Between You, God, and Me: A Daily Devotional for Adults

By Eve L. Princler

Your identity can be summed up in the management of three critical relationships: your relationship with God, your relationship with you, and your relationship with others. Through these relationships we learn, develop, and cement our habits and personalities. Between You, God, and Me explores each of these relationships from a spiritual perspective, using practical knowledge to expose the traps often used to destroy unity of mind, body, and spirit. Each lesson will take you on a journey in discovering the depth and beauty of Gods love, the necessity of self-love, and your role in expressing Gods love toward your family, friends, and colleagues.

This is not your typical devotional! Each lesson will arouse your emotions, challenge your beliefs, and force you to acknowledge thought patterns and behaviors that prevent you from living a life of purpose. Using biblical and scientific evidence, you will discover Gods plan and purpose for your life; recognize attitudes that prevent you from succeeding in your goals, and identify tools to help you create a joyful, stress-free, existence.

For a few minutes each day, Eve will accompany you as you uncover Gods love while preparing you to live a life of liberty, harmony, and peace. Between You, God, and Me is a powerful devotional tool intended to help you celebrate your intimate relationships and foster positive change within your life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490859958

Eve L. Princler

For over twenty years, Eve L. Princler has worked as an instructional designer and training administrator. She is a certified Medical Laboratory Scientist, Blood Bank Specialist, and Quality Manager. She holds graduate degrees in management and business administration. A native of Washington, DC, she enjoys sharing her faith and helping people improve their lives by strengthening their relationships with God, themselves, and others. Visit her at www.StraitGateStrategies.com.

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Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Part 1: My Relationship with God

Part 2: My Relationship with Me

Part 3: My Relationship with You

Resources

Notes

Acknowledgements

For the gift of time, I thank Koda and Christian.

For the gift of inspiration, I thank Carl, Roy, Cedric, Jeanette, Cecelia, and Kay.

For the gift of patience, I thank Larry, Lee, Janet, and Kelly.

For the wisdom contained in these pages, honor and glory belongs to God.

For the printed word, I am grateful for the editorial and publishing staff at Westbow Press.

Introduction

Think for a moment about your relationship with God, your family, friends, and coworkers. What clues do these relationships reveal about you—your values, and beliefs? In our interaction with others, we leave a piece of ourselves, an indelible footprint that serves as the foundation for future interactions. In the past, I I’ve rushed through life, taking my intimate relationships for granted and allowing anger, apathy, and aggression to destroy life’s most enduring gifts. We are designed to connect with others. We require love, affirmation, and compassion to grow and thrive.

I wish to accompany you on a journey to discover what your relationships reveal about you, what you think about God, how you see yourself through your interactions with others. As you embark upon this journey through the following months, the lessons contained within this book will challenge you to grow spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Growth requires acknowledgment and change. These lessons will challenge your current attitudes toward God, the myths you told yourself about you, and the judgments you hold against others.

Despite the challenges of growth, I am here to tell you it is worth it! Embrace each lesson daily with an open mind and allow the Holy Spirit to instruct and guide you as you sift through your life experiences and interactions with others. You will find as you apply the lessons, you will gain clarity, purpose of mind, and alignment in all of your essential relationships, allowing others to grow and evolve according to their divine plan.

It is my hope that as you embark upon this journey, each day you will find the courage to apply new knowledge while strengthening relationships you value most: your relationship with God, your relationship with you, and your relationship with others. Are you ready? Let’s begin …

How to Use This Book

Using the Bible as your primary text, this book aims to help you to identify areas within your life in need of attention. The lessons offer solutions to help foster healing and reconnection by providing steps you can take immediately to prevent or repair damage to your most important relationships.

To gain the most from your devotional experience, I list several assumptions to serve as your guide while navigating the following lessons.

The Bible is the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16). Scriptures are used throughout this book. It is man’s travel guide through life, assembled under divine guidance.

God includes the Father; His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit—They are one (1 John 5:7).Creator refers to the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Any mention of God or Creator is referencing the collective and personal attributes of God, and this includes Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

The Bible is literal (Luke 4:16–21). The Bible contains guidance, poetry, prophecies, and details of historical events. While pondering each lesson, the inspired Word of God is addressed in context according to the biblical passage.

