Held Together by His Love Our

 

Held Together by His Love

Our Scriptures for Today

He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

Leviticus 20:26 (NLT)

You must be holy because I, the LORD, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own.

Ephesians 5:2 (NLT)

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Matthew 6:21 (NLT)

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Hey, Friend! Let's Talk About It.

Have you ever had one of those days when everything starts out just fine, and then suddenly your carefully laid plans go flying right out the window?

Yesterday started out pretty productively for Ross and me. We got some housework done, took care of our furry and feathered family, and enjoyed a nice breakfast. Ross headed outside to muck out the chicken coop while I took my granddaughter and great-granddaughter to Lincoln for a dental appointment.

Ross receives $80 a month on a food card, so finding good deals and making our resources stretch matters to us. We've learned that sometimes a blessing doesn't arrive wrapped in a pretty bow. Sometimes it's a bargain at the grocery store, an opportunity to help family, or simply having enough strength to get through another busy day.

And isn't that just like life?

“He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.” — Colossians 1:17 (NLT)

Think about that for a moment. The same Jesus who holds the universe together is the Jesus who holds you in His hands.

He isn't sitting somewhere far away, watching you struggle and wondering how things will turn out. He is present in the middle of your ordinary, messy, sometimes frustrating life.

The Greek word synistēmi (συνίστημι), used in the original language of Colossians 1:17, carries the idea of holding together, sustaining, or keeping something established.

Isn't that beautiful? Jesus isn't simply the One who created everything and walked away. He continues to sustain His creation.

Our circumstances didn't magically become perfect, but God carried us through those difficult months.

And that's an important distinction, friend. Trusting Jesus doesn't mean we never experience frustration, disappointment, or hardship. It means we don't have to face those things alone.

We can do our part without believing we have to do everything.

So, when your plans fall apart today, take a breath. When your to-do list grows longer instead of shorter, take a breath. When you don't have an answer to a problem, take a breath.

Jesus is still holding it all together, even when you cannot see how.

The Hebrew word berit (בְּרִית) means covenant, a binding relationship or commitment. Throughout Scripture, we see God making covenants and demonstrating His faithfulness to His people.

Our relationship with God isn't based on our ability to make every day go perfectly. We respond to His grace by trusting Him, obeying Him, and growing in our relationship with Him.

We belong to the One who knows us completely and loves us faithfully.

What a wonderful place to belong!

Our acts of kindness don't purchase God's love. Jesus has already demonstrated His love for us. Instead, our kindness becomes a response to the love we've received.

We love because He first loved us, and we serve because He first served us.

What might that look like for you today?

Maybe it's an encouraging message, a little extra patience, a meal shared with someone who needs it, or a willingness to forgive.

Never underestimate the power of a small act of love offered with a sincere heart.

God certainly doesn't!

But when our deepest treasure is our relationship with Jesus, our circumstances no longer have the final word over our hearts.

We can be thankful when things go well and still trust God when they don't.

We can celebrate a bargain without believing money is our savior.

We can work toward solving a problem without allowing that problem to consume every thought we have.

And we can acknowledge that life is hard without forgetting that God is good.

That's the balance I'm learning, friend. Faith doesn't mean ignoring reality. It means bringing reality to God and inviting Him into the middle of it.

And don't forget to look for those little blessings along the way. Yesterday, an unexpected trip to Lincoln still brought some errands accomplished and a wonderful grocery bargain.

Sometimes the day doesn't go according to plan, but there are still blessings to be found.

You are loved. You are set apart for God. You are called to love others. And you are held by Jesus.

Now, that's something worth carrying into our day!

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.

Amen.

BELIEVE, OBEY, BE BLESSED AMEN BOBBA ❤️

Love, Penny 💛

#Godisgood #faith #devotional 

Remember this as you go about your day: you don't have to have a perfect day to have a blessed day. Sometimes blessings arrive through answered prayers, sometimes through unexpected opportunities, and sometimes through the strength to keep going when things don't turn out as planned.

Keep your heart focused on Jesus. Keep your hands ready to serve. Keep your eyes open for the little blessings.

And remember, you don't have to hold everything together. You've got a Savior who already does!

Love ya, my friend! Have a beautiful, God-filled day! ❤️