Author: Jayne Lawson

“…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10

I have been pondering my recent choices in life and the path upon which I am currently walking. Even though I am soon to be an “official” senior citizen, my life is far from over. I know this is true because if my work for the Lord was over, He would take me home. Yet, here I am, therefore, there is still more for me to do. I have many interests, and I try to use each of them to serve Him.

For instance, I have the wonderful privilege of homeschooling my granddaughters. Not only do I get to teach them the basic educational subjects like math and science, but I also get to weave godly principles into their schooling. It is an awesome responsibility, but one that I cherish. Another area in which I am involved is writing. In both my blog and my novels, I strive to present the gospel and other Biblical concepts in each book and devotional, hoping to point my readers to Christ and the hope that is found in Him.

Now, I have embarked on a new venture. I have been involved in a journey that has helped me become healthier both physically and spiritually, and I want to help others in the same way. Therefore, I have chosen to become a health and wellness coach. It is my hope that in helping clients attain healthier lifestyles, I can also share ways to help them grow spiritually.

In all of these “hats” that I now wear, it is my desire to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells me, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” I know that if I strive to honor God in all that I do, He will bless the work. I don’t have to worry about the success of what I do or the time frame in which results are seen, but rather I must focus on the “why” of what I am doing, and trust God to help me reach my goals.

My “whys” are what drive me to do what I do. I teach because I believe it is my responsibility as a grandmother to teach the things of God to my grandchildren. (2 Timothy 1:5) I write because Jesus said we were to share the gospel with others. (Mark 16:15) I coach because the Bible states our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we honor it by keeping it healthy. (1 Corinthians 6:19)

In spite of all my efforts, it is important for me to remember that it is God who gives the increase. “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3:7) No matter how much work I put into something, it is God who blesses that work, and it is He whom I will praise for the results of my efforts.

I am still excited about serving God in this season of my life. It is my prayer that all I do will be holy and acceptable in His sight, for that is my reasonable service until He takes me home. (Romans 12:1)

Give of your best to the Master; give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service; consecrate every part.
Give, and to you will be given; God His beloved Son gave;
Gratefully seeking to serve Him, give Him the best that you have.

Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Clad in salvation’s full armor,
Join in the battle for truth.

(from “Give of Your Best to the Master” by Howard B. Grose)

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” – Psalm 19:14

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Serving God is not limited by age! All He needs is a willing heart!

“And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?” – Exodus 6:30

It is so easy to let fear dictate my actions. I have a fear of spiders, so I resist deep cleaning my closets, weeding the flower beds, or retrieving a sock from under the bed. As irrational as the fear may be, it still manages to impact my life. Fortunately, I have two granddaughters who have no qualms about bugs, so they usually help me out when needed!

However, there is another fear I have with which the girls cannot help me. This fear concerns communication. I don’t have any trouble chatting with family or friends, but if I am in a position where I am promoting something, it really unnerves me, and I shrink back from sharing my thoughts. This fear is great enough to keep me from following through on my intentions and often leaves me very frustrated and disappointed. Two examples come to mind.

First, I am not a salesperson. Right now, I am trying to start a business for myself being a health coach. This is really difficult for me. I get tongue-tied, flustered, unsure of myself, and that’s not a good characteristic when you’re trying to sell yourself or a product. Case in point, I am also an author of Christian novels, but marketing the books is not something I enjoy doing, so I don’t. Therefore, I find myself usually only selling my books to family and close friends.

The second issue I have regarding communication is that I get really nervous sharing the gospel with strangers. Witnessing to others about the Lord is something God has commanded us to do. In Mark 16:15, Jesus says, “…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” I can easily write about God in my novels and blogs, but in situations like knocking on doors during visitation or passing out tracts, I get very anxious. I wonder, “What will I say?” “How will I start the conversation?” While I know this fear is very irrational, it is difficult to overcome, and to do so, I have to step outside of comfort zone. That is so very hard for me to do, and often I find myself shying away from situations where I would be required to reach out and share my thoughts.

I imagine Moses must have felt similar feelings when God called him to free the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. Eventually, he surrendered to God’s calling, and became Israel’s greatest prophet. Moses chose to follow God’s command, but what if he hadn’t chosen to obey? What if Moses had refused to listen to God out of fear?

