Tag Archives: Love
DEAR GOD: Your Grace Holds Us Steady~
Galatians 5:22–23 (KJV)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
Grace That Holds Us Steady
by C D Swanson~
God’s ways are not hurried, nor are they harsh. They are gentle, steady, and full of grace. In stressful seasons, when life feels tangled and uncertain, His Spirit works quietly within us — cultivating peace where panic once lived, patience where frustration once burned, and love where fear tried to take root.
The fruit of His Spirit is not earned; it is grown through surrender. When we yield our hearts to Him, He transforms our reactions into reflections of His character. His love teaches us to wait without worry, to forgive without bitterness, and to trust without trembling.
Every trial becomes soil for His goodness. Every tear becomes water for His mercy. Every moment of weakness becomes a doorway for His strength. The Lord’s love is not only powerful — it is patient, and it never fails.
When life presses hard against your peace, do you let the Spirit’s fruit rise within you — or do you try to carry the weight alone?
— Philippians 4:7 (KJV) “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
This verse echoes Galatians, reminding us that true peace is not humanly produced — it is divinely given. It guards our hearts like a fortress built by grace.
Lord, let Your Spirit grow in me until peace becomes my natural breath. Teach me to rest in Your love and reflect Your grace in every moment in Jesus name, Amen.
Honor to the Lord All glory to the One who plants peace in our hearts, who waters our souls with mercy, and who brings forth fruit that never fades. His love endures forever, and His grace is sufficient for every storm.
DEAR GOD: You Abide in Me and I in You~
“Abide in Me, and I in you.”–— John 15:4
“The Beautiful Work of Walking with Christ”
by C D Swanson~
To abide in Christ is more than belief — it is participation. It is the daily, intentional choice to remain close to Him, to let His Word shape your thoughts, and to let His ways guide your steps. When you love Christ fully, you begin to see that His presence is not an accessory to life; it is the foundation of life.
Walking with Him means opening your Bible not out of obligation, but out of hunger. It means praying not because you must, but because your heart longs to speak with the One who knows you completely. It means surrendering your plans, your fears, your timing, and your expectations — trusting that His will is not only better, but perfect.
When Christ becomes first in everything, your life begins to reorder itself. Peace settles where anxiety once lived. Clarity replaces confusion. Strength rises where weakness tried to take root. And blessings — quiet, steady, holy blessings — begin to flow in ways you never expected.
This is the beautiful work of walking with Christ: You give Him your heart, and He gives you His life. You give Him your trust, and He gives you His wisdom. You give Him your obedience, and He gives you His joy.
To know Him fully is to love Him deeply. To love Him deeply is to follow Him faithfully. And to follow Him faithfully is to live the life He designed for you — a life anchored in His truth, covered in His grace, and guided by His Spirit.
Lord Jesus, draw me deeper into Your Word and Your ways. Teach me to abide, to trust, and to follow You with my whole heart. Align my life with Your will, and let Your presence shape every step I take. In Your holy name, Amen.
Reflective Question: What is one area of my life where I can intentionally place Christ first today?
DEAR GOD: You Shield & Protect Us~
Psalm 84:11 — “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
Protected & Shielded by His Love
by C D Swanson
God’s love is not passive; it is protective, intentional, and deeply personal. There are moments when doors close, opportunities fade, or plans fall apart — and we feel confused or even hurt. But heaven sees what we cannot. God steps between us and unseen danger, shielding us from situations that would have broken us, delayed us, or pulled us away from His purpose.
He rescues us from battles we never knew were forming, from people who were not meant to walk with us, and from paths that looked beautiful but were quietly harmful. His “no” is often His greatest act of love. His redirection is His mercy. His silence is sometimes His protection.
And while we move through life unaware of a thousand hidden deliverances, God never stops watching, guiding, and covering us. You are loved more deeply than you realize, guarded more fiercely than you know, and carried more gently than you can imagine.
Lord, thank You for every unseen rescue and every loving redirection.
Guide my steps and keep my heart aligned with Your perfect will, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Guide my steps and keep my heart aligned with Your perfect will, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DEAR GOD: You Are Our King of Kings~
And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Revelation 19:16 (KJV)
“Exalting the King of Kings in Our Daily Walk”
by C D Swanson~💛
To call Jesus the King of Kings is to acknowledge the highest authority in the universe — the One before whom every earthly crown will fall and every knee will bow. Yet what amazes the believer is not only His majesty, but His nearness. The King of kings walks with us through ordinary days, quiet mornings, and fragile moments. He is exalted above all creation, yet He bends low to lift our hearts.
Exalting Christ daily is not merely an act of worship; it is a posture of life. It means waking each morning with a whispered “Jesus, reign in me today.” It means choosing His peace over panic, His truth over confusion, His love over bitterness. It means remembering that no matter what storms shake our world, His throne is unshaken.
When we exalt Him, we place our fears beneath His feet. When we honor Him, we align our hearts with His kingdom. When we adore Him, we remember that our lives are not random — they are held in the hands of the eternal King.