The Bible can explain itself (2 Peter 1:20–21). While external resources are provided and discussed, the Bible is used exclusively to interpret itself. External resources are solely used to provide a contemporary perspective, not to prove or disprove theological ideas, doctrine, or dogma.

Unless noted otherwise, scriptural texts found in Between You, God, and Me uses the New American Standard Bible (NASB) and the King James Version (KJV). As you proceed, you will notice that each lesson contains four distinct segments to identify and further your understanding of a topic, offering a method for incorporating the meaning of each lesson into your daily life:

Text.Scripture passages serve as an anchor for each lesson. The verses identify or illustrate the lesson, providing a point of reference for further study.

Discussion.A short discussion of the topic explaining a concept or opinion illustrated by the text. References are used to frame, clarify, and explain the discussion.

Prayer.Use the provided template to discuss what you have learned with God. If you find it is hard to pray or you are unsure how to begin praying, this segment can help initiate your conversation with God.

Activity.Activities are designed to help initiate a change in your thought patterns and behaviors, challenging you to begin living anew as you interact with God, yourself, and others. Each activity will give you the opportunity to demonstrate what you learned, using reflection to guide and interpret your experiences.

Resources. Look for this word in selected lessons and refer to this section in the back of the book for additional lesson aids and tips.

Resist the urge to skip lessons you feel don’t apply or topics that may seem uncomfortable to discuss. Instead, lean into each lesson, carefully acknowledging your emotions surrounding the topic. The knowledge you learn will help you to be a source of information, encouragement, and support to someone in need. Use this opportunity to share what you learn with others.

After completing each lesson, be sure to follow up with the activities. Use your journal to jot down your thoughts, questions, and interpretations. Review scriptural texts throughout the day. Daily reflect upon the impact of each lesson to your life and seek guidance from God to gain self-awareness, humility and courage to acknowledge your present reality. Chronicle your progress by focusing on feedback you receive from others, changes noted in your attitude, behavior, and self-talk. Celebrate the power of the Almighty as He works to transform you little by little, day by day.

Eve

Part 1

My Relationship with God

Lesson 1

…and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.    (Ephesians 4:24 NASB)

How do you describe something that is new? Clean, fresh, unspoiled, and perfect are words and symbols we conjure up to describe the feeling of owning or experiencing something new. We love new things! A new home, a new love, and a new job infuses energy, hope, and optimism, lifting our spirits with anticipation as a novel experience unfolds. How often do you dream of a new life: the ability to erase the consequences of poor decisions, liberating you to pursue your life’s purpose with knowledge and forethought to dodge self-inflicted pain?

Have you ever tried to re-create yourself? Excitement builds as you set new goals; optimism surges as you muster the strength to eliminate attitudes, habits, and relationships associated with your past. You made a decision to change, anticipating all the benefits of the new-and-improved you. It works for a while until confronted with an object of your past or a familiar relationship, then the feeling or experience thrusts you back in time, helpless to resist the lure of habits, people, and addictions you tried desperately to escape. The sickening pit in your stomach informs your soul of the obvious, inescapable truth: creating a new life is something you cannot accomplish alone. You need help! Thank God, help is as close as a whispered prayer. Jesus Christ is waiting to provide you with the power to create a brand-new you. The only thing standing in the way is your permission to begin.

Prayer

Lord, I am sick and tired of trying to re-create my life. I don’t know how or where to begin. I am asking You to assume control of my life starting today. Create a new me. Amen.

Activity

Read Romans 6:6; Ephesians 2:1–3; Galatians 5:19–20.

Imagine what a new life would look like. What physical, mental, and spiritual changes are needed to re-create you?

Lesson 2

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.    (John 3:5)

Re-creation requires us to relinquish attitudes, habits, and behaviors that shackle us to the past. Babies are born fully present and selfless—they cannot preserve themselves and depend solely upon their caregivers to provide for their existence. Babies arrive without any preconceived notion of how the world works. They have no interest in jockeying for position, being first, or becoming important. Babies are completely dependent upon those around them; in other words, in order for babies to mature and develop normally, they relinquish, trust, and learn.

