To Love the Lord

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. – (Deuteronomy 6:5, NIV)

You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. – (Deuteronomy 6:5, ERV)

Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love Him with all that’s in you, love Him with all you’ve got! – (Deuteronomy 6:5, MSG)

If we truly love God as we are called to love, He gives us His eyes to see the world around us. Through Him, we are moved with compassion, kindness, and grace, so that we might love people and all of creation as He intended. To love Him with our whole heart means that all that we are and all that we want becomes shaped by God and His goodness. Our purpose is love, and He equips our heart and soul, and grants us the strength we need to love. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us in His love and to grow us to more clearly reflect His heart to the world.

Love the Lord, our God,

With all of our heart;

We’re made with purpose,

We each play a part.

Compassion and grace,

That we give away;

Reflect the Father,

Throughout each new day.

To truly love God,

We must love like Him;

As His love shapes us,

Pours out from within.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to love You with all of our heart, soul, and strength. Thank You that You sent Your Son to show us what that means. Forgive us for the times that we have neglected to love as You intended. Teach us to seek You and follow after all that You are asking. May our love be evident to all. Show us how to continue to grow in our love for You and all that You have made. Lead us to love everyone like You do as an act of worship to You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we pursue a life of loving You with all that we are in all that we do. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

But You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. – Psalm 86:15

Hope is Certain

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. – (Hebrews 10:23, NIV)

We must hold on to the hope we have, never hesitating to tell people about it. We can trust God to do what He promised. – (Hebrews 10:23, ERV)

Let us hold strong to the confession of our hope, never wavering, since the One who promised it to us is faithful. – (Hebrews 10:23, VOICE)

Hope is certain when we understand the faithfulness of God. His faithfulness is not dependent on whether or not things go the way that we’d hoped, but rather that He remains with us, in and through all things. God’s promises are not for an easy life, but rather for one with Him present to help us live with purpose. Our purpose is not some big mysterious question mark, but is to love God and love people in all that we do. Some of the greatest examples of people who have held onto hope without wavering, were people who had to navigate the greatest obstacles, yet did so with a firm faith in He who is our hope. God has shown us again and again that we can trust Him to be present and to provide what we need to press on. May we ever hold fast to the hope we have in God, for He is trustworthy and is faithful to His promises forever.

Lord, help us hold fast,

To Your promises;

For You are faithful,

To all You have said.

Present in all things,

You supply our needs;

Flood our hearts with love,

For Your grace exceeds.

Love that’s unfailing,

Grace that knows no end;

Hope in forever,

And peace You extend.

All thanks be to God,

Our hope ever more;

Where goodness and love,

Are an open door.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are faithful forever and the One in whom we can place our hope. Thank You that Your love sustains us and Your goodness strengthens us to hold fast to hope in all things. Forgive us for the times that we have lost sight of the hope that is only found in You. Teach us to trust in You and to remember You are faithful to fulfill Your promises. Show us how to love, encourage, and extend hope to all whom we encounter. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we hold fast to the hope we profess and trust in Your faithfulness always. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord. – Psalm 31:24