Scripture reminds us again and again of His supremacy:
- Philippians 2:9–11 — Every knee shall bow… every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
- Psalm 47:7 — For God is the King of all the earth.
- 1 Timothy 6:15 — The blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.
These verses anchor us. They remind us that our worship is not empty emotion — it is the rightful response to the One who rules heaven and earth with perfect justice, perfect mercy, and perfect love.
To exalt Him daily is to live with a lifted gaze. It is to walk through this world knowing that our King is present, powerful, and preparing a kingdom that cannot be shaken. And in that truth, our hearts find rest.
❓ Reflective Question
How can I intentionally exalt Christ as King in the small, quiet moments of my day?
🙏
Thank You, LORD my King of Kings, for reigning over my life with love, strength, and mercy. Teach me to exalt You daily in every thought, every choice, and every step. Amen.
DEAR GOD: Grateful For You Today & Always~
Psalm 106:1 — “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.”
Loving God & Living as a Christian
by C D Swanson~
To love God is to awaken each day with a heart that remembers who made you, who sustains you, and who walks beside you through every season. His goodness is not fragile or fleeting; it is steady, patient, and present in every breath you take. Gratitude becomes the natural language of a soul that recognizes God’s hand in both the quiet moments and the miraculous ones.
To be a Christian is to live in the rhythm of grace — receiving what we could never earn and offering what we have freely been given. It is choosing forgiveness when the world chooses bitterness, choosing compassion when others choose indifference, choosing hope when circumstances whisper fear. Loving God shapes the way we see people, the way we speak, the way we respond, and the way we rise after falling.
Christian love is not passive; it is active, intentional, and deeply rooted in the example of Christ. It means loving beyond convenience, praying beyond comfort, and trusting beyond understanding. It means carrying light into places that feel dark and remembering that God’s goodness is not just something we receive — it is something we reflect.
Gratitude becomes a lifestyle, not a moment. And in that gratitude, we find peace, purpose, and a love that never lets go.
“LORD – thank You for Your goodness. Teach us to love You deeply, walk in Your ways, and reflect Your grace in all we do. Amen.”
DEAR GOD: You Are Worthy of Continuous Praise~
I will extol thee, my God O King and I will bless they name forever and ever. Psalm 145 (KJV)
Unrelenting Praise
by C D Swanson~
Continuously I praise the LORD all through the day. In fact – the moment I am blessed to open my eyes in the morning until I place my head on the pillow at night, it is praise non-stop.
The ongoing devotion of a Christian is indeed unrelenting, and it is and should come as a choice to love Him and follow Him. It’s just a smidgeon of what the LORD does for us in all aspects of our lives;
for example: protects, grants us grace, loves us with the intensity of ten thousand suns, forgives us, redeemed us, and covers us with His blood – just to name a few!
Peace and happiness come into our lives when we love Him and follow Him and adhere and align to His Word. “Happy is that people, but is in such a case; yea, happy is that people whose God is LORD” –Psalm 144:15 (KJV)
Life itself is not a picnic. It has its ups and downs, depths of despair, emotional rounds of confusion. But it’s easier with Him by our side.
The scope of the world and its intensive betrayals that we can experience in this lifetime are hurtful and sad at times. But there is ONE that never lets us down. The same ONE that upholds us with His right hand of righteousness and puts on paths of peace leading straight to His arms.
“Deliver me, O LORD from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. Psalm 142:9 (KJV)
Those of you who haven’t yet accepted Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior – right now you can still do it. It’s not too late while you are here. It is the most important thing you can do in this lifetime, as we prepare for a life of Eternity with the LORD after we pass from these flesh bodies. The wages of sin is death,but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our LORD. (Romans 6:23)
If you haven’t already done so – you can recite the following out loud and become a follower.
“LORD, Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner, I believe that You died for my sins and rose again. I believe that You are the only begotten Son of God. I turn from my sins willingly and I ask You to forgive me, come into my life, and my heart and be my LORD and Savior. From this day forward, I will follow You. Amen.”
If you recited that and are turning from sin and you have willingly accepted Him as Savior of your life – congratulations!
For we know that when this tent (our body) on earth is torn down (we pass from flesh) our LORD has a house in Heaven that He Himself has created, and which will last for all eternity. (Paraphrased from 2 Corinthians 5:1.)
Peace, Light and Love to you all.
“LORD, thank You for Your Word, and Your Love, in Jesus name, Amen.”
DEAR GOD: You Are So Good~
“Oh how great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee…” Psalm 31:19 (KJV)
The Goodness That Waits for You
by C D Swanson
There are verses that whisper comfort, and then there are verses that wrap themselves around your heart like a warm blanket. Psalm 31:19 is one of those verses. It doesn’t just talk about God’s goodness — it announces it, celebrates it, and reveals something deeply personal about the Father’s heart.
David isn’t describing a goodness that is random or occasional. He is describing a goodness that is stored up, set aside, prepared, and reserved for God’s children. That means God’s goodness toward you is not accidental — it is intentional. It is not leftover — it is planned. It is not scarce — it is abundant.