In Christ, we become like children. As we look to our heavenly Father to provide our most basic needs, we relinquish the need to be right or to control situations, people, and outcomes in our lives. We defer to a God who knows to provide what we need. Because infants cannot control their environment, they adapt to coexist within their world. Trust is not something babies learn; trust is what they do! Infants trust their caregivers to care for them; they trust their parents to possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to protect and equip them as they mature.

Newborns learn to interact with their environment through mimicry. To re-create our lives, we must readapt and become as infants, mimicking responses learned through our relationship with God’s Son. We must be willing to surrender, trust, and learn from the experiences God inserts into our life every day.

Prayer

Lord, I submit my life to You today. I surrender the need to control my life, and I trust You to provide for my needs. Show me how to become more like You. Amen.

Activity

Read John 17:13-23; 1 Corinthians 3:1-3; and 1:26-30.

How do newborns interact with their environment? What are their priorities? How do they request attention?

How do you learn to surrender and trust as a child of God?

Lesson 3

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.    (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Transformation requires letting go of the past. Your past behaviors and attitudes define who you are. Surrendering the past is letting go of the preconceived assumptions that gird our daily experiences. Selectively holding on to attitudes, relationships, and behaviors that do not support your new future does not work. So how do you abandon the past? What happens when your past shows up in your present? What can you do to ensure that your past remains a distant memory?

First, acknowledge your past. Call out your behavior, decisions, and attitudes for what they are. Honestly reflect on how your past has crippled your ability to live a healthy, peaceful existence. Name your behaviors: sexual promiscuity, envy, procrastination, addiction, and materialism are demons that invade our life insidiously. Naming your vices allows you to recognize them instantly when they show up in daily life.

Secondly, a complete break with your past requires a choice. Consciously decide that your past no longer serves as your current identity. Thirdly, once you make the choice, record it. Mark your journal with the date of your decision, describing the choice you are making. Use this as an important reminder when the past rears its ugly head. Lastly, renew this choice daily, at the same time each day. Find the courage to dig deep into your past to uncover your motives. Were you acting out of fear, resentment, or envy? Were you seeking affirmation and approval from others? Affirm your decision to live for Christ today.

Prayer

Lord, reveal to me the behaviors and attitudes that keep me grounded in the past. Today, living for You is my priority. Help me to live each moment today as a witness of Your transforming power. Amen.

Activity

Read Colossians 3:10–11.

A new creature in Christ carries no baggage from the past. Common examples of baggage include stereotypes, prejudices, or bigotry related to status, race, ethnicity, political and religious affiliation. How will you treat those who look, behave, or worship differently than you?

Lesson 4

Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.    (John 8:34 NASB)

Are you addicted? What triggered responses do you use to protect your self-image? Do you seek revenge, lie, gossip, and complain? Do you crave people or possessions not belonging to you? Are you suffering because of anger, disappointment, or promiscuity? Do you exhibit obsessive-compulsive behavior? Are you an alcoholic, workaholic, shopaholic? Is your proverbial glass half-full or nearly empty? Have you ever wondered why it is so difficult to break these annoying, self-defeating habits?

Addictions serve as a reaction to a fear left unresolved in your life. Addiction supports the replacement of love, acceptance, and support with the belief that you are a victim, incomplete, inadequate, and unlovable. We yearn to experience unconditional love. We respond to negative experiences with our addictions to provide a feeling of control and relevance, if only for a little while.

Addiction is behavior rooted in dependency. What you cannot live without will ultimately control you—you are its slave. A personal value system built upon self-centeredness will ultimately result in dependency and addiction. Jesus offers an alternative: freedom and liberty through unconditional love.

Prayer

Lord, I am addicted to attitudes and behaviors that are unproductive, self-defeating, and unloving. I need Your help in re-creating a life full of freedom, releasing me from these self-centered behaviors. Thank You! Amen.