When God calls me to do something… whether it’s to pick up the phone and call someone, or teach a Sunday school class, or share a tract with the grocery store clerk, I have a choice to make. That choice is to obey God or not. I must remember that if God calls me to do something for Him, He will equip  and empower me to do it through His Holy Spirit. Does this make it easy? No, not at all, but Jesus never said following Him would be easy. John 15:20 records Jesus’ words. He said, “…If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you…” In fact, He often reminded His followers that the path they chose would be very difficult, but He would always be with them to help them. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Lord states, “…My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” During these times that I find so hard to endure, it is the strength of the Lord that will carry me through because when I am weak and afraid, He is strong and promises to deliver me!

So, the next time I am prompted by the Holy Spirit to speak out for God, I am going to do my very best to step out in faith and share the gospel, trusting Him to speak through me. It may not be easy to step out of my comfort zone, but it will be worth it. I know if I am faithful to plant the seed, God will be faithful to do His part.

Sometimes life seems like words and music that can’t quite become a song.
So we cry inside, and we try it again, and wonder what could be wrong.
But, when we turn to the Lord at the end of ourselves
Like we’ve done a time or two before
We find His truth is the same as it has always been
We never will need more.

He’s all we need for our every need, we never need be alone
Still He’ll let us go if we choose to, to live life on our own
Then the only good that will ever be said of the pains we find ourselves in
There are places to gain, the wisdom to say
I’ll never leave Him again.

It’s not in trying But in trusting, it’s not in running But in resting
Not in wondering But in praying that we find the strength of the Lord

(from “The Strength of the Lord” by Larnelle Harris)

“Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.” – Isaiah 44:8

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Thinking about my fears will not alleviate them, but stepping out in faith will!

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1

It’s very easy to have faith in things you see. I have faith in my ability to pay my bills when my bank account is full. I have faith that I will get to work on time when I am in my car, it’s full of gas, and the traffic is clear. I have faith that my dinner will be great when I follow a recipe without any problems. Despite saying that I have faith in these things, I really don’t. What I have is the assurance that things will happen as I desire because I have control over them. I am trusting in me for the outcome, and that doesn’t really require any faith at all.

Faith is defined as the “firm belief in something for which there is no proof.” The most obvious thing that requires faith is the belief that God is. When I look around at the trees, the sky, a newborn baby, I have the faith that He does exist. His creative works provide the evidence that He is. When I sit quietly, reading His Word, and it speaks to my spirit, I know that God is. When I pray and answers are given, I know that God is. When I sing songs of praise, and my heart rejoices from deep within me, I know that God is. That is faith.

I cannot see God; I cannot hear God’s audible voice, and I cannot touch God, yet I do see Him and hear Him through His Word, and I feel His touch in the presence of His Holy Spirit in my life. This is faith.

One day, my faith will become sight. I will see Him in all His glory; I will hear His voice as He bids me to come to Him, and I will feel His arms around me as He welcomes me into His heaven. Until then, I will keep on believing. I choose to have faith because I know God is.

The sky shall unfold preparing His entrance
The stars shall applaud Him with thunders of praise
The sweet light in His eyes, shall enhance those awaiting
And we shall behold Him, then face to face

O we shall behold Him, we shall behold Him
Face to face in all of His glory
O we shall behold Him, yes we shall behold Him
Face to face, our Savior and Lord.

(from “We Shall Behold Him” by Dottie Rambo)

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” – Romans 10:17

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Faith is not knowing that God can, it’s knowing that God will!

“Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” – Luke 6:28

Are you a prayer warrior? I want to be. I like talking to God, and I almost always pray for my family and friends in the mornings during my quiet time with the Lord. When someone I love is hurting, I pray for them, and when there are needs among those I know, I pray for them. But I am sorely lacking in one area of prayer. I cannot recall the last time I prayed for someone I considered an “enemy.”

Right now, I can think of several people in government for whom prayer is desperately needed, but I haven’t really prayed for them. I pray for my President. I pray for the Vice President. I pray for my governor. These are specific individuals for whom the Bible tells me to pray. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 states, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”

But there are a lot of people in government that support issues and causes that are unbiblical, and I do not remember a time when I truly prayed for them. It is wrong for me to withhold prayer for these individuals. The Bible tells me that I need to pray for those who “curse me.” When these people denounce the Word of God as a fairy tale, and they seek to criminalize Christianity, I see that as a “curse” upon me and my faith. I should be praying for them, and I should be praying for them by name if I know who they are.

