to say to God. We lose someone we love. The dream job slips away. A diagnosis blindsides us. Plans we’ve counted on fall apart. It’s tempting to either bury the pain or cover it with a plastic smile. But healing never begins with pretending. The Risen Jesus didn’t ask the disciples to fake their emotions behind those locked doors. He walked into their fear, showed His wounds, and said, "Peace be with you."  (John 20:19-23) First step? Tell the truth about what hurts. You don’t need to craft the perfect prayer. You don’t even need to be sure what you believe yet. Just name one thing that feels broken. "Jesus can't heal what we hide." Action Step: Today, write down one sentence that names where your heart feels broken. Offer it to Jesus—plain and unedited. (If you don't have words, even tears count.)
Read more