Activity

Read John 8:36 and Romans 6:13–20. In what way do Christ and Paul offer freedom and independence from sin?

What role does obedience play in breaking addictive behaviors?

List behaviors you identify as destructive and unloving. What are the opposite behaviors? Pray and ask God to help you begin demonstrating new behaviors today.

Lesson 5

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;    (Romans 3:23)

Reacting in fear is as natural and effortless as breathing. Fear is our immediate, gut-level response in our daily interactions with people, responding to events as they unfold in our lives. Fear is a normal response; you cannot help it. We are all vulnerable to reacting in fear. We lie to control people and situations, and we covet to protect our self-image. Each of us clings to vices we attempt to hide out of fear of exposure, causing harm through our words and actions. We spend our lives hiding and rationalizing our responses to fear. We cloak ourselves in arrogance to mask our inferiority, judging and comparing ourselves to others. We fabricate excuses to mask our intent, blaming others for our mistakes.

Fear keeps you in hiding, anchors you to the past, and prevents you from living a life of peace and freedom. In choosing a relationship with Christ, you begin to understand the enormous love He has for you. The Holy Spirit hot-wires your innate attitudes, automatic reactions and verbal responses to create a new path to responding in love. Fear no longer guides your intent or motives; you no longer fear punishment. Freedom allows you to act deliberately, knowing whatever the outcome, God will continue to love you.

Prayer

Lord, I am scared to death of change. I fear losing what I have and what others may think of me. Give me the humility to live boldly, responding to life’s challenges with honesty and purpose. Amen.

Activity

In your journal, list the attitudes, behaviors, and self-talk conceived out of a reaction to fear. Spend thirty minutes reflecting on the situations or events that scare you. Continue this exercise for five days.

What recurring attitudes, self-talk, and beliefs can you identify as responses to chronic fear in your life?

Lesson 6

Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

(Matthew 5:17–18 NASB)

A perfect law needs no amendment, modification, or revision. Perfection is not relative, nor is it rendered obsolete through changes in cultural norms and adaptations of human existence. God’s perfection is the same yesterday, today, and forever. You cannot enhance perfection. The purpose of Christ’s existence on earth was to demonstrate the essence of His Father. In doing so, He revealed how we should express our love to (1) God, and (2) those who share this planet with us.

God’s law is perfect (Psalm 19:7) which means that in order for Christ to die for our sins, He was required to obey His Father’s law perfectly. Any defect in keeping God’s law by His Son would suggest that the character of God is flawed. Thus, Jesus serves as our model, demonstrating how we are to honor and obey God and love, respect, and care for each other.

When deciding what to say, how to act, or what to do, reflect upon the life of Christ and imagine how He would respond to your situation. Surely, if Jesus engaged in a particular behavior or activity, it is safe to assume that we can emulate His behavior. Any law that Jesus obeyed amplified and clarified the character of His Father. All we need to do is to look to Jesus as our model in obedience to God’s law. We would do well to understand it is not our job (as an individual or religious organization) or duty to change, nullify, modify, or revise the perfect command of God.

Prayer

Lord, forgive me for interpreting Your law according to my limited knowledge and understanding. Teach me how to think, speak, and behave to glorify You. Amen.

Activity

Read the following texts: Exodus 20:2–17; Psalm 19:7; and Hebrews 4:15.

List each of the Ten Commandments and reflect on ways you have interpreted each command. Match each command with a New Testament Scripture that reveals Christ’s behavior in keeping that commandment.

Lesson 7

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.    (James 2:10 NASB)

We constantly stumble, trip, stagger, and intentionally fall in disobedience, ignoring the commands of God while succumbing to our selfish desires. When we do, we experience guilt. Many of us carry guilt from past mistakes, allowing them to color our present reality with pessimism, denial, and doubt. How do you eliminate feelings of guilt?

Own your faults. Admit your behavior to yourself and others. Come clean with God; telling Him about it. Healing cannot take place if you continue to hide or deny your deeds. You are responsible for your behavior and your response to the actions of others. Own up to your behavior. Hold yourself accountable.