Will I like doing that? Probably not. But I must obey the Lord. In Matthew 5:44, the Scripture again tells me to pray for my enemies. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” It is my responsibility to pray for them!

The only way to change an individual’s mindset is through Jesus Christ. It is the gospel that changes people, not protests, not rantings and ravings, not behaving as the world behaves when it doesn’t get its way. My obligation as a child of God is to pray fervently for those who are my enemies! I must pray for the Lord to open their eyes to their need for a Saviour! I am reminded that if someone did not pray for me when I was their enemy, I may never have come to know Christ as my Saviour. The world is full of those who hate God, and my response needs to be born of His love within me. I must pray for them without ceasing (1Thessalonians 5:17).

Shamefully, I have found myself complaining about the national situation, our state laws, and even the local community, but I do not recall lifting up in prayer those in opposition to my way of thinking. James 4:2 tells me, “…yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” Today as I pray, I will pray for my family, my friends, my governmental leaders, and… my enemies. I will ask God to move mightily in our land. I will pray that His Spirit will break down the walls of hatred and resistance to Him. I will pray the gospel will find a place in the hearts of those who seek to destroy everything that is Biblical, godly, and right in the sight of God.

I will pray for a revival… in the hearts of my enemies, but also in the heart of me.

Forgive, oh Lord, and heal our land
And give us eyes to seek Your face and hearts to understand
That You alone make all things new
And the blessings of the land we love are really gifts from You

Unite our hearts in one accord
And make us hungry for Your peace and burdened for the poor
And grant us hope that we might see
The future for the land we love, our life, our liberty

If My people will humbly pray and seek My face and turn away
From all their wicked ways
Then I will hear them and move My hand
And freely then will I forgive and I will heal their land

(from “Heal Our Land” by Jonathan Butler)

“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” – Matthew17:20

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If you really believe prayer changes things, pray!

“And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.” – Isaiah 46:4

For the last several years, I have noticed my hair shifting from a dark brown hue to a subtle gray color. Combining this physical change with my retirement from a career of nearly 30 years, it is very clear that I am in the official “senior citizen” stage of my life. Things change when you get older. There are benefits, such as senior shopping days, where older shoppers get discounts on their groceries, state park camping reservations are discounted, and even early-bird specials at restaurants offer lowered prices for seniors!

Unfortunately, there are also some negative aspects to growing older. Along with the bodily aches and pains, there is sometimes the nagging thought that one’s life is no longer as important as it used to be. The children are grown and often have families of their own; there is no longer a 9-to-5 job that beckons you each weekday, and social engagements begin to dwindle.

Sometimes it can actually get lonely in this season of life, but despite the ups and downs of being a senior citizen, I have the assurance that I’m never really alone. God is always with me! He specifically addresses the elderly in Isaiah 46:4 as He makes the bold statement that even though my body is aging and my hair is graying, He will take care of me. Why? Because God is my Creator, and He is faithful to take care of all that belongs to Him. That includes me! As I often write, God loves each of us with an everlasting love. His love doesn’t end or begin at a specific age. His Word guarantees that He will be with me all the days of my life to help me, to uphold me, and to love me! I have the blessed assurance that I will never be alone or without value as a child of God!

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

(from “Blessed Assurance” by Fanny Crosby)

“Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.” – Psalm 71:9

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“No one is too young or too old to be used by God. You are always the perfect age!“- Author unknown

“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” – Matthew 4:4

It amazes me how God’s Word fits in with every aspect of my life. I know it is the foundation of my faith, but today as I read Psalm 37, I realized that so much of what I read, that I normally would ponder in a spiritual context, could also be applied to my journey to optimal physical health as well.

Psalm 37:3 states, “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.”  At first when I read this, I chuckled at the latter part of the verse because my mind was drawn to my new eating plan, but then I reread it with a bit more seriousness. If I trust the Lord and do my part… the part that is good and right in His sight, I will be nourished well. Spiritually, I can see the connection easily. If I trust God, He will keep me spiritually healthy through the wisdom and guidance of His Word. Physically, if I follow my health plan well, I also can trust God to help me. I will be fed via a nutritionally sound food plan and live a good healthy life in “the land.” That is such an encouragement for me to stay on my health journey!