Think about that: God has goodness with your name on it. Goodness that has been waiting for you. Goodness that has been preserved through every season, every storm, every setback, every tear.
Sometimes life makes you feel like you’ve run out of blessings, out of strength, out of options. But God says, “No, My child — I have goodness laid up for you. I’ve been saving it. I’ve been holding it. I’ve been preparing it.”
And the beauty of this verse is that His goodness is not dependent on your perfection — it is rooted in His character. His goodness is steady when life is shaky. His goodness is faithful when people are not. His goodness is present even when you can’t feel it.
You may not see the goodness yet. You may not understand the timing. You may not know how God is going to turn things around. But this verse reminds you that He already has goodness stored up for you, waiting for the exact moment when you need it most.
God’s goodness is not just something He gives — it is something He is. And because He is good, you will see His goodness in your life again. Not maybe. Not hopefully. You will.
“Father, thank You for the goodness You have stored up for me. Even when I cannot see it, I trust that You are working, preparing, and providing. Let Your goodness meet me in the places where I feel empty, tired, or uncertain. Fill my heart with peace, hope, and confidence in Your unfailing love. In Jesus name Amen.”
DEAR GOD: Your Love Is Rooted Firmly In Us~
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love…” — Ephesians 3:17
When His Love Becomes the Center of Everything
by C D Swanson~
To be in love with Christ is not a momentary emotion — it is the slow, holy awakening of the soul to the One who has loved you since before you took your first breath. It is the discovery that Jesus is not simply a figure in Scripture, but the Living Presence who steps into your real life, your real struggles, your real fears, and your real hopes.
Loving Christ is not about perfection. It is about Presence — His Presence in you, and your presence before Him. It is the quiet realization that He is the One who has walked with you through every valley, even the ones you didn’t think you would survive. It is the moment you understand that His love is not fragile, not conditional, not dependent on your performance. His love is rooted, eternal, and unshakeable.
When Christ becomes the center of your life, everything shifts:
- Your wounds become places where His healing light enters
- Your fears become invitations to trust
- Your failures become testimonies of His mercy
- Your loneliness becomes a doorway to His companionship
- Your identity becomes anchored in who He says you are
To love Christ is to finally breathe. To finally rest. To finally know that you are fully seen and fully held.
It is the daily choice to say, “Lord, I am Yours,” even when life feels heavy. It is the quiet courage to believe that His love is stronger than your past, deeper than your pain, and more faithful than your doubts.
And in that love — that deep, steady, unchanging love — you find who you truly are.
🌼 Reflective Question
Where in your life do you most need to let Christ’s love steady you today?
“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” — Jeremiah 31:3
LORD ,let Your love take root in the deepest places of my heart. Teach me to walk in the truth of who You are — faithful, gentle, and unchanging. Let Your presence steady my steps, quiet my fears, and shape my life. Draw me closer to You each day, until loving You becomes the truest thing about me. In Jesus name, Amen.
DEAR GOD: Holding Pattern in Your Care~
Be Still and Know I am God….Psalm 46:10
“Holding Pattern in Your Care”
C D Swanson~
When we are in a “holding pattern” it can be difficult to stay still and let “God be God.” Humans have a tendency to lack patience and the ability to have a “wait and see” attitude. We tend to rush through decisions and want immediate gratification or answers for whatever it is we are looking for. However – that is when we should lay it all down, walk away and look up to the One who has all of the answers. The One who knows what is best for us, and the One who plans and guides each step of our way.
We’ve been waiting for the longest time to see if we should be making a move out of state. It’s been going on for a while now, oh – close to 2 years or more. Friends have begun to refer to us as the “couple who talks about it and does nothing about it.” LOL – Well, that’s okay. Only if you are engaged in an intimate relationship with the LORD, Jesus Christ would you or could you possibly understand this behavior.
God tells us to rest in Him. To wait upon Him. To trust Him. And to know His voice. Sure we have free will. And we could move if we want. But, it doesn’t feel right. And it doesn’t seem the right time. So we are still waiting – for God’s timing, and perfect plan and will for our lives.
Evidently at this time. This is where we are supposed to be. We have been here for 39 years. And I love it here. So – it is easy for me to wait, as I really don’t want to go! But – I feel we will eventually. And God is “holding us in this pattern” for a reason. One we cannot see or grasp at this time. But it will eventually become crystal clear. And with clarity and with faith I wait. Until He waves us to “where, when, how and why.”
If you are in a holding pattern right now. Whatever your circumstances are, trust in Him, the One that holds you in the palm of His hand. Trust Him to lead you and guide you and show you the way. He always will.
Proverbs 3:5-8 says just that – Trust in God with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Don’t be wise in your own eyes, love Him and keep from evil, and it shall be health for your navel, and marrow for your bones.
Wait. Reflect. Trust. And love – that’s what you do when you are in a “holding pattern.” Eventually – it will all become clear.
“LORD, thank You for guiding us and holding us up through all kinds of adversities, and through all kinds of storms, may we always be aware of You and Your plans and will for our lives, in Jesus name, Amen.”