Ask for forgiveness. Ask the person you wronged for forgiveness, ask God to forgive you, and forgive yourself. When you ask forgiveness, you release the past, resulting in peace and the liberty to move forward to the next step, which is

Remedy the wrong. As far as possible, try your best to rectify the wrong. In Luke 19:8, Zaccheus makes restitution to those he cheated and defrauded by returning up to four times the amount of money he swindled.

There will be situations that you cannot make whole. In those cases, acknowledge the fact that you cannot fully restore the injured. Use the experience as a lesson to help you in making different choices. After you have performed these steps, it is time to let go. Dwelling on the past will undermine your self-worth, diminishing the trust you have in God and the trust He has in you. You cannot relive the past. Live in the present. Move forward!

Prayer

Lord, help me to confront reality and remove the guilt in my life. Forgive me for denying and hiding the truth. Cleanse me from my wrongness today. Amen.

Activity

Are you suffering with guilt? Using the prescription above, apply these steps to your situation and describe in your journal the lessons learned through responsibility and accountability to yourself, God, and others.

Lesson 8

When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and deliver them to an enemy, so that they take them away captive to a land far off or near,    (2 Chronicles 6:36 NASB)

Everyone is doing it. Try as you might, you cannot go a day without sinning. It happens all the time, both consciously and unconsciously. We spend our entire lives trying to be good but try as we might, we fail. Eventually, you will tire of trying all the time. It is exhausting! When you fall, do not stay there. Jesus was tempted in every way and never sinned. He is acutely aware of your struggles because He has been there.

Do you know how He succeeded? Do you want to know the secret to living a sinless life? Jesus never took His eyes off His Father and remained focused on God’s plan for His life. When they wanted to crown Jesus king, He ran to His Father. When they searched to kill Him, He ran to His Father. When Satan appeared to tempt Him, Jesus responded to Satan with words from His Father. Christ and His Father were inseparable.

Stop focusing on your behavior and improve your relationship with Christ. Run to Him when you think you need another pill, drink, hit, or drag. Run to Jesus when your lover asks you to spend the night; confide in Christ when you are tempted to lie, deny, or swindle your way out of a situation. He is your escape. Run to Him!

Prayer

Lord, I am dealing with an unbearable situation, with no possible way of escape. I need You to get me through this challenge today. Thank You for always being there to listen, guide, and instruct me. Amen.

Activity

Read 1 Corinthians 10:13–14; 1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:22; and James 4:7–8. Are there relationships, habits, or attitudes you feel hopeless about changing? Focus on Christ and ask for His help, strength, and guidance today.

Lesson 9

For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?    (Romans 7:15, 24 NASB)

We envy our neighbor, coveting their relationships and possessions. At work, we withhold information or distort the truth to influence and impress others. We deny our creditors what is rightfully theirs and rationalize away our guilt. It is a struggle every day to live a life of integrity. It is difficult to tell the truth—the whole truth—all of the time. Everyone is struggling with some aspect of reality that is out of balance. In Psalm 51, David acknowledges how difficult it is to resist our self-centered nature. He exclaims Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

David acknowledges that the system is stacked against us from the moment of conception. He had an intimate relationship with God; yet despite this relationship, he stumbled. Our baptism and Christian confession fails to protect us from our daily display of foolishness. Apostle Paul knew this when he penned today’s text. The key to living a virtuous life is not in what you do, but whom you know.

The root cause of sin lies in our narcissistic need to promote, protect, and gratify self. Only through a relationship with Christ can we successfully eliminate sin: our ‘me-first’ mentality. Do you know Jesus Christ? When was the last time you had a conversation with Him? Make it your priority throughout the day to have an ongoing conversation with God. Tell Him your struggles and ask Him to reboot your thoughts so that your motives, desires, and deeds mimic His.

Prayer

Lord, I want to live authentically. I want my words to match my actions. Forgive me for failing to do what is right. Reprogram my thoughts so that I will be more like You. Amen.

Activity

Read John 3:3. Describe how a person is spiritually reborn. What do water and spirit represent?