Verse 4 records, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” In this season of my life, I am striving for a healthy lifestyle, both spiritually and physically. Keeping the Lord the top priority in my life is not always easy for me. I can get caught up in the things of everyday life, forgetting about my spiritual well-being and my need to be close to God. However, when I make time to be with Him through my devotions and prayer first thing in the morning, I am blessed beyond measure! Starting my day off with the Lord is truly delightful, and I take hope that God will grant me the desires of my heart that are good and right and aligned with His will for my life! In faith, I believe that God will grant me the desire to have a healthy body and stay faithful to my health journey.

The next verse tells me to “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” When I determine to honor God with my life’s needs, trusting Him in the outcome, I know that He will be faithful to bring it to pass. On the spiritual side of it, I know that when I start my day with God, He will always order my steps (Psalm 37:23), bringing His plan for my life to fruition. Physically, if I trust Him to help me, the Bible constantly reaffirms that He will. I must remember that it is His Spirit’s temple I am trying to “rebuild,” and I know that if I commit this work to Him, He has promised to make it happen! I cannot fail with Jesus helping me every step of the way!

This last verse is perhaps the most difficult for me whether physical or spiritual. Verse 7 instructs me to “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way…” Waiting for God to respond to a prayer or act on my behalf is sometimes very hard for me to do, yet the Bible repeatedly calls for me to do just that. In my physical journey, I am not to compare my successes to another person’s victories and then worry about it if I have not done as “good a job” as that other person. Instead, I am to be content (to rest) and wait patiently for God to move. I am not to take matters into my own hands, but instead, I am to continue doing what I know is good and right in the sight of the Lord and trust Him for the outcome. I must always remember that God has His reasons for the timing in which He acts. His ways are much higher than mine (Isaiah 55:8-9), His knowledge more vast, and His abilities more capable than mine. All I need to do is wait on Him.

My responsibility as a child of God is to trust in Him, delight in His ways, commit my life to Him, and then wait patiently to see the hand of God move mightily. When I purpose to do that in my life, I will see and experience the great things that my Father has planned for me!

Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty
Teach me faith and duty.

Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life;
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life

(from “Wonderful Words of Life” by Philip P. Bliss)

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” – 2 Timothy 3:16

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If you seek optimal heath, the Word of God must be applied to all three aspects of your being: body, spirit, and soul!

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” – Matthew 6:25

By now, many of you know that I am embarking on a journey of optimal health. Its primary focus is, of course, losing excess weight, while also developing habits that will lead to maintain the healthy lifestyle once the physical goals are reached. As I’ve learned to choose my foods wisely, drink the right amount of water, and get enough sleep, I am reaping the benefits of following this program. To help guide and encourage me, I have a personal health coach with whom I am in contact several times during the week for advice and direction. Additionally, I have some friends I have made who are on this same journey, and we share our struggles and our victories as well as our recipes! There is a lot of work that goes into this health journey, but I am excited to be on it, especially as I see the changes in my energy level and my physical appearance.

It’s important to me to put the same effort into the spiritual part of me. To have a “skinny” soul is not what I want, so I must work to beef up that aspect of my being. Similar to choosing the right foods to put into my body, I have to choose what is right to put into my spirit by paying attention to what I watch on television, what I read in books, magazines, and social media, where I go, and with whom I associate (whether in person or online). Am I providing my soul with the nourishment it needs? How often do I read my Bible? Do I faithfully attend church? Am I involved in service for the Lord?  “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.” (Ephesians 5:15)

Again, like my physical health coach, I also have a spiritual health coach! I have the Holy Spirit within me, and when times get tough, I know that the Spirit of God will encourage, guide, and correct me when necessary. He not only equips me with the tools I need to be successful in my spiritual journey, but He teaches me how to use these tools in my life. I have the Bible which is filled with wisdom, truth, and instruction for a healthy, godly spiritual life, and as I read it, He opens my eyes to exactly what I need in any given situation. Jesus’ words are recorded in Luke 4:4 where He says, “…It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”

I also have a community of like-minded friends in my spiritual journey, just like I have in my physical health program! As members of God’s family, I have an entire church full of brothers and sisters in Christ who lift me up when I need it! Hebrews 10:24-25 records, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” They support me with prayer; they offer words of encouragement, and when I share my spiritual victories, they celebrate with me! 1 Thessalonians 5:11 reminds us, “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”

Lastly, I have a direct link to the “founder” of my spiritual journey, and He’s available 24/7 through personal prayer. What’s so awesome about this is that He wants me to bring Him every concern on my heart, and He’s ready to provide the answers I need to move forward in my spiritual health journey! Philippians 4:6 states, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

It’s not easy becoming physically fit, and it’s just as challenging to “get in shape” spiritually, but with God’s help, I can fortify my spiritual life to make it stronger and more fit for the Master’s use! “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21)

How about you? What’s your spiritual fitness level? Need some encouragement for your soul? Pick up your Bible and open to the book of Psalms. There are so many wonderful verses that will help kickstart you into a spiritual journey that will bless you in more ways than you can imagine! Just take that first step, then let God lead you. You’ll be surprised at how far you can go, and you’ll feel great!

