“Our love for others is our grateful response to the love God first demonstrated to us. If someone says “I love God”, but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God whom we cannot see?” 1 John 4:19-20 

As we step into 2023, we are saying YES to many things. Yes, to the purpose and calling that God has placed on our lives. Yes, to new passions and adventures in our personal lives. Yes, to so many things. But there is something I want you to focus on saying yes to before all of those other things—God’s Love. 

Now you might be asking, “Yes? To His love?” YES! One thing I believe to be true is that in the business of life, we unintentionally forget to stop, rest, and quiet ourselves before the Lord and openly receive the love of the Father that He so freely gives us. 

We also find in Scripture a direct connection between us loving Him and loving our brothers and sisters. In 1 John 4, we find that it is, in fact, impossible to love those around us if we do not truly love our Heavenly Father. 

I don’t know about you, but I truly desire to start this day, and every day, in love. The love of the Father is richer, purer, and more passionate than any love we will ever know. 

Let me encourage you to quiet yourself before Him today and receive the love that the Lord is pouring out upon you so you can be a true lover of men. 

DECLARATION/PRAYER: Lord, here I am. Today I say yes to receiving your love for me. Help me reflect this love upon anyone whose path is with mine today, in Jesus' name. Amen.