Read Acts 10:45–48. Pray and ask for a portion of God’s Spirit to dwell in you today.

Lesson 10

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.    (Ephesians 6:12)

Your life is a witness to what you believe. Fear and love are in a battle for the right to claim you. You will choose a side, so what will it be? Fear will keep you intimidated, believing you will never succeed in living a life full of love. Fear will point to all the people who tried and failed. Fear will remind you of past mistakes and forgotten words. Fear will insist that you are not good enough for God’s love and will never live up to God’s standard …and that is okay!

Next time fear comes to you with "you can’t, respond to fear with Jesus did!" When fear reminds you of your past, inform fear that in Christ you are a new creature. When fear recounts your faults and struggles, tell fear that Jesus loves unconditionally. At every point, remind fear that I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13) That will shut fear up for good.

You are a soldier engaged in the battle of your life. Despite your decision to follow Christ, fear will use people and situations to overwhelm you. Fear may use disease, unemployment, wealth, and relationships to keep you distracted. Do not attempt to confront fear on your own. Christ is the only being capable of handling fear and defeating death. He will fight this war and win it on your behalf. Ask for His help today.

Prayer

Lord, I have taken this fight personally. I forgot that You won the war against fear on the cross. Work out my salvation and show me how to demonstrate my love for You today. Amen.

Activity

What role did you play in your current predicament? What is at the center of your struggles? Are you holding on to something, someone, or a situation you cannot let go? Ask God for courage to identify and release the barriers preventing your success.

Lesson 11

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.    (Romans 8:1)

Guilt is the manifestation of an emotion you feel because of a wrong committed and the responsibility associated with that behavior. In other words, you can experience guilt in two ways: (1) as a response to your bad behavior, or (2) by assuming responsibility for an offense you suffered. Guilty feelings are an indication of judgment: someone judged a behavior as wrong and correction is required. Condemnation results in guilt; however, using guilt to change behavior rarely works and eventually erodes your self-worth. Ask for forgiveness and release the guilt. Psalm 103:12 (NASB) states, As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. If God no longer remembers your sin, why do you refuse to let go?

We typically respond to guilt through separation. We separate ourselves from behavior through denial or hiding. By denying the wrongness of your actions, you avoid taking responsibility for the offense, trying to minimize the feelings of guilt. We deny our actions in many ways; we blame extenuating circumstances or people, rationalizing, intellectualizing, and projecting our own biases. We hide our shame by (1) focusing on the faults of others; (2) displaying arrogance through boasting, bragging, and overcompensating strengths; (3) engaging in self-mutilation, depreciating, or violent behavior. These behaviors show up in our lives as chronic pain, anxiety, addiction, and depression. God’s unconditional love eliminates guilt. Upon confessing your wrongness to Jesus, you are no longer guilty. Restoration and reconciliation is possible solely through Him.

Prayer

Lord, forgive me! Give me the wisdom to forgive myself. Grant me the courage to seek forgiveness. Expose the lessons You would have me learn through my mistakes and help me to behave differently in the future. Amen.

Activity

Read James 5:16. Describe the two-step process proposed by the text that promotes healing and eliminates guilt.

Lesson 12

Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.    (Psalm 103:13 NASB)

God is not a gotcha kind of god. He does not take pleasure in your suffering or pain. God loves you. He sends His Spirit to live in you each day. His patience extends beyond the ocean depths; despite repeated mistakes and intentional acts of rebellion against Him, God is crazy about you! He wants nothing more for you to experience His love, compassion, and protection.

God demonstrates love like a parent teaching a child to walk. As the father stands by, he ensures the toddler is safe from danger and allows the child to repeatedly stagger and fall, knowing the child will eventually rise to try again. As the child builds confidence through many repeated attempts, the father rejoices and offers the child praise and encouragement. As the child grows weary, the father scoops up the exhausted toddler, allowing time to rest. Later, the father encourages the child to keep walking, providing plenty of opportunities to correct the child’s gait; allowing bumps, falls, and accidents along the way, holding the child’s hand along unstable paths.