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway.
Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me!

(from “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” by Adelaide A. Pollard)

“But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” Isaiah 64:8

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Let the Son shine in your soul today!

“Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.” – Ephesians 6:24

What is love? Poets have been trying to describe love for centuries. Songs have been sung and stories have been written about love throughout history, but are these depictions of love accurate? How do we know if we are truly “in love”? How do we know if it’s a sincere, long-lasting love or merely a fleeting fancy?

Love is a complex emotion, and identifying the sincerity of one’s love for another can be difficult. Love goes way beyond the fluttering feelings in your stomach when your eyes meet across a crowded room. Love is more than the physical manifestation of all your hopes and dreams wrapped up in one person.

Love is a conscious decision that is made by an individual. It is not a feeling; it is a decision. What? That certainly seems to take all the romance out of it, doesn’t it? While romantic love is often the start of a relationship, eventually the romance fades, and the time for decision-making arrives. This is when romance becomes reality, and then, based upon that reality, a decision is made. Either one decides to go forward in love, or one decides to terminate the relationship.

When the not-so-perfect characteristics of an individual come to light and every fiber in your body wants to flee, yet you decide to stay … you have made a decision to love. When problems arise, the going gets tough, and you decide to stay with someone no matter what, you have decided to love. When all the layers of a person are peeled away, and you see the real deal, and you don’t choose to leave, you have decided to love. When your heart has been broken almost beyond repair, but you forgive, you have decided to love. When staying with someone costs you everything, you have decided to love. When life seems unbearable without this flawed individual, and you are incomplete without this person, you have decided to love.

When I first accepted Christ as my Saviour, it was akin to the romantic phase of love. Everything was glorious! I couldn’t get enough of Him. I didn’t have to remind myself to read the Bible or pray or go to church; it was something I wanted to do. Later, as time went on, the intensity of those initial feelings waned, and it was time to make a decision. Do I continue to love Him, or do I decide to move on?  In Matthew 22:37, Jesus said, “…Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,” so that is what I decided to do.

It would seem as though the decision to love Christ would be an easy one. After all, He sacrificed His own life to save ours. Clearly, He loves all mankind, so it should not be difficult to reciprocate that love… until the cost of loving Him is understood.

The Bible states that a life in Christ will not be trouble-free. In fact, Jesus told His followers that choosing Him would bring hardship to their lives. 2 Timothy 3:12 states, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 1 John 3:13 tells believers not to be surprised when the world chooses to hate them when they decide to follow Christ. “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.” So, deciding to love Christ is not the easiest thing to do.

In fact, because following Christ and loving Him is not easy, it is a daily decision we must make. To take up His cross and follow the Saviour is not made only at that one moment on bended knee at an altar; it is made every single day of a Christian’s life. In Luke 9:23, Jesus said, “… If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Not only that, but this same verse states that to love Christ is to deny oneself! A decision to love Jesus means putting His desires ahead of our own, that is, making God’s will the priority in your life, and making Him first in our lives each day.

1 Corinthians 13 describes the most sincere form of love. It is a love that is born of God, manifested in His Son, and what we should strive for in our lives, especially in our relationship with Him. Among other things, it is a love that is selfless, hopeful, and enduring. It is the love that Jesus had for us when He went to the cross. It is the love God has had for each of us since all eternity (Jeremiah 31:3). God could have wiped all of humanity off the face of this earth when we sinned against Him, but He didn’t. He made a decision to love. He could have spared His Son from the suffering and agony of a brutal crucifixion, letting us remain dead in our sins, but He didn’t. He made a decision to love.

God will never force Himself upon us. Instead, He invites us to be part of His family through His Son, Jesus Christ. He waits with open arms for each of us to go to Him. I pray you have made the decision to love Him as He loves you!