One day, the child is ready to walk independently, no longer with wobbly knees or unsteady gait but with confidence and quick agility. The child is ecstatic! Excitement fills the father’s heart as he showers the child with kisses, hugs and praise. Dad runs to share the good news of this momentous occasion with family and friends.

As your heavenly Father, God knows what you can become. Hold His hand and let Him guide you through life’s lessons. Celebrate knowing that God has given you the wisdom, talent, and opportunity to allow your life to shine.

Prayer

Lord, You are my perfect Father. Help me to learn patience, love, and compassion when interacting with others today. Amen.

Activity

Practice patience and compassion with your family, supervisor, and coworkers today. When others offend you, choose to react with compassion. Ask God to give you the wisdom, patience, and endurance to practice empathy and kindness today.

Lesson 13

We love him, because he first loved us.    (1 John 4:19)

God’s love is irrevocable. We cannot compete with God in reciprocating His love for us. He reveals His favor by allowing you to choose whom to love. He is patient with you in helping you realize your strengths and weaknesses. God hides your secrets and faults; He seeks to reveal the truth of who you are: created in His image, according to His likeness.

What would happen if you allowed God’s love to engulf your life? Imagine the feeling of relief as you stop trying to earn God’s love through penance and self-punishment. We cannot earn God’s love through obedience. God loves you in spite of your active rebellion against Him. He eagerly waits to share the full extent of His love with you.

As you experience His love, how do you express this love to others? God could care less about your appearance, job title, or your material possessions; His love for you is not dependent on your popularity or favors you perform on His behalf. With all your faults, insecurities, struggles, and success, God wants you to experience His love right now. Tell God that you accept His offer of unconditional love—no strings attached.

Prayer

Lord, I realize I am trying to earn Your love. Help me to realize that Your love is unconditional and present; You will continue to love me throughout my existence. Help me to trust in this unconditional love today. Amen.

Activity

Think about what it means to love someone unconditionally. Are there people in your life that you can genuinely love without conditions?

Can you think of individuals who have expressed unconditional love to you? Describe how that makes you feel in your journal today.

Lesson 14

Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.    (Romans 7:12)

Man’s disobedience (Genesis 3) bears proof of our ability to rationalize, ignore, and disregard God’s law. As you begin an intimate relationship with Christ, the Holy Spirit resides in you. However, His residence is provisional; you must invite the Holy Spirit into your life daily. Without daily renewal, our Christian experience grows stale; our witness sours and becomes passive.

God did not dictate His law or delegate the task to angels. God’s actions were deliberate: He inscribed His law in stone, using His finger to illustrate the law’s permanence and immortality. God used stone: a hard, permanent, lasting material. In fact, God’s law is so important He penned the law twice!

Now, let’s take a walk in logic:

God is holy.

God’s finger is holy.

God wrote the Ten Commandments with His finger in stone.

God cannot change (Malachi 3:6).

God cannot lie (Titus 1:2).

If God wanted to modify His law, no doubt He would have shared any changes with Christ as He walked among us. The Law was written by Him—resistant to destruction by fire, pestilence, water, and wind, yet fragile enough to shatter through our disobedience (Exodus 32:19). God’s Ten Commandments are a picture of His love. The love of God never fails; His love for you will not change.

Prayer

Lord, I have treated Your law as voluntary guidelines instead of holy commands. Holy Spirit, live in me today. Show me how to demonstrate love through trust and obedience. Amen.

Activity

Read Hebrews 13:8 and Matthew 22:37–40.

What is the relationship between God’s law and His character?

What is the connection between an intimate relationship with Christ and the ability to obey God’s law?

Lesson 15

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)

Jesus loves you so much that He would rather die than to risk living throughout eternity without you. Christ suffered abuse, torture, humiliation, and shame so you could spend eternity with Him. Christ died so that you would no longer suffer separation from Him. The Father endured the greatest expression of love: sacrificing His only Son on our behalf. There were no conditions placed on this sacrifice; it was all-inclusive. Jesus died for you! Is there anyone you love so much you would willingly sacrifice your life so they could live? God instituted salvation’s plan so you could spend eternity with Him; He demonstrated how much you are worth to Him. Although He paid the ultimate price, Jesus never forces you to accept His love.