I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

(from “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” by S. Sundar Singh)

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” – Joshua 24:15

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The decision to love God reaps eternal benefits!

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” – Romans 10:13

The best gift I ever received came from God. He gave me the gift of salvation, which not only demonstrated how much He loved me (Romans 5:8), but also gave me new life (2 Corinthians 5:17) and a promise of a heavenly home (1 Peter 1:4). When I think about all I received when Jesus forgave my sins and became my Saviour, my heart is filled with unspeakable joy! “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8-9)

S – Sins are forgiven 

• “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” – Ephesians 1:7

A – Always in His presence

• “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

L – Life everlasting

• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16

V – Victory over EVERYTHING!

• “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 15:57

A – Angelic protection

• “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” – Psalm 91:11

T – Temptation deliverance

• “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13

I – Indwelling of His Spirit

• “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” – John 14:17

O – Overcoming Faith

• “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” – 1 John 5:14

N – Nonstop communication with God

• “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” – Jeremiah 33:3

What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought
Since Jesus came into my heart;
I have light in my soul for which long I have sought,
Since Jesus came into my heart.

I’m possessed of a hope that is steadfast and sure,
Since Jesus came into my heart;
And no dark clouds of doubt now my pathway obscure,
Since Jesus came into my heart.

Since Jesus came into my heart,
Since Jesus came into my heart;
Floods of joy o’er my soul like the sea billows roll,
Since Jesus came into my heart.

(from “Since Jesus Came Into My Heart” by Rufus H. McDaniel)

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” – Romans 6:23

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If you’ve never asked Jesus to forgive your sins and be your Saviour, why not do that today? He’s just a prayer away!

“Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.” – Proverbs 4:26

My husband used to be quite a backpacker. He has hiked the Pacific Coast and John Muir trails, and he has climbed many mountains in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, including Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the continental United States. Each of his adventures took quite a bit of planning that included what food to carry, what clothing to take, and what emergency supplies might be needed. However, the most important items he carried in his pack were a map and compass.

Imagine what would happen if he had headed into the mountains without a map or compass. There are few signs along the trails, so without them, there was the possibility that he would get hopelessly lost in the wilderness.  A lot of people live their lives this way. They keep on moving through life, but they don’t really know where they are going. It’s easy to get lost when you are not properly equipped.

This is true for our spiritual lives as well. It is critical that we know where we are going in our Christian walk, and that we are prepared to get there. God has given us a map book, His Holy Word, and His own GPS, or “God Positioning System,” His Holy Spirit. We need to use both to stay on the path of righteousness as we navigate through this life.

Here are a few things we need to remember as we go through our spiritual journey in life.

• Matthew 7:14 – “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
  • We must remember that the pathway is narrow. That means it will be easy to meander off course if we don’t follow the directions in the map book and engage our spiritual GPS system. Following the guidelines that God provides for us will help our journey be prosperous and effective for Christ.

• Ephesians 5:8 – “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:”
  • We walk as children of the almighty God. Sometimes the path of life seems dark with trouble, but we carry His light within us! The gospel message will illuminate the path for us and others as we move forward with Jesus.

• 2 Corinthians 5:7 – “For we walk by faith, not by sight:”
  • Sometimes, we may lose sight of what’s ahead, but we know where we are going because the Word of God directs us. If we  trust God and follow His lead, we will not get lost; we will eventually reach our destination!

• Psalm 23:3 – “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
  • There will be many obstacles along the way, and it will be easy to veer off our path and head into the ways of the world, but if we keep our eyes on Jesus, we can avoid the entrapment of sin and its wickedness.

• 1 Kings 3:14 – “And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.”
  • As we journey through life following Christ and obeying the Lord, He promises to give us long life.

We also must be cognizant of how we are walking. Does our walk bring glory to God? Are we following Christ as we walk? The Bible gives us many ways in which we should walk. Here are just a few of them.

• Walk wisely (Colossians 4:5)
• Walk circumspectly (Ephesians 5:15)
• Walk in the law of the Lord (Psalm 119:1)
• Walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16)
• Walk in His statutes (Ezekiel 20:19)
• Walk in His truth (Psalm 26:3)
• Walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11)

I am weak but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Thro’ this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

(from “Just a Closer Walk With Thee” – author unknown)

“That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.” – Jeremiah 42:3

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As we follow in the footsteps of Jesus, we can be confident that our own steps will be well established in Him, and He will never lead us astray!