How do you respond to a love so unconditional and complete? Give God your love; your commitment; your devotion, obedience, and respect. God wants you to be healthy, happy, and successful. He wants you to demonstrate the love He has for you to the people you interact with daily. Whenever you get discouraged, angry, or upset, remember that God died for you because He wants to spend eternity with you. Spend some time getting to know Him today.

Prayer

Lord, help me to comprehend Your sacrifice and honor it through my commitment of love and devotion to You. Amen.

Activity

Read Revelation 4:2–11. After reading this passage, imagine the Most High looking into your eyes while whispering, I allowed My Son to die because the thought of losing you forever broke My heart. I cannot bear the thought of spending eternity without you. Begin your conversation with God by telling Him how you feel. How will this image of God and His love for you influence your attitude, words, and behaviors today?

Lesson 16

The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.    (Philippians 4:9 NASB)

God is not a drama queen; He hates confusion. Where chaos, confusion, and turmoil exist, you can rest assured God is not present. God’s character demonstrates order, tranquility, and discipline. After the flood, God allowed confusion to overcome workers on the Tower Babel (Genesis 11). Twice, Jesus forcefully removed the merchants and traders from the temple to reestablish an atmosphere of worship (Matthew 21 and Mark 11). Many times Christ healed suffering by removing demons from individuals thrown into fits of rage, causing chaos and injury. God cannot coexist in doubt, violence, or hostility. Allowing God’s love to enter your life will lead to discipline, peace, and harmony with your environment.

Often, we make decisions that directly contribute to the confusion and mayhem in our lives. We choose to engage in behaviors that encourage confusion, which creates a distraction from our divine purpose and reason for living. Peace is an essential ingredient for happiness. You cannot be happy and experience joy in the midst of a chaotic life. The presence of peace will allow you to go through life’s challenges confidently, trusting in your purpose without the need of cultural validation. Allow the peace of God to calm and soothe your worried mind and soul.

Prayer

Lord, I feel rushed and anxious. Give me wisdom that I may daily experience clarity and discipline. Help me to be obedient to Your Spirit and seek peace in my life today. Amen.

Activity

Read Genesis 11:9; Matthew 21:12–14; and Luke 8:26–31, 35.

Spend at least thirty minutes each day in a quiet place alone, without electronic gadgets, noise, and chatter. As you begin to settle into your space, begin to breathe deeply. As you inhale, repeat the phrase, God’s love gives me peace.

Lesson 17

But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.    (Romans 14:23 NASB)

Often when referring to the definition of sin, we immediately summon the definition found in 1 John 3:4. In an attempt to remove our guilt, we rationalize our actions to avoid the sweeping definition of sin. Paul writes that sin exists because of the Law. We defend our behaviors as good or evil, blameless or guilty based upon our ability to point to a rule or command that states, You shall not … Paul reaches into the human existence and exposes sin where it originates: through expression of our intent and motives. In violating your values, you commit sin. All sinful behavior is the result of fear. We dismiss God’s law (Exodus 20) in our actions by perpetrating the following beliefs:

Denial of God’s existence

Denial of God’s authority

Trivial use of God’s name

Denial of God as Creator

Lack of trust in the wisdom of your parents

Self-preservation

Lack of self-control

Greed

The need to manage situations and other people

Ingratitude

Prayer

Lord, thank You for showing me that sin is a violation of trust in You. Forgive me for doubting Your power in my life. Amen.

Activity

Read the response of the Israelites when cornered by the Egyptian army (Exodus 14:10–12). Can you think of a time when you thought a situation was hopeless? What enduring truth pulled you from despair and renewed your faith in God?

Refer to 1 John 4:9–10 and Romans 6:7–8. What is the relationship between obedience and faith?

Lesson 18

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.    (1 John 4:18 NASB)

The opposite of love is not hate but fear; hate is an expression of fear. Love and fear are the foundations